We began removing the pantry wall and doorway to make way for the soon to come cabinets.

First, we needed to assess the situation, and since every situation is different, we won’t go into much detail about the work we did in the attic.  You should always work with a professional when you are going to modify the structure of your home, at least to get an opinion. And also get any necessary permits according to the city you live in.

After taking care of the attic, we were ready to work in the kitchen.

Downstairs, we started by removing the open cabinet and soffit. We talked about that here.

And once those were out of the way, we started removing the drywall.

It’s tough to keep the mess contained.

So we recommend keeping a tarp handy. We just unfold it, throw the scraps of drywall in it, and fold it back up.  When we get further in the project, we will likely get a dumpster and throw it away then.

We were ready to start removing studs. We began removing the door and the header above it. 

While I started on the door, Melissa made quick work of the studs above where the pantry was.

There were so many nails in everything. I guess when you build, you don’t want anything to come apart. And you’re not focused on what someone may do to it later.

This was the end of Night 1 for us. But, it already looks so much more open. Can’t wait to finish…

 

In case you forgot what it looked like, this is where we came from…

Got any tips for removing studs? I’m thinking get a metal blade for the reciprocating saw and just cut through the nails… Let us know!