It’s so cute! I’d leave it exactly as it is. I’m 30 years time it will be a sought after period feature :)

:) Thanks for commenting. My dad did just say he would leave it (if it was up to him) and just put nicer doors on (they're not that good quality if you look closely). I do find it annoying that people will sit at the dining table and watch the TV! Maybe I should just put nicer doors on and keep them closed (and child proof - my 4 year old spends a lot of time with her feet on the top of the sofa trying to climb through it!)

oh, and it might be obvious but I should have said - those tiles on the kitchen wall are going!

Make it into a fishtank? Just flashed into my head when I looked at the space!

I thought about that. But I don't really want any fish! It would be quite narrow too...Could have a convincing fake one though I suppose...

Personally I would take the architrave off both sides so that nothing protrudes and then see how easy it is to take out the inside lining- if it is easy then I would put plasterboard in both sides of the hole and then have the whole lot skimmed at the same time as having other plasterwork done.
If for any reason it is impossible to take it out (and I am of the opinion that if there is a will there is a way) I would hang something over the hole on each side to hide it. Ikea is one of many places that sell over sized canvass art.

Thank you. It is possible to do it, but the way that the architrave has been fitted means the plaster is likely to crack when it's taken off, and if he fits a binding to stop that (can't remember the proper term) it won't be quite flush with the wall. The rest of the wall doesn't need replastering, just filling and smoothing when the painting gets done. It is possible, of course, but with the scale of the rest of the job and the fact that my dad is doing it for free and lives 100 miles away, I thought I would see if I could save him the job! I did just think about hanging something over it but it's quite low so not sure that wouldn't look a bit weird.

Would it be possible to disguise the serving hatch with a large piece of art / over sized clock or mirror?

I think that would work best in the kitchen side. Then perhaps create a little inset shelf in the lounge with a photos and/or ornaments (without the architrave).

I'm not a DIY'er but was just wondering if you built a frame inside would dry lining work with filler for any gaps to avoid reskimming although you may need to when the tiles come off In the kitchen anyway?

I've got a serving hatch between my living room and kitchen and really regret not taking it out before decorating . I'm lucky in that we've got a tall tv cabinet that hides it in the living room and it's got a nice door and is painted in the wall colour in the kitchen to blend it but I don't think it adds anything. Yours is quite awkwardly positioned for art etc both sides too unless you did gallery walls or rearranged the sofas. Just thinking it could cost more trying to find a solution to hide it than it would to fix it. We had our kitchen walls reskimmed recently after removing tiles (he also had to box in the soil pipe) and only charged £150 for the day (he was from east London somewhere). I appreciate you have 2 walls but it would be a lot easier/quicker than working around wall units and corners. I think any art etc is going to cost more?

Good point by Minnie- you could spend money trying to hide it or making it look less like the outdated feature it is- or you could just spend the same money on a plasterer. Given how many plastering jobs I can see on the pictures you have posted it might be worth getting help for Dad- especially as it is so important to get plastering right

hi, yes, Dad hasn't been doing the plastering himself - we are spending actual money on plastering and electrics to save a bit of time! It's just a very tight budget so not paying for 2 whole walls vs dad doing a bit of skimming himself for the tiles was the idea. Probably wouldn't go for massive pieces of art so don't need to worry about sending the money there instead.

Minnie - apparently not, the plaster is likely to crack a lot. Not that I really know!

oh - and the pics are a couple of months old now, we've actually done the rest of the plastering. Walls and ceiling are about to get their base coat of white so we won't feel quite so much like a building site!

You could leave as it is or perhaps put a nice piece of stained glass in it. This makes it into a feature and lets the light through as well.

I like this idea but my husband has an irrational hated of stained glass! I am thinking an alcove on the lounge side and a sort of feature notice board thing in the kitchen.

Have you thought about an alternative approach of making it a large internal window to bring borrowed light into the room? Maybe doing something trendy by making it a crittall window?

I have, and the kitchen is quite dark so any light is good. I can't quite picture an internal window without thinking it's a bit strange! Would love to see good examples

Amazing, thanks!

Start by lowering your art to SEATED EYE LEVEL. Hang a large piece of art over each side of the hatch.

We had an original serving hatch which has been blocked up. However I have kept the door with handle & hinges attached, sanded it, oiled it & added slate to the middle. It still hangs in the kitchen as serves as a menu/reminder board. It hangs from the original hinges and chalk sits on the handle. Maybe you could place a fixed panel into the hatch which serves the same purpose in the kitchen side & the other side could have a picture with glass cut to size(or no glass) and a nice moulding around the edge to frame it.

It’s quirky so leave it! Handy for TV dinner too!

Put your notice/pin board over the hatch on kitchen side and shelves on the lounge side.... You may well want to open it up in years to come.... Sorted!

Glass shelves with glass bottles of say preserved lemons or old fashioned

sweeties!

I have an opening between two rooms - slightly bigger but similar. I have small speakers (Sonas with Alexa) on it for both rooms, or a small radio may be suitable here - also have a light. I have had a wooden venetian blind made to fit so that it can be closed off if needed.

To block it up properly yes a bit of a job. I had one and just wanted flat walls so I yanked the trim off made a simple frame to go in the gap and screwed it in with some plaster board on each side. A plaster friend made it look pretty and a bit of paint sorted it out. Like it never happened

I blocked mine off - and its really frustrating now to have to walk round carrying hot food. I also miss out on any conversations going on in the dining room while I'm in the kitchen...I took all the trim off and it looked ok - I will be unboarding it very soon!

Thanks Skinnyjules, that;s why we kept it until now. But now the table is in the kitchen diner it's not such an issue. And I like not having to listen to kids programmes whilst I am in the kitchen! I am coming around to making it a bigger window I must say, even with an extra window the kitchen is quite dark. Thanks all for your thoughts.

Yes, turning it into a larger window would be a good decision imho. :)