Our cabinets go to the ceiling, and we stayed with the existing window, which does not go to the ceiling. We put in a display shelf that connects the cabinets on either side (but is shallow enough for the pendant lights to go in front of it).

Links of pix I found online. I tend to like the windows without trimwork....for a modern kitchen. If you can do it, I would take the window up to the ceiling as close as possible and just do 'drywall returns'....no trim.

http://youngsbk.com/assets/images/Modern-Kitchen-Design-056-P.jpg

http://www.aneka.com.au/Narrow%20U-shaped.jpg

http://www.aneka.com.au/modern04.jpeg

http://www.aneka.com.au/Stainless%20Steel%20BT.JPG

We put cabinetry above the window.

I have cabinets either side of my sink and window, although in my case they are closer to the window -- about 4" on either side. I have a recessed light over the sink that would have been blocked by a shelf or cabinet. I didn't want another hanging fixture there (love it in other kitchens but didn't fit mine) and I wasn't sure I wanted anything solid over the window anyway.

What we did was just leave the cabinets either side to the ceiling. The trim ends into the wall except for the top piece of crown that runs all the way around the kitchen, breakfast room and family room (only way to make my cabinets to the ceiling and existing crown work). Then I have a small iron wall potrack hanging above the window --it's my valance, and I have a scarf fabric valance running across the bottom. OK, the fabric is still roughed in to test the idea, and now that the kids are back in school, I hope to get the final stitched up and put in place.

I needed something different with some character and interest and the potrack I found on clearance before we started the remodel turned out to be the answer. It just took me about a year to find where I had packed it away -- I had become certain I donated it by mistake. LOL

We have a flat stock that trims out our windows with an arched lintel above. However, in our kitchen, we had planned an arched valance out at the face of the upper cabinets with a recessed light behind. It was going to look really heavy when we mocked it up so my husband just did a recessed panel looking detail with flat stock and ran it up to the ceiling, added the crown from the cabinets and painted it all the trim color - looks great!

{{!gwi}}

In our last kit we put a nice pendant light right over the sink in front of the window. Overkill because we had recessed lights too but I hated to draw attention the the look of them.

This is what ours look like...plain & simple.

Actually, we had no choice as the bay area actually juts out from the house...the wall of the house is the wall the cabinets are on.

Thanks for all the ideas! Turns out it is major $ to raise the height of the window (support beam issues), so I will be using a decorative solution.

Mindimoo, what a clever husband you have-- that painted panel looks great!
I have a question about your trim work. It looks like the profile of the crown molding on your cabinets (black crown) matches the profile of the crown on your walls (white crown). Did you make the crown on your cabinets yourself or order it from a cabinet company?

Like you I have white crown running throughout the ground floor of my house. My contractor suggested running the white crown around the top of the espresso-colored (really almost black) cabinetry. I prefer your look, but will have to investigate if I can find oak crown and stain it to match my cabinets. Just curious as to how you handled this.

Hi Morton5,

We just ordered extra paint grade crown from the cabinet supplier. I think it actually was maple like the cabinets and just not stained. It doesn't match the crown in the other rooms, but it is close to the same height so it's not really noticeable. I think it was the best solution for us. I really didnt' want a white stripe on the black cabinets or a black stripe on the walls/millwork. Plus to use our other crown which normally comes only in mdf would have been lotsa $$$$ to match. Decision: easy, save the money!

Good luck!

izbit do you have pictures to share of your display shelf over your window. This sounds like a great idea, as I too am now facing what to do with the area above the window. It looks so bare.

mindimoo, love your kitchen! I see you have your upper cabs coming right down to the counter on both sides of the 30 inch range. I want to do that too -- it looks great. I am short so would much rather give up the space at the top of the kitchen and have a wider hood, and in exchange get the cabs on both sides of the stove to come down to the counter and have drawers in there.

Can you please tell me how wide your counter is on either side of your stove?

Sayde,

In answer to your question, we have 18" just about, a little less where the trim comes down at the front edge of the spice pull outs, next to the range. Overall, we have a baby 30" Wolf range and the hood above is 66". It's actually a 30" hood, but we built it in and filled in the sides with sheet metal below.

How we decided the size next to the range was I took my largest pasta platter out and set it next to the range (we had it before this remodel) to see how much space I needed for the platter and room to hold the sauce pan above and to the side to pour over. Measurement done!

If you are going to do a similar detail, I would say do a minimum of 18" because it's not only about what you will set there, but the elbow room to do what you want also.

Best of luck!

Thanks so much, mindimoo! I will do some tests. It's so very helpful to see your kitchen and know there is someone who has done what I would like to do and it looks fabulous.

Right now we have our 30 inch cooktop in a niche that has not quite 3 inches on each side (built up sides) and it is a little tight! I though going to 6 would feel luxurious, but I will do some tests. We are watching every inch in our little kitchen . . . .
Thanks again!!

our cabinets go to the ceiling and our window was not. we framed the window consisten with how all other windows in our house are framed and just painted to the ceiling.

Theresab 1 Can you tell me were you got your bar/counter stools?

Theresab_1, can you tell me the name/source of your island counter top?

It is gorgeous!