Hmmm....now that you mention it, I think most windows have headers above them. I wonder how they did this....mounted it higher than the header or somehow planned ahead???

But your kitchen--can you post a pic?

it’s severely under construction right now

Pancake boxes. However, they are no longer legal in a lot of municipalities-check with your city inspector’s office.

They might have furred out the wall 3" or so to make room for electrical. It does seem that windows are extra deep, which is kind of nice too. Not sure you have the space for that, also depends how badly you wan't those light fixtures. They do look pretty cool.

I can just make out your header in this pic.

That's a solid piece of wood spanning your window. how's he supposed to run electrical and put in boxes w/solid wood there?? normally you'd have spaces every 16" between vertical studs. you just have a short ceiling and your joists are supported by that header. I don't see any cheap options for you getting your sconces over the window

you could ask if you could do a shallow (pancake) box like mentioned and they can run the electrical up into the roof and down.

or, see if they can do jack studs on either side of the window and a thinner header beam with a cripple studs so that you'd have space for sconces. (I don't know if structurally this is doable for your window)

This would take a bit of reframing to beef up the support. Like I said, not a lot of cheap options

or, battery sconce for looks?

Flush mount fixtures in ceiling over windows similar to this
https://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchen-traditional-kitchen-portland-phvw-vp~137646

How about a sconce with a reticulating arm from the ceiling, or plug in sconce with the wires in a channel camouflaged by moldings?

If it's the cone shape you love, here's a semi-flush mount with that shape:

.

Build out a very shallow soffit.............or move on......or flush as above and in the ceiling.

Why not use molding to hid the wiring?

Have you spoken directly to the electrician? They may have a work around the contractor isn’t aware of. Pancake boxes are what we would have used normally but as noted they are illegal in some places.

Windows do have headers to support the weight of wall and roof above. The size depends on the width of the span. That would preclude installing wall mounted lighting fixtures. I agree with others - the fixtures in the example photo are probably pancakes. They do look nice but for practically I would suggest recessed downlights.

thank you all for your input. it was the electrician that said no (contractor just went along) but i will bring up some of your ideas with the contractor to see what he says. thanks again!

Fur the wall out.

Sconces put out a lot of really great light. I don’t get why you can’t have them. My electrician worked around the header above my window.

Wonder how a mud in channel would look between the sconces and then LV LED bulbs? Just spit-ballin' here.

I have pendants over my island and over my 2 windows. It can be done and look good

ILoveRed, do you have more photos of your kitchen? I'm dying to see your beautiful layout as I'm going to start remodeling in the spring and you have the kind of cabinets and crown molding I've been dreaming of!

There is a trick in many old houses that were full of tall windows. When you couldn't take your window all the way up, just take your moulding all the way up. Which is essentially what I would do here.

I would use furring strips above and below the window to give a 3/4" gap between the header and the drywall. With the drywall attached that is 1.25" and that is plenty of room for a shallow work box (not a pancake box). Alternately just use tall wood window header moulding to do the same thing.

I would then case the window all the up and essentially turn the entire set up into a feature rather than just the lights as a feature. I think it will add something even if it were not utilitarian in nature. Then again, I am not a designer so...

woohoo. all of your comments gave me the confidence to push for what i wanted. they’re going to use pancake boxes and router through the beam, or something like that. i don’t speak contractor. thanks everyone!!

Check on this "router through the beam" before you allow them to do it. Are they just drilling a hole, or are they routing a channel across the solid header?

If the latter, they are weakening the header structure.

it depends on how the header is made. If it's (2) 2xs with 1/2" plywood between, the plywood is a spacer and could be routed away without compromising the header's structural integrity.

You could do what a bunch of HVAC people did to my house in the 90's. They just cut a notch in the main beam holding up the second floor for a 8" vent pipe. NOT a great idea. I discovered when remodeling and my house almost had a major catastrophe.

track lights?

Plywood box beams for the header. More energy efficient, too.

Did you end up making it work. I’m in the same situation now.

It would be nice if those posting would follow up afterwards. I am remodeling now & would love to see her end results, but she left us hanging..........