Ask a local contractor.

We're just pixels on the Internet.

I know, I know. Just trying to get a general idea.. :)

Dr.LadyM:

Speaking as a licensed Florida building contractor, it certainly is feasible, but cost effective may be another matter.

While I don't bid jobs off pictures on the internet, it would be safe to suppose that you could remove the lower windows easily because I'm betting the concrete lintel above them is continuous. The top windows not so much.

You could then install an atrium style bump out on the lower level that may fool you into feeling like the great room is larger. Probably 30-40K.

On second thought, remove all the windows, finish the openings, and install a non-structrual glass wall from floor to ceiling 10 feet away. The trick here is to avoid the structural work but make the room look and feel bigger. If you're in a hurricane zone your glazing expenses just skyrocketed. If we have to tint the windows to keep your light pollution from fooling the baby sea turtles into heading the wrong direction, the boosters on your skyrockets just kicked in.

This post was edited by Trebruchet on Tue, May 20, 14 at 11:54

Move on to another house that fits your needs better from the beginning.

"Move on to another house that fits your needs better from the beginning."

That is usually good advice, but inventory is at historic lows in Florida, making turning something into what you want more viable.

Yeah that's really the issue. To get something perfect for me I either have to build or remodel. Land is scarce and this house is on 2.7 acres. You just can't find empty lots of that size around here.

why not just take out all the lower story windows to make one big opening under one header and create just a one story extension? You'd need a new roof over the one story area but probably cheaper than trying to remove and rebuild a 2 story wall. From the inside the "alcove" created by the one story bumpout would be a whole lot cozier than a 2 story great room and facilitate many uses of that room.

Don't you think it would be possible to just build a new wall which would support the roof before knocking down the old one? Or supporting it with beams or something until the new wall is done? I would really like to maintain the 2 story great room. Hard to visualize what just an expansion of the lower part would look like. Plus it can only be pushed out about 10 feet so I think it would be weird to have most of the room 2 story and a third of it not.

DrLadyM:

With the right budget, nearly anything is possible. When you get the number for what you just described, the alternatives presented are going to look a whole lot better.