I love mine. We extended the counter into the window as well, instead of a separate sill. It was an existing window, there were no cabinets there before (eating area i guess). No regrets! My plants love it too!

Love it love it love it. Do it, and you will have no regrets.

Do either of you have pictures you'd like to share?

Thanks!

Here's mine:

I really like the windows at counterheight, especially behind the sink (more room!).

OMG I love that, I wish we had done that.

I love mine too. I didn't extend the granite into the sill. Since it is a bow window it would have a been a big expense for me and pain for GC. The new window was a big splurge in itself. I think it would look better if the granite would extend into the sill. Maybe next remodel :o

alku, yours looks fabulous.

kk--love your view (and the flock on the sill, too!) :-)

Those are beautiful. I'm not planning on having mine in front of the sink since I moved the sink.

Do you know off hand how many inches tall/high your windows are?

Ours is a pass-thru to the outside where we continued the granite beyonds the window; but even it it did not pass thru, I still like the granite even with the bottom of the window

Here is a link that might be useful: granite at pass thru

jenellecal, mine is 4' high by 5' wide.

catmom, you keep your kitties away from by flock. lol.

My cabinets were installed today. I just got in from meeting with the soapstone fabricator for templating. Am so glad that I went with windows at counter height! Will post pictures in a week or so when stone is installed. BTW, my sink is in front of the windows.

I'll know more next month when this should be finished. My sink will be placed in front too. I'm just hoping the new faucet won't splash so much that I have to wipe the windows a lot.

Here's mine-not done yet. I have to fill in the sill still but don't know if I should do soapstone or white trim???

{{!gwi}}

We are currently considering the same issue - I love seeing these pictures and would like to see more!

Also, any regrets out there, especially regarding splashes on the windows? Is it a maintenance nightmare? I really want to do counter-height, but am concerned about having to wash the windows all the time.

I did a Pella garden window with the countertop extended out into it. I tell everyone who is considering a kitchen remodel to do it. It is so much nicer to stand at the sink with that space in front of you rather than a wall in your nose. It really wasn't that much more expensive either.

Have fun!
Scott

Here is a link that might be useful: Scott's finished Kitchen!

fairegold: The link to your pics in the FKB doesn't work...do you have a new link?

The open view and feeling a counter-level window gives, makes wiping dry occasional splashes a non-issue.

Mine looks almost exactly like alku05 (I have different sink/faucet/granite.. looks like I have exact same window) and I love it. I am so happy my GC suggested it. It really opens up the feeling around the sink - makes it feel much less crowded. Also the additional light is nice.

The sink is far enough back from the window that splashing is not a huge issue - it only gets on the window slightly more than before but the straight counter going all the way to the window is easier to clean than a seperate sill - so I'd say for cleaning it all ends up about equal.

Felt a little weird at first since more of me is "exposed" to the neighbors but the weird feeling went away after a couple days. :)

Remember that you need to have places to install electrical receptacles within 24" of every point along the rear of the counter that's not behind a sink or cooktop. Some people have ended up with "tombstones" on their counters holding the outlets because there was no other place to put them.

Solar-powered, actually, the rule says that you have to be within 24" of an outlet, not have outlets every 24" inches. They can be 48" apart. And windows and doorways do not count.

We moved the kitchen into the dining room, and replaced the 48" X 72" windows with 47" X 47" double glazed, fixed (aluminum exterior, unfinished interior) Pella windows. I was a little nervous about splashes on the wood, but the contractor guys sealed the window frames and trim for us and so far so good.

Old windows:

Was even more nervous of giving up our wall of glass, but the new windows are such an improvement, i.e., keeping heat and glare out, that the view is even better now!

I love the idea of a counterheight window. We are going to have an arched top window and it is the only window in the room. I was going to leave about 4" above the wood frame to the ceiling, but I was wondering if I should just go up to the ceiling so it "matches" the fact that the window is touching the counter, almost like a symmetry thing, but on it's side. Does anyone have a picture like that?

Not great pictures, but here's mine. Oh, and I love them.

How do you do these? Are they all "garden windows" or are they regular casement windows? Did you have to do something to the outside of your house to accomodate the window?

Thanks for any help here!

Nica

My current kitchen (pre remodel) has windows at counter height. They are casements and the ONLY problem I have with them are the fact that you cannot open them and plant anything taller than moss in the window boxes :-)

In our last two houses we put in a 4 foot box bay behind the sink, at about 1.5 to 2 inches above counter height. And, would do it on our next kitchen....... hope the current kitchen is the last one!!

Not a great shot, but here's our windows to the counters. We love them. We chose to put sliding windows because we're putting a patio in right behind the windows and didn't wasnt windows sticking out.

Ours just went in Tuesday- I cannot believe what a difference it made!! They are so nice- and make it feel so much more open. LOVE THEM!

I really wish you had not started this thread!

I'm trying to cross things off my list of 'wants' not add things to the list. Our current window is about 12" above counter height. In order to have a counter height window, that would require cutting a hole in the exterior of the house- through the siding and whatever else is back there. To me, that sounds like an expensive add on. If you had to cut a larger opening, did you find that to be the case (ie: expensive add on?)

Sammi2,

Cutting out siding etc., not a big deal. Just need a skill saw! That's assuming all you're doing is cutting out drywall, studs, removing insulation, cutting through sheathing and then siding. Now, removing a brick exterior might be trickier!

As long as there is no plumbing or venting back there, it's a doable DIY. You also of course have to put in new supports (not sure what the opposite of header is called) on the bottom of the window.

I'm not going to lose any (more) sleep over it; but I sure WISH I had made my garden windows go down to counter height!

Here's mine; kitchen almost done. Counter height creates loads of light. I love it. Hope to create a pass through one day.

{{gwi:1578560}}

Here's ours...modest, but we love it.

{{gwi:1536759}}

We had them in our house which dates from 1978. They were constantly dirty from the water splashing. In the renovation, we raised the windows 9" above the sink, to allow for a 4" backsplash and window sill. It was actually a miscommunication between my carpenter and myself. I thought I wanted to run the windows down to the countertops again, but he framed it in higher.

After it was done, I'm actually glad now. The windows stay completely clean, and we still have a great view out to the ravine.

Not yet finished, but here's mine.... Love them! Yes, they do get splashed a bit and need to be cleaned, but the view and natural light make it all worthwhile.

fairegold on Wed, Oct 10, 07 at 9:45 wrote, in part above, about the two-foot rule of NEC sec. 210.52: "And windows and doorways do not count."

While a doorway clearly separates a counter, a window does not. Do you have a reference for this window exception, fairegold? When I raised the issue of a long, counter-height window in the Electrical Wiring forum, the consensus was to get AHJ permission to put receptacles below the countertop. Only one respondent asserted that a window wasn't a wall space. My present belief is that the NEC is missing clairity on this point, but if there is a paragraph somewhere in it supporting the window exception, it would help.

kas

Besides not being able to spell clarity, I also notice that all of these long window counters pictured above appear to be in violation of the Code as I understand it. The operative word is "appear," as ultimately the AHJ has the final word.