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Load Bearing Walls: Featured on the Life In Naples Magazine Blog

https://lifeinnaples.net/magazinewp/2021/10/26/load-bearing-walls/

When visiting a home for a prospective client one of the first questions asked are about walls that may or may not be load bearing. A large portion of our remodels have at least one wall that the homeowners want to cut back or remove completely. In the kitchen photo below, we discovered that there was a load bearing point, or column, within the wall that we wanted to remove. That column is shown on the right-hand side of the photo. This is where the design process began.

Obviously to remove the column would have been all but cost prohibitive so we decided to work with it rather than do away with it. The result is a column that has been designed to fit the kitchen and by default the bar area that would have been on the other side of the wall had we left it in place.

After the wall was removed, we “beefed up” the column with 2 x 4s to give it a bit more of a presence. The wood was then wrapped in Black Mist Honed Granite with stand offs allowing us to attach clear glass on all four sides and then wrap the top and bottom with 1 x 6 pine wood in a custom finish allowing us to backlight the column at the top and bottom.

In the end we have an elegant visual divider between the kitchen and the bar area without losing the open concept that was desired.

As for the rest of the kitchen and bar area we could not be happier with the results. Twin islands fit the space perfectly. The outside island shows seating for four but can easily handle six. The hood which shares the focal point of this kitchen with, above all things, the column, is a custom hood and extension to the ceiling by Venta Hood. The built-in coffee maker above the Monogram French door ovens and the choice of stainless-steel appliances help to bring a modern touch to this very casual kitchen.

With the contrasting colors for the cabinetry and the wood-like tile floor we have a winner. Please note the wall at the bar was covered by the homeowner with a “wallpaper” of pieced together wood sides of wine boxes and three TVs creating a unique touch to this area. Add to that the backlit quartzite on the bar wall and we have a very happy client.

Enjoy your home!

Clay Cox

clay@kitchensbyclay.com.7935 Airport Road, Suites 5 and 6, Naples, FL 34109 T: 239.431.5474 F: 239.431.5472