I am getting ready to start another project and wanna get some info/opinions. I have pictures that I will post to show what I wanna do and where the floor joists are and what not.

We wanna knock out about a 5 foot wall between the kitchen and dining room to make it an open type floor plan. I know 100% that the 2nd floor joists run with the wall that we wanna remove. So in sense it should be ok to remove the walla correct? Also possibly putting in a bar w/ cabinets above and below it. This would go where the wall was.
On the kitchen side there is a pantry. Between the pantry and the wall we wanna knock out, there is the chimney that runs up through that has lath n' plaster all around it. We wanna expose 3 sides of it and put up mountain stone. We thought that would look nice. The future bar will be there so it will only be exposed from the bar top to the ceiling. Not sure if its doable or not.

So now that its been explained the best way I can, here are the pics w/ some explanations.
Photo bucket isn't working so I will add the pics later. Sorry

 

This first picture is facing the wall that has the "X" on it. That is the one I wanna take out. The joists run parallel w/ that wall. Now the wall that is about 3ft. that has the "- - -" on it, is the chimney. I wanna expose the 2 sides that you see there and put up mountain stone.



This picture is facing parallel to the wall I wanna knock out. You can only see the wall in the top right corner of the picture. I have the joists labeled in which direction they run.



This is facing the kitchen while standing in the dining room. The "X" again is the wall I wanna knock out. And joist direction is labeled. The other side of the chimney which you can't see, I wanna expose that on this side as well and put stone up.



Is there anyway that it still could be a weight bearing wall? Also what if the studs go from the 1st floor floor all the way to the attic?? Can I still remove the wall??

Thanks

 

Go underneath the said wall to see if the floor joists bear there or not. The ceiling framing for the chimney bears on that said wall, in the corner. I really doubt they framed over to the next joist in the other room. Drill an inspection hole next to the top of said wall looking for joists or ? Check below for plumbing lines, pipes, etc. Is there another story above? If not, take a picture of the top of whole wall, removing the insulation first.
Be safe, G

 

There is a second story!! That is my concern is that the wall I wanna remove the studs go from the first floor - floor to the ceiling joist in the second floor. That is my biggest concern. 2ndly if at all I can expose the chimney and put mountain stone on it. Maybe I will just tear the wall out down to the studs and go from there. I wanna put new drywall up anyway b/c the dining room plaster is a mess. Has runs in old previous paints, etc. Its ugly. So if we can't do it, we can't do it.
Now below, in the basement, that wall we wanna take out, it is not supported at all. Its just joists. The main beam in the basement runs perpendicular to the wall we wanna take out and its about 4 ft. away. If you need a pic, let me know. My friend came over tonight and we were talking about it. He does do this kinda stuff, but not engineering or architect work. He builds. But he said it should be ok but there are questions.
Thanks