AFTER: View from kitchen to dining room
Two features here to note:
One: Alignments (sight lines) are essential for a sense of flow, ease, and peaceful balance in a space. Sight lines are especially important in interior remodels, where we have only the existing space to work with: where creating the impression of spaciousness within a defined square footage is the goal. Here the dining room and kitchen are brought into alignment: Kitchen aisle, dining chandelier, table, and window beyond.
Two: Existing walls are removed, but a sense of definition between spaces remains, avoiding the undefined, cavernous 'great room' effect. Kitchen, dining, and living room all contiguous and open to each other, but clear in their function. Spatial definition within open areas both increases the sense of space and facilitates the comfort of limits.