You have a glass door there so you have plenty of light transmission, you can raise the window using a smaller window height so the cabinets can end at the wall eliminating the opening as it shows on your image... patch the opening and you will have a nicely remodeled kitchen with a nice layout. To replace that window and do the patchwork is a minimal expense.

Good luck

I had a similar problem. You could close up the window so you can have upper and lower cabinets. Change the door to a slider...the open part where it is and the sliding part towards the corner...If your table and chairs are going in the corner, it will be in front of the slider that doesn't open :)

Thanks everyone. So I don't think I made it too clear. We actually don't have glass doors. We just have a regular external door with a small window towards the top. Also, the kitchen is not huge - 11x12. I incorporated some of your ideas in my Ikea render. Does a seating area look out of place in a kitchen this size?

I guess I can also just make the whole thing a seating area like this

I don't think a seating area is practical, would you really sit in there? Narrow glass cabinets would be nice to make the window seem bigger for more light. Or do you like open/floating shelving?

You're right @coralawatson. I would probably only sit there if I'm chatting with the person cooking. It would kinda just end up being the cat's throne.

I can work with the floating shelving idea. I was planning on doing shelves instead of wall cabinets (thus the bare walls) so that would fit.

I also considered just putting a floating countertop in that area - like the first picture but just countertop instead of seating. It would just cut through the window. Kinda like this but obviously with way less window.

Desert Courtyard Kitchen · More Info

We had a similar issue in our kitchen remodel (fall 2014) and since the window was in the eating area we did put in low cabinets, topped it with IKEA butcher block, and use it as a bench seat along with a table and two chairs. I like the bench in your rendering. It could be useful storage, and a place to add colorful pillows. I store my cookbooks in one cabinet of our bench seat, and that's where I sit to plan meals. Do you use that door often? If you don't already have a mudroom area that would also be a nice place to hide kids' shoes and backpacks, if you have those. (kids or backpacks. :))

Thanks for the insight @alimarie! We actually use that door a lot because car is parked just outside the backyard. However, I can see using that storage as more than just kitchen storage. Luckily, we have both kids and backpacks! Hm.. I just realized that it would be really great since it'll give us a place to put our shoes on before we head out. Thanks!

just for kicks, here it is as just a countertop:

replace the window with something wide and cabinet height.

Ideally I want to replace the window, but It's not in the budget :(

before you decide its not in the budget get an actual quote for how much it is, and then consider how much its going to cost you to work around the existing window and not get the best use of the space because its not being changed.