I would also like to know how to tell if a wall is load bearing. I would like to enlarge an opening so that the opening "disapears" and the celing line in the two rooms become one and the vertical frame is widened so that it is even with the sidewall.

In manyb cases it is easy to tell.

But there are many cases where it can be very difficult to tell.

Also in many cases once you determine that you have to figure out what can be used to transfer the loads.

You really need someone local to look at it and in some cases need an engineer or architect.