option 2

Well since everyone liked option 2 so much, here I provide some further options.  David thinks maybe it isn’t a load-bearing wall after having crawled through the crawl space.  But it’s hard to say.  I will post yet another option shortly.  Thus, we will call this options 2A and 2B.

       This one is the same basic idea as before but on the other side of the dining room opening.  It would be visible from the front door, which folks seemed to think a good idea.  It would be central to both rooms and therefore toastier.

This is the same one as before more or less, except with a better photoshop job.

Here are options 3A and 3B.

   Sorry the photoshop job is so lame.  It was a really hard one.

   Same thing, other side of the opening.

My gosh this photoshopping takes a long time.  Anyway.  Vote for your favourite.