How many lives will be lost if it remains as is?

(a rhetorical question meant to emphasize the weight of a detail of a big picture)

Maybe if I understood the rhetoric I would know what do!

I would probably just paint the exterior window trim in the siding color to make it blend in better. Seems like the easiest solution to minimize that squished feeling.

There is this saying, "Happy wife happy life", but I think the "as is" may be better than the repair more than in just looks. I assume you will be inside looking OUT the window more than you will be outside looking AT the window. Many times I have looked at a nicely designed home, but in closer study noticed quirky little details that defy established ruled. I think leaving the window as is will not be a great loss.

I should add that this is new construction and that the interior is framed but no plumbing/electrical/insulation/sheetrock has happened yet.

If you are that bothered by it (and I'm not knocking it if you are, we all have our pet peeves) then I feel you might also be bothered by it off center inside as well. I too wondered if you painted it the color of the siding if that would minimize the yucky feelings you have when you look at it. Is that seam in the corner necessary? I'm assuming so. I think it would bother you less perhaps if the seam were not punctuating it.

In that case, talk to the builder and see what they are willing to do for you.

Thank you Kendrah. I am also worried that if I make a change to help the exterior that I will be upset about the interior. But at least with the interior I can center the window on the countertop which would help ground it to something intentionally.

Mark - what would you ask the builder to do? What do you think the best solution is here?

Not knowing where on the outside this is & may not even work...but could you reduce the molding around the window by about half?

sorry for the terrible mockup:

Make a totally flat area for mounting something you wouldn't mind seeing outside the window from inside.

Can you remove molding and extend from wall to wall? Or center it and add another window same height on the wall as you enter? Or make it a long L shaped corner window?

The wide trim moulding being smashed into the corner isn't doing you any siteline favors. Can't really move the window because of the corner framing.

That said, do you want one window that has different trim than all the rest. You are in a bit of a catch 22.

What do the drawings show?

What designed the house? Architect? Draftsman?

The outside looks fine. Leave it like it is. It would drive me crazy off centered inside. Put a large flower pot in the corner. I put one on my front porch. I put small versions of junipers in the pot. They are evergreen and look great all year. One Juniper blue point (Juniperus chinensis) and two shore juniper blue pacific (Juniperus conferta) . The first is upright and the next two are trailing.

IMO a big pot filled wit tall plantson the porch. I think moving it when it is centered on an interior wall will make you a lot crazier Can we atleast the interior floor plan to get afeel for where this is.

If you don't have to have this particular window for light I would suggest removing it. There's not much you can do to it that will make it look other than a mistake.

where do you spend most of your time? optimize it for that location.

It's not going to be visually balanced in both places at one, so pick your poison.

If I make the window smaller it would be centered on the countertop inside, just not on the wall. Does that help with the look inside?

Here are the kitchen schematics that are on the other side of that window. The end of the kitchen has a bookcase that can be any depth so I can make it centered on any window size

I would either eliminate it completely since you have a wonderful, large window over your sink area and don’t really need the light from that window in your space, OR get a tall pot and plant it with colorful seasonal flowers: something tall, something low, and something trailing. The eye will gravitate towards the plantings and your window will fade into the background. Good luck!

I should have asked, "What do the construction drawings show?" Floor plan and exterior elevations?

I would get rid of the window.  It's kind of odd having a window on the left side of that cabinet run from the inside,  and it is too small of a side wall to have a window in my opinion. I think it would look better on both the inside and outside without the window.  On the outside,  you could put something decorative up if you think it looks too plain.

The window wasn’t in the original drawings, probably the reason we are having an issue with it now. The view out that window will look at the patio and it seemed like an important view to have when working at the kitchen sink. Maybe removing it is the best option.

I rather like Paul F’s solution. It’s certainly the easiest and least expensive, and can look quite nice as you come to the door.

Weigh the cost/effort/outcome. Painting the trim to match siding will make it less prominent, but also suggest creating a distraction. Live with for a bit to see if you still even notice the window (I doubt anyone else will). An attractive planter could do the trick and it‘s fun to change seasonally.

