Updating Half Wall

[D45]

I am slowly updating the trim and doors in the house, and need to decide what to do with this half wall "cap".......basically separates the kitchen from the family room

It looks to basically be a 2x8 that was sanded, stained and sealed

It is pretty outdated and dark

Looking for some ideas on what to do with it?

I was thinking about removing it and putting tile down on the top and maybe some accent tile on the sides?

 

[blair683]

I would just get rid of it completely.

 

[The Cobbler]

it's pretty heavy looking, especially being dark .
2 choices that are easy/inexpensive
either paint it same colour as walls,
or
remove it & replace with 1x material, and paint same as walls

 

[Squashfest81]

Hard to tell what the rest of the area includes. Is this where a table would go?
In a past home I capped a half wall with fir to match the floor. So, oak in your case.
A row of cabinets and matching counter top would add a huge amount of storage and counter. Or possibly 2 HF 44’s and a side cab! I kinda want a shuffleboard table.

 

[D45]

I would just get rid of it completely.

I did think about it and was going to install a railing

Problem is, there is a 12"-16" drop off, going into the family room

I would like the keep it simple, and keep the wall........just replace the top piece

 

[bczygan]

I HATE open concepts!!! They're on the way out.

Who wants to look at dirty dishes?

Build a real full wall!

Bill (Designer)

 

[D45]

I would also just drywall the top and paint it, but I feel I I would be painting it all the time from use/wear and tear

 

[rwilly]

Why not tile along the length of the wall?
Use white, or maybe tiles with designs in them. It might make a nice contrast to the dark wood.

 

[larry4406]

Several of the house types my company builds has knee walls like yours. We trim them with a nosed cap board and apply an OG profile underneath for added detail. The OG under trim (or whatever you use, some times we use chair rail to coordinate with adjacent room) determines the cap board size.

We paint ours to match the trim.

 

[D45]

Why not tile along the length of the wall?
Use white, or maybe tiles with designs in them. It might make a nice contrast to the dark wood.

This is my first choice, as stated in the first post

I was thinking about removing the top 2x8 and the trim on the sides, and then installing tile on top (larger pieces) and then smaller accent tile on the sides

 

[ezover]

just a thought, if you have fancy counter tops, have a piece made to match.

 

[Parrothead]

I HATE open concepts!!! They're on the way out.

Who wants to look at dirty dishes?

Build a real full wall!

Bill (Designer)

Bill, where are the open concept homes going out of style? I’m a realtor...haven’t seen that yet. Dirty dishes go in the dishwasher.

 

[D45]

just a thought, if you have fancy counter tops, have a piece made to match.

Nothing fancy, just some newer countertops from when the kitchen were completely renovated in 2009

 

[PhysicsDude]

I second the idea of painting it. I repainted all my trim a super bright white, and I think it looks great, and very modern/up to date.

If you want to get really fancy you could replace it with stainless steel or glass pane railings, but that's a little pricey and might not match your other decor.

 

[kbs2244]

I do not like the paint idea.
It will chip.
I would sand it down and refinish it in a lighter color.

A hardwood floor guy will have the size sander and the HD finishes for this kind of project.
It would be a short day job.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Got room to add cabinets and a counter top ? Maybe add some bar stools on the family room side ?

 

[D45]

Got room to add cabinets and a counter top ? Maybe add some bar stools on the family room side ?

Not really, plus I have a wet bar in the family room...about 12 feet away

 

[D45]

I do not like the paint idea.
It will chip.
I would sand it down and refinish it in a lighter color.

A hardwood floor guy will have the size sander and the HD finishes for this kind of project.
It would be a short day job.

This is a good idea..........especially a lighter stain to the match the floor and lighten things up a lot

I still want to pull the baseboard trim from both sides, maybe just add some stain match quarter round instead

 

[D45]

I am ready to tackle this job

I am still not sure what route to go, lots of options

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

If you replace it with any kind of wood or composite, it will not match the baseboard and will not look right, unless you paint the wood the same color as the wall itself.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I personally like it as is, at least from what I can see in the picture which is kind of dark. I wouldn't paint it. If you don't like the wood that's there now it could be replaced with something nicer - walnut, oak, sapele, or whatever you like.

