I think a fixed window is fine. I have a slider behind my sink because I like the ventilation and the ability to talk to people outside. and if I remember correctly, your window is not in chatting position :-)

I believe my sill is at 42" and I like it. 44 will be lovey.

At least two to three times a year, I have to open the kitchen window to air it out when I have burned our dinner to keep from setting off the smoke alarms. Our new range hood is a big improvement over what I am used to having but I still need to open that window to get the "uh oh, she stayed on GW too long and forgot about dinner" smell out of the house. This is probably just me though.

None of my windows in my kitchen open but I have a side vent with a little door on it on one of the windows. If I do what jdez sometimes does, I can open that vent and then the backdoor and get a nice breeze through the kitchen to help air it out.

So, I guess, if I were you, I'd want something that opens up somewhere in or quite near the kitchen. Do you have other windows that could open besides the sink one?

I have a window behind my sink without the panes, but I'd like to at least put a grid in so that it matches the other windows on that side of the house. As far as opening, it used to but got painted shut one time and I have yet to work on that. Also the window opens by gripping small metal pulls on the inside of the sash and pulling inwards and then lifting - very heavy, and reaching across the sink to do this is hard on the arms. Even without the old fashioned hardware, if I had to push up on the top of the sash to raise the window it would be a difficult reach across and up. So if you want to open your window, make sure you have handles of some sort at the bottom?

I live in a rural area and I couldnt imagine my kitchen window not opening. I love to hear the wind in the trees, and all the critters.

I have a greenhouse window that has small side windows that open. But I hardly ever open them. As others have said, if it's hard to reach, then you won't open a window, so you might as well have one that doesn't open.

I'm thinking the height from the floor would be better at 42" (for me, I'm short at only 5'4" (64")... however, I really wanted about 6" of backsplash space, plus lower window trim, so I went with 8" above counter height (ish). I'd LOVE a counter-height window but the measurements are just too close for me to give them and feel confident. Maybe my GC can help with that.

Thank you for the feedback. I have an 8080 slider down the way a bit (18ft) I can use for venting burnt toast!

I am likely NOT centering even my sink on this window, so maybe fixed is a good thing. Unless I did a SH type. I'd have to climb on the counter to open it though so not really worth it I'd think?

a2gemini

Is that a bumpout? Does it have roofing over the top or go to the rafter? I'm trying to figure that out logistically. I love the look of it. A lot.

Mine is an actual window with glass on all sides - there are two small casements on the side. I think it was a Sunshine Garden Window but would need to look it up for sure.

I like what I have - but would have done an actual bump out with the bottom at counter height.

Talk to your GC and see if he is comfortable counter height. There are a lot of examples on GW. Also - if you go with casement - you can get a crank extension to reach the window cranks - I can reach mine but do climb up on the counter to really clean the shelf - I usually have someone clean all of my windows once a year - and that is when the inside and outside get cleaned.

I'm a HUGE open windows/breezes billowing the curtains kinda gal. So I couldn't imagine a room with no windows that opened. However, you might not mind. But if nothing else, as jdez said, if something burns or goes bad or whatever, and you need to/want to air the kitchen out quickly, an open window is your friend. :)

I too, can't imagine not having windows that open in my kitchen!

I have a casement at the sink, a dutch door to a side BBQ area, and an opening skylight. All three of which are open probably 340+ days a year...

GC says I can't push out the bump out because it would push my roof into the required setback. Darn. Oh well.

I think I'll stick with fixed and deal with it. Thanks for the feedback!

If I lived where it was warm enough to have windows open that often, cookncarpenter, I'd want all my windows to open, too.

Me too funky, but I'm in Vancouver and well, the weather stinks more than it's nice. I do have a few windows that open which are north-south so I can get a mild breeze going through if I open the door too.

The tall window in my pantry opens at the bottom. And I can open the back door off the kitchen which has a screen door.

Today I have both the window and the door open, plus the tall schoolhouse door in the bedroom which also has a screen door, is wide open. The breeze (sometimes wind gusts!) come through that door, down the hallway, and into the kitchen, and out the back door. My house isn't that dark in the afternoon, my camera's flash is weird.
But I think I hi-jacked Mama Rachel's window thread. sorry!

It's fine. I love it :) I have a transom in the pantry, but it's fixed. I live in a pretty windy area. I'm actually concerned about putting a breeze through the house because I think the den doors may slam and they are full-light glass.

Now I'm re-thinking. I love to "air out the house" when I can. I may need to change this window to SH.

II too live in a windy area. I'm sure whoever designed and built this school at this spot in ca.1870 was aware of the need for good ventilation in public buildings.

I have door stops for the antique bedroom door that opens to the hallway and has a full-light glass ,it's actually an exterior door, unusual but that's what I hung there, the stop is a yellow striped concrete sleeping cat statue; and also a small iron rooster for the back door or else exactly what you say happens - BAM!! makes me scream every time if it happens.

I'm not far south of your Mama Rachel, on the Olympic Peninsula, Pacific coast side. So I definitely share your weather! Most of my windows have side vents with mesh screens and fixed-in-place wooden louvers on the outside. I can get ample fresh air and even have them open if it's raining (which never happens here, LOL) without the wet getting inside. Since the wind coming off the ocean, up our harbor, and then up our hill, can really gust and be quite chilly compared to the ambient temperature, I wouldn't want windows that open fully-wide. I think it would chill the house too much. I like fresh air but when I have to choose, I choose warmth.

Me too. I hate being cold. I almost bought a snuggie once. .. I lie, I have had it in my cart many times.

I own 3 pairs of slippers.

Hate cold.

Love the fresh asked out smell though.

I'm rarely cold, but I saw this and sent a pic to my mom who is always cold. The Crash Sack. A wearable sleeping bag from REI :-)

I used an awning window behind my sink so I could have a single window. It has a crank and just opens out. No track.

Note I have a 60" wide window, counter height, and bumped out 9". So needed something that was easy to open. Works great.