If your kitchen and dining room are separated by a wall, you can make a pass-through, which lets in light and allows you to pass food into the dining room. Use a stud sensor to find the studs behind the wall, and mark their locations. The sides of the pass-through will fit between the studs. Mark the area where you want the pass-through, and cut a small hole first to check what's behind the wall. Next, cut out the drywall with a reciprocating saw (figure A), which can cut through studs and nails. If you don't own a reciprocating saw, you can rent one. Trim the drywall about 14" above the opening to install a header piece (figure B), which holds the weight of everything above the opening. If the wall is load-bearing, you'll need to use a large header from 2" by 10" lumber rather than 2" by 4". Create the header by sandwiching a piece of 1/2" plywood between two 2" by 4" boards (figure C). Screw the header together, alternating screws from top to bottom in a zigzag pattern. Install a 2" by 4" sill plate along the bottom of the pass-through. Cut casing material to match the length and width of the opening. The casing should be in place the same width as the wall is thick (figure D). Nail the head piece, side pieces and sill piece. Repair the drywall around the opening, and trim the edges with decorative molding (figure E).
RESOURCES :
Kitchen Planner
Author: Better Homes and Gardens
Order this title from Amazon.com.
Ron Berryessa, home-improvement expert
The Complete Book of Kitchen and Bathroom Renovation
Time Life Books
Website: www.timelife.com
Kitchen: Decorating Ideas & Projects
ISBN: 0696211149
Author: Linda Hallam (ed.)
Order this title from Amazon.com.
The New Kitchen Idea Book
Author: Joanne Kellar Bouknight (Taunton)
Order this title from Amazon.com.
The Taunton Press Inc.
Website: www.taunton.com
The Decorated Kitchen: Creative Projects
ISBN: 1564773507
Author: Leslie Beck
Order this title from Amazon.com.
A Kwanzaa Celebration: Festive Recipes and Homemade Gifts from an African-American Kitchen
Model: 0525940707
Author: Angela Shelf Medearis
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