 

[D45]

If you replace it with any kind of wood or composite, it will not match the baseboard and will not look right, unless you paint the wood the same color as the wall itself.

Not a concern, all the baseboard and trim and doors will be torn out in the spring.........1970s needs to go

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

Then match it to the new trim.

 

[johnnyradiant]

My experience with what you have is that painting it a lighter color will look ratty in a short period of time if that surface is used for anything but collecting dust. If you decided to keep the look but want lighter I would look at refinishing it lighter with stain and urethane as opposed to paint.

Marble, granite, solid surface material (like Corian), or tile there are lots of options if you keep the wall and want something long wearing.

 

[barks]

Bird spikes.

 

[tab2]

We need more pictures of the area to,see what is around there. Should it be another seating area to look at the TV in the family room? Or does the kitchen table back up to that so it should be a railing?

Every commercial building we are in we paint whatever stain grade material this a semigloss do the wall color or paint it the color of the trim.

 

[D45]

just a thought, if you have fancy counter tops, have a piece made to match.

I'm thinking this would be a nice addition, especially if I can get it a few inches wider than the current board top

Just wondering if I'd be able to match up the current color pattern

 

[Garcky]

Wish I could see more of the layout of the kitchen and family room. It could be turned into a bar-height breakfast bar on the kitchen side. On the family room side, bookshelves of some kind. Top the breakfast bar like the other counters in the kitchen. Now, that would all make it a little bigger project, but you'd be converting a wall preventing falls into the family room with two useful features, if that makes sense, based on the layouts there.

 

[D45]

I'll take more pics......thx

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

We like to plop down a live edge slab with a heavy epoxy coat, but there are a lot of larger trees around.

 

[Zeke]

I'm thinking this would be a nice addition, especially if I can get it a few inches wider than the current board top

Just wondering if I'd be able to match up the current color pattern

4+ years later and you haven't done anything?

 

[D45]

Nope

just was brainstorming options and I want to start the project soon

 

[Zeke]

Well, how about a row or 2 of open shadow boxes? That may be an old fashioned term but a search should turn up examples. A place for knick knacks, books, whatever. Cubbies is another term. And a bit of a visual break to define the areas.

I did like the idea of some solid surface or stone on the wall. Narrower, wider, lots of choices. If you Google "knee wall decor" you will find a lot. I guess it's 'décor' if you want to get technical.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Well, how about a row or 2 of open shadow boxes? That may be an old fashioned term but a search should turn up examples. A place for knick knacks, books, whatever. Cubbies is another term. And a bit of a visual break to define the areas.

I did like the idea of some solid surface or stone on the wall. Narrower, wider, lots of choices. If you Google "knee wall decor" you will find a lot. I guess it's 'décor' if you want to get technical.

That's what I did. In my house the small wall is just inside the front door so it does block cold wind in the winter. The cubby shelf faces the door and is handy for mail, keys etc.
Previously there were shelves and spindles on top of the 1/2 wall. That was OK but looked dated (like 1970).

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Nope

just was brainstorming options and I want to start the project soon

Bookshelf/decorative cubby thingy instead.

I can appreciate your effort to redo that. I've got a halfwall loft upstairs that, if it was more open, would transform the place into a less dungeon-like area. I'm initially thinking open railing.

 

[Dig Doug]

I’d use some granite or quartz slab - Not tiles ! ! Then use the same in the kitchen on the countertop

1 piece Unseen joint in the corner!

you can do more work - take part of the wall down and have a section of glass or “ iron “ like railing to it break up some.

all depends on what look your wife wants ! !

modern sleek
wood oak ish
black interior doors are popular … so many choices

this should somewhat match the kitchen

you can try to paint it but a lot of work sanding and getting it smooth needs to look like ice and not a ton of brush strokes…. For it to turn out good

take it off and add re place w/ new wood and stain a lighter color