No, do not do those little windows! It just looks odd.

Do you need that hutch? How about doing a nice sized window there and placing a sideboard under it?

I was afraid of that. My parents are actually building this house and really want to keep the furniture the bought for their old house. If they don't add windows somewhere, it seems like the kitchen will be dark. I appreciate the feedback.

Reorient like flip the plan so this space is on the east side of the house or change-up the kitchen plan altogehter?

Also how old are your parents?

early 70s

I'm looking at that hallway and it looks very narrow. At a minimum at their age all hallways should be 42" wide for any future problems with mobility.

Additionally that kitchen is not well suited if they have any future problems. Look at all the steps they have to take just to prepare a meal.

They take food out of the fridge, have to cross the aisle to the sink, wash the food and prep it and then carry it to the stove. Also the dishwasher is in the way of moving from sink to stove so if someone is helping...

One other thing the house will be extra dark because the back of the family room faces north, which means no real light entering.

Where is this house?

T go TX, I would rather have a nice sized west facing window, than no window at all, and plan on managing the summer sun with a semi-opaques cellular shade, that still lets light in. Just don't do those small windows!

My parents just downsized, again, and the new place has 3 of those small windows over the living area and they are just a pain to decorate around. I designed an insert with a laser cut design for them to put in there, so it doesn't look like 3 dark holes at night. Waiting for the inserts to arrive soon. The builder could have put a narrow tall window to the left of these 3 windows, which would have been a better design choice.

If possible i would switch the sink and the stove....sink on outer wall...because moms always like to look out the window when washing dishes...big sink ...big window...both make life easier and more pleasant in the kitchen

There are lots of ways to make some shade for the window if necessary....

Whole walls with no windows are not good ...especially in this area of the home...

cpartist The house will be in TX.

cpartist - I share your concerns about the north facing windows. We have a lot of large, north-facing windows in our house ... and no light. It drives me crazy.

I would also be concerned about the layout of the kitchen. How far along are they?

You need more windows. Can you post a bigger plan? What’s happening around the powder room wall? Can the layout be rearranged to use this wall?

I like the windows. The high up windows give peeks at the sky and more light. What else would be on the wall space? If there is a 2 story house next door, be sure they can't see in. That could be awkward.

I think some high transoms are a fine idea but I would put them together a bit more so they don't look so busy. Send us pictures of the hutch and bookshelf. Could they be grouped together with some art or a plant on either end? Breaking up that large wall could be done like this... (bedroom but this was also the design for our dining room).

Make sure to allow enough space for your hutch. You could also choose to build out a space to make the hutch look intentional.

I would take some time to draw furniture on that plan. It appears to be both quite small and also wasting space... The entry door in the middle of the family room seems out of place. Is this the main entrance or access to a deck?

I appreciate everyone's comments. This morning they told me they've decided to go forward with no windows on that wall and the plan as is. So, while I appreciate the feedback and concerns (many of which I had already raised), I don't want to waste anyone's time.

Thank you again to all of you Houzz folks and especially to cpartist, who has helped me in the past.

Parents! ;-)

Mine didn't listen to some advice I gave for things to add in their first house build in FL, but they did add them in their second house!