House reno...need ideas.

[Imp]

Those walls shouldn't be load bearing, 24 feet is a breeze to span for trusses. Go into the basement and see if there are any beams, poles, or doubled/tripled floor joists under any of them, if not you should be fine.
Pantry is too big, kitchen is too small. Extend counter to flush with 'north' pantry wall, put freezer in pantry, put cabinets where freezer was.

Ughh.... That brings back bad memories. I did some custom house framing designs and sometimes, they would effing have a load bearing wall land on a beam -- open concept or garage. Had to carry the loads down from the roof, and every floor above, then turn it into a line load -- so much time and anal attention to detail. Mother f***er, I hate structural engineering.

Having said that, if OP wants to knock a wall down, finding an engineer shouldn't be that hard. He'll (90% chance it's male?) probably be happy it's a bungalow.

Never been to Vancouver/Victoria. Is Victoria connected to the mainland by a bridge, or is it ferry only? I remember very unhappy people when ferry service was cut to some island.

 

[Greenman]

Ughh.... That brings back bad memories. I did some custom house framing designs and sometimes, they would effing have a load bearing wall land on a beam -- open concept or garage. Had to carry the loads down from the roof, and every floor above, then turn it into a line load -- so much time and anal attention to detail. Mother f***er, I hate structural engineering.

Having said that, if OP wants to knock a wall down, finding an engineer shouldn't be that hard. He'll (90% chance it's male?) probably be happy it's a bungalow.

Never been to Vancouver/Victoria. Is Victoria connected to the mainland by a bridge, or is it ferry only? I remember very unhappy people when ferry service was cut to some island.

Around here an engineer won't even consider just knocking down a wall. They evaluate the entire structure, period.

 

[iGas]

I most of my co-workers and friends are engineers, so it wouldn't be hard to convince 1 over for a BBQ and take a look at things while we enjoy a beer.

Perhaps I should just go for hardwood floor and tiles only.

 

[Imp]

Around here an engineer won't even consider just knocking down a wall. They evaluate the entire structure, period.

Yep, those walls actually provide lateral resistance and may be specially designed to do so. Just as big a pain to calculate their resistance...

 

[Greenman]

Yep, those walls actually provide lateral resistance and may be specially designed to do so. Just as big a pain to calculate their resistance...

You wouldn't believe the shit we build here. The place I'm framing now has foundation bolts 8" (yes inches) on center. The three main sheer walls are 8" concrete with a #5 grid 12" O.C. each way. The structure is only two stories.

 

[iGas]

Yep, those walls actually provide lateral resistance and may be specially designed to do so. Just as big a pain to calculate their resistance...

Perhaps double up a few ceiling joists and some blocking if the need arise.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Perhaps double up a few ceiling joists and some blocking if the need arise.

Here's the problem. Unless you won the lottery and have a truss system, you're going to have to place a structural beam from the outside wall of the dining area/family room to the corner of the pantry where it makes a door with the kitchen. Not impossible but, difficult. The hard part is creating a vertical support beam in that leading edge of the pantry. It needs a proper footing so, you either tear up the floor and pour one or, if you have a basement, you have to carry the load on through to a proper footing there. You are looking at major work and expense for something that is more about looks than utility.