Before & After: Converting a Galley Kitchen to an Open-Concept Layout

What really happens when you take down that wall — the good, the costly, and the stuff no one tells you before you start swinging a hammer.

The most common kitchen renovation request I get: "We want to open it up." Taking down the wall between the kitchen and the living space feels transformative — and it is. But it's also one of the most technically complex single changes you can make to a home, and almost nobody is told the full story upfront.

The "before" in this type of project is almost always a closed galley — functional, often well-designed for cooking, but isolated. The "after" is the open-plan dream: visibility to the living room, better light, the ability to interact with guests while cooking.

Here's what the renovation actually involves, why it costs what it costs, and what to expect from start to finish.

Contractor Tips

• Assume any wall between the kitchen and living room is load-bearing until a structural engineer says otherwise. Hiring an engineer ($500–$1,500) before demo is the best money you'll spend.
• When a load-bearing wall comes down, a beam goes in. Beam sizing is determined by the span and the load above — this is not something to guess at.
• Plan for the electrical. Galley kitchens often have outlets on the wall you're removing. Those circuits need to be rerouted before demo.