Most of Roanoke's housing stock was built when kitchens were enclosed rooms — designed to contain cooking smells and noise, not to be the social center of the home. Opening the kitchen to an adjacent dining room or living room changes that entirely. It creates a space that works for how most families actually live today.
The Structural Question
Before anything else, the wall has to be assessed. In Roanoke's older homes — the craftsman bungalows of Grandin Village, the brick colonials of South Roanoke, the ranches and capes built after World War II — the wall between the kitchen and the adjacent room is often load-bearing. Removing it without addressing the load transfer is not an option.
When a wall is load-bearing, the solution is a structural beam. The beam carries the load that the wall was carrying, transfers it to the foundation through posts or columns, and allows the wall to come out. This is not a difficult problem to solve, but it has to be solved correctly. We assess, design, permit when required, and execute the structural work as part of the project.
What an Open Concept Remodel Involves
- Wall assessment. Determine whether the wall is load-bearing, what utilities run through it (plumbing, electrical, HVAC ducts), and what the correct approach is.
- Structural beam installation (if load-bearing). Temporary support, header or beam installation, column or post footings, load transfer to foundation.
- Utility relocation. Electrical circuits, outlets, switches, and any plumbing that runs through the wall need to be addressed before the wall comes down.
- Flooring. When a wall comes out, the floor under it typically needs to be patched or extended. We match existing hardwood or install new flooring across the opened space.
- Kitchen renovation. The open concept project is almost always paired with a full kitchen renovation — the kitchen is being redesigned for a new footprint and relationship to the adjacent space.
- Finishing. Drywall, paint, trim, and any architectural details that make the new opening look intentional rather than cut open.
What It Changes
An open concept kitchen changes how the house functions. Whoever is cooking is no longer isolated — they're part of the household, connected to what's happening in the living room and dining area. The kitchen can be designed with an island that creates a natural gathering point. The whole first floor feels larger and more connected.
In Roanoke's older neighborhoods especially, where the houses were built with the conventions of a different era, this transformation is significant. The bones of a 1940s craftsman bungalow are excellent. The floor plan was just designed for a way of living that most people have moved past.
Service Area
Open concept remodeling throughout Roanoke city and Roanoke County, and into Salem, Vinton, Hollins, Cave Spring, Christiansburg, Blacksburg, Bedford, and Daleville.