We have a nice view, but not of a lake, (Lucky You). Anyway we installed a bay window in the kitchen and we absolutely love it. Patio is outside so I made sure the side windows (of the bay window) were large enough to pass large plates thru, as we eat a lot out on the patio, or bbq and want to pass that which was done on bbq back into the kitchen. We also built a granite ledge on the outside of the bay window, so the windows "appears" to be sitting atop a huge granite slab. The inside of the bay window is also covered with the granite.
You just "can't beat the view and the lite it lets in along with the nice breezes-----well cept for your view.
Good luck!!

Gary

If your sink is on the lake facing front wall, I would not have cabs above on that wall. I would do a large full height and down to the counter window. It sounds like you have a lot storage with the adjoining wall all cabs and the island.

Point is I would put cabinets everywhere else, jam as many as you want to get the storage you need, but I'd keep the front lake view open with a huge window. You can't have too many windows in a lake front house.

(and I'm speaking from experience as I have a lake front house, but my kitchen is on the side wall not the front. if it were, that's what I'd do)

Hi Nancy! Exciting times ahead. Congratulations on getting started. Someone recently posted a picture of their kitchen that had backsplash windows. It was a dark wood with a light countertop, very elegant. I tried to find it, but no luck so far. I don't believe the windows were 24'' tall, probably a more standard backsplash height ~18''. Don't give up on the concept! It could be very nice.

Thanks for the encouragement! I saw the concept in a post of someone's kitchen a couple of years ago and have not been able to get it out of my head..

I lowered the blind in the current kitchen window to see how far up the window would have to be and still get my full view, just less sky. Since we are on a hill and look down toward the water it really works quite well.

As suggested I could just do all window, but I have another 5'x5' window less that 2' away from where this one would end. I also like the idea of doing and awning style window, I have some similar in size in two back bedrooms. I leave them open May through Oct here in Northern Michigan. No AC! The cupboards above would give me added storage (I never have enough) and I hope they would add to the overall effect...Yes? No?

I was really hoping someone had already done something like this and could share a picture.

Nancy

Found it. First kitchen on the thread. It is gorgeous.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mairin's kitchen

Cotehele, thank you! That is lovely and very similar to something I saw a couple of years ago. Love the whole idea. Mairin's kitchen is fabulous. I don't have that kind of space...wish I did.

Here's a link to a picture that I just found. Larger glass area with smaller cupboards above.

Nancy

Here is a link that might be useful: Backsplash window

I can understand why you want awning windows in that location.

Just a couple thoughts.

What direction does it face and what counter material are you thinking about? Will the light bounce into your eyes?

Because the handle is at countertop level, will it be uncomfortable to use? I'm thinking that the window will actually run from counter to bottom of cabinet... It's neat if you can do it, it does make your countertop just a little deeper and reduces the number of horizontal lines.

Will you have constant cleaning issues if its behind your sink? Is it possible to consider a small bump out for the window - just a couple of inches?

OMG, that is similar to my cooktop backsplash!! I thought mine was an original, lol.

Bmorepanic, the window will face the east. I haven't gone to the window company yet but their showroom and factory is only 10 miles away, so I will very soon. They did the rest of my windows and are small enough to work with, I hope they have some ideas.

Countertop...I can see why it would need to be a dull finish, to cut glare. I've thought about concrete or at least a concrete look. SS sink and SS appliances.

Cleaning? There will have to be a screen for when the windows are open, I can see that could be a problem, right behind the sink, something else I'd better think about when I actually look at windows and sinks.
I don't think a bumpout would look right on the outside of the house and might be a problem in the winter.

Cotehele, very unique set up for your cooktop. That looks great. Do your windows crank open?

I'm starting to gain confidence here... like maybe my idea is not so far fetched...

Nancy

The exact kind of windows you're talking about have been done for years in my area. I love the look!

For screens, I'd really suggest either something that slides up from behind the lower cabinets, or roller screens that pull from a molding strip. That way they're only there when the windows are open.

You can do a fixed panel with operable ones and get rid of the screen.

In that same slide show, a couple of pictures forward, they put the storage at the counter and did awning windows above the top. The storage is maybe 18-20" high. It's a clean look.

If it's on the east, the light problem is only in the morning - and perhaps only in the summer.

I'll admit I'm not partial to windows that are long and not very tall. They remind me of the slits in old WWII bunkers still found along the coast. But that's me and my preconceptions.

The windows in the pics certainly look nice. Can you stand at the sink wearing heels and look out the window without having to "duck?" That would be my ultimate criteria-seeing the view as I wash. If you can't, I'd shorten the length and add to the height-perhaps eliminating top cabinets but adding side ones.

Yes the windows are casements. The screen are off for winter. As for seeing out the windows, they are 36'' - the top is about 6 ft. off the floor. A foot lower, and I would not have such a nice view. BTW, there is storage as well as a vent hood above the cooktop. Cookbooks are on one side and a big stock pot is on the other side.

wizardnm: slightly different idea but this is what my cousin did to maximize storage and keep some light in the kitchen:

He has a house on a big wooded lot, with the best wood views from their kitchen back wall (sink wall.) They built one or two cabinets in front of windows, and use wavy glass doors on the cabinets. They store glassware in those cabs, and it's so pretty when the light comes through, and you can see the woods (in a wavy way) beyond. It really opened up/lightened up that back wall yet gave them some wall storage.

They live in the Cincinnati area and their builder was really unsure about doing this. (They had cabs like that in a townhome in California where I guess it's more common?) Anyway, after the builder saw how they looked he wanted to do them in other homes because they turned out great.

I don't have a picture of his and couldn't find one like his, but this link shows the general idea (except with frosted glass and without the view.)

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}