Removing a load-bearing wall, experiences?

Hello,

I don’t want to stone you. But I want to question your idea. Who gave you the idea that open living space has to be so radical?

Just outline your idea of living space design.

Entering the house and then ending up directly in the kitchen?

I have a suggestion how I would plan it.



The costs are manageable there.

Thanks!
As you have drawn it, that is how it is currently. Or something similar. The builders already had the door to the kitchen moved in the direction of the vestibule at that time. I believe the load-bearing parts of the wall structure are located here as I have marked. (Picture 1)

In picture 2, there would be a kind of compromise where you could leave the "L", of course in combination with steel beams that would additionally support it.

Sketch your furniture arrangement. I can't imagine how you want the kitchen. Kitchen with a toilet?

What is the kitchen like currently?

Is there really a step to the living room?

Is there the fireplace shown?

Sketch your furnishings. I can't imagine how you want the kitchen. Kitchen with WC?

How is the kitchen currently?

Is there really a step to the living room?

Is there the drawn-in fireplace?

I will try to sketch the basic idea of the kitchen and furnishings when I get the chance. There is no step to the living room. Judging by the building application, the living room was originally not supposed to be basemented, but was later extended in an adjustment. The fireplace, because the living room is also basemented, has moved to the opposite side into the corner. Basically next to the staircase. And no, the kitchen is not supposed to be connected to the WC. My idea was to leave about 1-1.5 m of wall standing from the vestibule so that you don’t immediately "fall" into the house.

But the entrance is already there on the ground floor? Why do you want to open the vestibule? Nothing against openness, but there should still be some privacy, a cold trap, and distance from the wardrobe to the living area. I am missing the current state here.

As you have drawn it, it is like that currently. Or something similar. At the time, the builders already had the door to the kitchen moved towards the vestibule.

How is it now?

It is clear that something must remain for structural reasons. But visually a room also wins if you don’t tear everything down right away, but instead leave a small partition wall or wall panel. No one wants to look at an open shoe rack from the stove or sofa.

Before I ask a forum - it seems to be a terraced house after all - I would go around the whole neighborhood. Some people may have already implemented this.
I myself proceeded like this. We all had the chimney in the middle, but no load-bearing walls, so many only tore down the wall above countertop height and were able to realize an enclosed island.
Maybe you can get relevant documents from the neighbor and save the structural engineer.

By the way, people often imagine open kitchens to be more romantic than they actually turn out to be. For my family, it has proven to be so disruptive in practice that we are now considering somehow putting a wall back up there. The main disturbances for my wife and child are noise and smell. Personally, I am different in that regard, but just as a warning from reality – because my wife was also very keen on having an open kitchen during the planning.

just as a warning from reality - because my wife also absolutely wanted an open kitchen in the planning.

The chimney effect of the stairwell for fish and garlic - priceless!