Open Concept Kitchen Chicago | Wall Removal Hyde Park 60615 Townhouse
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Opening Up Space: Hyde Park Townhouse Kitchen Transformation
If you've been living with a wall between your kitchen and living room, you already know the frustration. You're cooking dinner while the rest of your life happens in the next room. Kids doing homework, guests chatting, TV on—and you're stuck on the other side of a wall, isolated from it all. That wall isn't just dividing rooms; it's dividing how you actually live in your home.
This Hyde Park townhouse on E 55th Street had exactly that problem. Beautiful property, upscale neighborhood, but the first floor felt chopped up and disconnected. The kitchen was functional enough on its own, but it didn't work with how modern families actually use their homes. The clients knew immediately what they wanted: tear down that wall and create the open, flowing space they'd been dreaming about.
The project came to us through a designer we'd worked with before—someone who knows our work and trusts us with her clients' homes. That's how you want these things to happen, especially in neighborhoods like Hyde Park where expectations are high and the quality has to match. They'd just purchased this townhouse and wanted to start fresh with a kitchen that felt integrated with the rest of the first level, not segregated from it.
The design phase focused on two things: functionality and aesthetic cohesion. This wasn't just about removing a wall and calling it done. The new kitchen needed to flow seamlessly with the rest of the first floor while providing all the workspace, storage, and cooking capacity you'd expect from a properly designed modern kitchen. It needed to look deliberate, not like an afterthought or a quick flip job.
We got materials sourced and moved straight into demolition. That wall between the kitchen and living room had to go, which sounds simple but requires careful planning. You can't just knock out walls in Chicago townhouses without understanding what you're dealing with structurally. We handled this right—proper evaluation, proper execution, no surprises halfway through when you discover something's load-bearing that shouldn't be.
Once the wall came down, the difference was immediate even with the space still torn apart. You could see how the first floor was supposed to flow, how light would move through the space, how conversations would happen naturally between kitchen and living areas. This is what people mean when they talk about open concept—it's not just a design trend, it's about creating spaces that match how we actually live.
Rough electrical and plumbing work came next, bringing everything up to current code. This matters more than most people realize. Chicago's building codes exist for good reasons, and older townhouses often have systems that made sense decades ago but don't meet modern standards or handle modern loads. We updated everything properly—not the bare minimum, but done right so it'll work reliably for years.
Drywall and framing transformed the space from demolition chaos into something you could start to visualize as a finished kitchen. This is where you begin to see your design decisions come to life—where the new opening between spaces will be, how the ceiling transitions, where walls end and open space begins. Getting this phase right is crucial because everything that comes after depends on it.
For cabinetry, we worked with a local vendor we trust—companies we've partnered with on multiple projects who understand quality and timeline expectations. These aren't big-box cabinets; they're properly constructed pieces that'll hold up to daily use in a kitchen that's going to see serious cooking. The installation went smoothly because we'd planned the layout carefully and the space was properly prepped.
Countertops were 3CM white quartz from MSI, which is the right choice for a kitchen like this. Quartz gives you the upscale look without the maintenance headaches of natural stone, and the thickness makes a statement. White keeps things bright and clean-looking, which matters in an open concept setup where your kitchen is constantly visible from the living areas. You want surfaces that look good all the time, not just right after you clean them.
Lighting design completed the modern look—new ceiling pendant lights that provide both functional task lighting and aesthetic appeal. This is often where open concept kitchens either succeed or fall flat. You need lighting that works for cooking but also sets the right mood for the entire first floor since it's all connected now. The pendant lights we installed accomplish both, providing focused light over work surfaces while contributing to the overall design aesthetic.
The result is a kitchen that finally works with the rest of the home instead of fighting against it. You can cook dinner while helping with homework. You can prep food while entertaining guests. You can be in the kitchen without being isolated from your family. That wall removal changed how this entire first floor functions, and the fresh kitchen design ensured the space looks as good as it works.
Hyde Park clients expect quality, and that's what we delivered. The chic modern design matches the upscale neighborhood while remaining functional for real daily use. The space feels bigger, brighter, and more connected—exactly what open concept is supposed to accomplish.
If you're living with a wall between your kitchen and living room, wondering if removing it makes sense, this project shows what's possible. It's not just about following a design trend; it's about creating a home that actually works for how you live. The investment—around $72,000 for this scope—transforms not just your kitchen but how you experience your entire first floor.
Complete Scope of Work
- Complete design consultation and planning
- Demolition of wall between kitchen and living room
- Structural evaluation and proper wall removal
- Rough electrical work throughout kitchen
- Complete plumbing updates to code
- Professional drywall installation and finishing
- Custom framing for open concept transition
- Local vendor cabinet procurement and installation
- 3CM white MSI quartz countertop fabrication and install
- Modern ceiling pendant light installation
- Complete first-floor flow integration
Ready to Remove That Wall and Open Up Your Space?
Transform your closed-off kitchen into an open concept space perfect for modern living. Complete wall removal, designer kitchen, and seamless flow throughout your first floor.