This was the game changer! In old houses, it is sometimes hard to open them up while keeping the original charm. Here, I removed the wall and mimicked the arch separating the living room and the dining room to keep with the original home design. I also built a peninsula out from the wall to gain floor space, counter space, cabinet space, and an eat in kitchen. The butcher block counter top was custom made Pennsylvania Cherry which measures about 3.5x8' and is able to accommodate five stools for seating. I chose to seal it with walnut oil and it still looks great after three years. You can also see I removed the floor down to the sub floor so I have a smooth transition from the dining room to the kitchen. Though we can't see the kids jumping on the couch in the living room, we are able to entertain our guests while preparing food and drinks in the kitchen. As for the stove, I installed a downdraft stove to eliminate the need for a bulky overhead vent.
