There are electric panels in the way, a header that no one knew about....I'm glad we didn't try to do it ourselves?
But we are not going to get the one big room. Taking the header out is apparently going to require a structural engineer, and that isn't in the plans for now.
So, not what we hoped for, but it is better....and, when we pulled the drywall back as far as we did from that archway, we found original hardwood underneath, meaning this is how the house was originally built. I didn't intend to restore it, but I'll take it. Also, that wood is significantly darker than the "restoration" of it. I was buying into keeping the lighter wood because I thought that was preserving one of the original aspects of the home. I'd certainly prefer dark.
