Breaking Down Walls: Our Open-Concept Home Transformation

For ten years, my husband dreamed of this day—the day he could finally take a sledgehammer to our vintage 1978 kitchen and open up the heart of our home. And let me tell you, Demo Day did not disappoint!

We were transforming our small, compartmentalized kitchen, dining room, and living room into one big, beautiful open-concept space. We had low 8-foot ceilings, which we planned to replace with a stunning vaulted ceiling to make everything feel brighter and more spacious.

 

Step 1: Demo Day – Out with the Old!

It all started with ripping out the cabinets—a deeply satisfying moment. Then came the sheetrock, peeling away years of dated design to reveal the bare bones of our home.

With the sheetrock down, we could finally see the ceiling joists that had been holding up our once-cramped 8-foot ceilings. Those had to go!

After a lot of sweat (and probably a few joyful victory dances), we stripped the space down to the roof rafters and exterior wall studs. Suddenly, our house felt like an empty canvas, ready for a masterpiece.

Step 2: Knocking Down the Main Wall

The biggest change? Saying goodbye to the wall that separated our kitchen and living room. But before we could take it down, we had to support the roof structure to prevent our house from turning into an unintended skylight!

Step 3: A Little Help from “Dumpie”

Demo is fun, but the cleanup? Not so much. Thankfully, we have a trusty dump trailer, lovingly named “Dumpie”, who was more than happy to help with the mess.

Step 4: The Vaulted Ceiling Transformation Begins

With the old ceilings gone, it was time to bring in the big guns—our LVL ridge rafter beams. These beams would support the vaulted ceiling and give our home that spacious, airy feel we had always wanted.

First, we installed two LVL beams on either side of the space.

Then came the star of the show: a massive LVL ridge rafter beam down the center. This was a game-changer because it meant no bulky support columns were needed to hold up the ceiling—just one expansive, open room!

With the beams in place, we secured the ceiling rafters to the ridge beam, creating the framework for our soon-to-be stunning vaulted ceiling.

 

Next Up: The Fun Stuff (HVAC, Electrical & More!)

Now that the structure is in place, it’s time for the less exciting but oh-so-important details—HVAC, electrical wiring, and security installations.

Once those are done, we’ll be ready to bring this space to life with drywall, paint, and all the finishing touches.

We can already feel how bright, open, and inviting this space will be. It’s incredible to watch our dream home take shape—and we’re just getting started!

Stay tuned for the next update, where we’ll take you through the next phase of our open-concept remodel journey.