How to Add a Wall With a Breakfast Bar

Use a stud finder to locate a stud in the intersecting wall where you want to install the breakfast bar. Driving the end stud of the breakfast bar wall into the stud of the intersecting wall provides a stronger joint than nailing it to drywall.

Cut off the molding along the wall where you're installing the bar with a reciprocating saw.

Cut a pressure-treated 2-by-4 board that matches the length of the new wall. This will be the sill plate.

Lay the sill plate into position on the floor, with one end against the wall where you removed to molding. Screw it to the floor every six inches.

Cut the top and bottom plates for the breakfast bar out of untreated 2-by-4 boards. The top and bottom plates are the same length as the sill plate.

Cut the wall studs out of untreated 2-by-4s. Cut the studs long enough that the breakfast bar reaches the desired height and cut enough studs so that they are spaced no more than 16 inches apart in the wall.

Construct the frame for the new wall by nailing a stud into each end of the bottom plate, then nailing more studs in between them. Nail the top plate to the top of the studs to complete the frame.

Lift the assembled wall frame into position on the sill plate, aligning the edges of the sill plate and bottom plate. Nail the bottom plate to the sill plate and the end stud to the intersecting wall.

Cut sheets of 1/2-inch drywall to fit the sides of the framing. Cut the sheets a 1/4-inch shorter than the framing.

Hold the drywall against the framing, with the top edges aligned and the 1/4-inch gap along the bottom of the wall. Drive drywall screws through the drywall and into the framing, using one screw every eight inches.

Staple metal corner beads to the outside corners of the wall. Use one staple every three inches.

Cover the joints between the drywall boards and the metal corner beads by applying joint compound with a putty knife. Press strips of drywall tape into the joint compound with the putty knife and allow it to dry overnight.

Sand the surface of the joints smooth with fine-grit sandpaper, then wipe the dust off of the wall with a tack cloth.

Add a second coat of drywall tape and joint compound and allow it to dry overnight. Sand the joints smooth again and repeat the process one more time.

Cover the drywall with a coat of primer and allow it to dry.

Paint the wall with two coats of paint, allowing each coat to dry.

Nail molding to the base of the wall along the floor.

Nail corbels to the top edge of the wall on both sides. Position the corbels over the wall studs and drive the nails into the studs for added strength. A corbel is a small support that extends out from a wall to provide additional support for an object laying on top of the wall -- in this case, the countertop for the breakfast bar.

Place the countertop into position on top of the wall and nail or screw it to the wall and the corbels -- how it's attached depends on the material the countertop is constructed from. Options include stone, laminate and wood, but you may want to use a material that matches the other kitchen countertops, if possible.