Kitchen window advice

8 years ago

I plan to have a kitchen with open shelving on one wall. I will build sturdy floating shelves to store bigger stuff like my Dutch ovens, Vitamix or mixing bowls. On the left side of the sink, I will store glassware, stemware, mugs, cups... I prefer to keep dust away so I will use wall cabinets for this.

My problem is that I don't know what to do with the window above the kitchen sink!?!?!

I will have about 5" of space between the window and the edge of the wall cabinet. If I extend the window up to 5" from the shelves, it will be symmetrical from this point but the sink won't be centered with the window (image 1).

If I go with a smaller window centered with the sink, I will have a lot more wall space on the right side of the window (image 2). Would it look odd if left empty? Should I go with corner shelves? Different wall storage?

I could also divide the window in 3 equal parts and put the sink in the middle of the first 2 parts on the left (image 3). I tend to prefer this option but I am not sure it will look great in a real kitchen.

What do you think?

Thanks a lot!

Here are the tests I made with IKEA's kitchen planner :

Featured Answer

Kim

8 years ago

I like #1 or #3. With the larger window and open shelving, it has an eclectic look that seems to work for me. You could play around with the location of the faucet as well. It doesn't have to be centered on the sink.

Or the window could have two sections and the sink could be centered under the one on the left.

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Comments (12)

PL Dorval
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
@Kim Thanks! I like the 2 sections idea but the one over the sink would be larger. 42" vs 21". I think that is the option I will choose.
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PRO
Flo Mangan
8 years ago
This depends on how sensitive you are to symmetry. I would do just two cabinets on the left and a centered window a bit larger than sink area and the "return" the wood shelves around the corner to the window. HOWEVER, I would not plan on placing heavy "kitchen appliances" on a shelf no matter how sturdily installed. Just the "reach" would be problematic. Also, I am not keen on open shelves in kitchens. Dust and grease are too much of a problem. But to each his own. Those are my thoughts.
auntthelma
8 years ago
What is outside the window? I would opt for the most possible window. Unless you are staring at someone's house or driveway.
PL Dorval
Original Author
8 years ago
@auntthelma Backyard
apple_pie_order
8 years ago
Move the window out of the corner. Make it large and easy to open each section.

Wall mounted shelves are for lightweight things, not heavy things that are awkward to lift. Heavy things like cast iron Dutch ovens and a Vitamix processor may damage your countertop when you drop them.
Kim
8 years ago
PL, sounds like you are trying to fill a space that is 63" wide. If you want to go with two sections, is it possible for each of them to be 32" wide? That little bit of overage would be less noticeable than if the two windows were different sizes.
PRO
Debbi Washburn
8 years ago
What does the rest of the layout look like? Can you do the floating shelves to the left of the window and do cabinets that come around the corner and have the window sized like plan 2? Or even do the shelves around the corner?
Kim
8 years ago
You probably already know this, but here is what some of the commenters are suggesting...
PRO
Flo Mangan
8 years ago
Thanks Kim. I didn’t have time to hunt a photo. But that is exactly what I meant. I want to reinforce not putting heavy items coming.
eastbay10
8 years ago
#1 or #3. #1 as a single awning (for the ventilation) or #3 as a mulled window (your drawing looks like two separate windows from the casing detail) with a larger picture to the left and a smaller casement on the right).
PL Dorval
Original Author
8 years ago
@East Bay 10

IKEA's planner doesn't have a lot of window option so I have to use 2 different windows but in real life, it would be 1.

I could also go with 2/3 and 1/3.