It's a very strange spot to have a window. I'd remove it completely.

Remove it right now it is not part of a wall of windows and in a very weird palce both inside and outside.

Sounds like you'll never be able to center <a smaller window> on the exterior wall while also maintaining center for the interior. My main concern would be the interior. Since you feel like you can't live with it currently, I feel like the only option is to remove it.

Personally, I'd leave it. You may be focusing in too much on such a small detail which in time will disappear, especially since it sounds like it's on the back of the house. Plus, extra light and sight-lines are always a benefit.

I would leave the window as it is installed. I like Paul F’s solution and I would miss the light and the view from the window in the kitchen. If plants and bird feeders don’t interest you, you might consider installing outdoor art. A home I once lived in had large art tiles framed in cast iron mounted on the house, they required little care and they looked great. I can see something like that in this space - all you have to do is fool the eye a smidge. This is one of those mistakes which has some great possibilities.

Remove the window. i would also suggest you make sure all your pots and pans can fit into those small drawers in your kitchen. Additionally, I would not have counter at the end of the run like you have it. What are you planning on storing in those open cabinets? 36" deep cabinets mean you can't grab anything unless you're intending them to be pantry space.

Oh and make all your lower cabinets drawers. So much better and more storage.

Another vote for leaving it alone, I will presumably see it much more from the interior than the exterior... If I did anything I would widen it to the maximum width possible so there was less exterior trim toward the outside corner.

The obvious solution is to have custom window made that angles so the inside looks right and the outside looks right. You can buy this window or you can buy a Bentley, the cost will be about the same.

I would lessen the trim size and leave it. I don’t know where you live but I would love the view and cross breeze it provides. Another option would be to center it outside and add some open shelves across it on the inside. Friends of mine did that at the end of a counter runn and it’s wonderful.

Thank you all for your comments! Reading your opinions has helped to reveal my strongest feelings about this window.

The window provides a view from the kitchen out to the patio. It is a very sunny corner and an interesting element to the long run in the kitchen, so I know that I do not want to remove it completely.

There is no way to make this window look great from the outside. Adding potted plants or hanging plants is a great idea that I will utilize to draw attention away from the window.

Though I can live with a window that is off-center from the exterior, I can not live with a window that looks jammed into the corner. So I am choosing to reduce the window by 2 inches. I know this is a seemingly very small amount, but it will allow the corner siding piece to be installed as it was intended. The window will look off-centered but not jammed.

As for the inside, I think a 2" decrease in width will be unnoticeable from the interior, especially when the window will be centered over the cabinets. Though 2" off from centered on the wall, centered on the cabinets will make me happy. I can always add a hanging potted plant here for distraction if need be.

I will post photos after this is complete!

I don't find the location of the window objectionable in any way. This condition is quite common in older traditional houses; the hang up with symmetry is a newer thing similar to aligning the tops of windows and doors.

The portico of my 1891 Colonial Revival is not centered on the front facade but its difficult to see because there's a big S curve in the front walk.

You could even center the window outside and it wouldn't harm the view from the kitchen. It's not a painting or a decorative object; it's for natural light, view and ventilation so whatever you do, don't reduce its size or remove it.

I recently designed a million+ gut renovation of a 1920 Colonial Revival with a similar window arrangement at the rear door.

Thank you res2architect! You are making my point for me! I don't mind that the window is over to the side of the wall, but at least it is not intersecting or interrupting the corner in any way.

Much ado over not much. I would leave as is.

...the interior is framed but no plumbing/electrical/insulation/sheetrock has happened yet.

The interior, even if finished, matters so much less than the exterior. Changing the exterior size is a lot more complicated at this stage because it is finished.

But if you must change it, I suggest that you be sitting down when they tell you how much it will cost.

Highly likely that a different window is going to be special order/ custom made and who knows how long the lead time will be. Plus, IMO, if that window gets any skinnier, the window itself is going to start looking odd.

I would rather have it centered inside. Perhaps have the outside trim reduced all the way around the window so there is at least some siding showing in that corner,

I like your idea Katherine to reduce the size of your window by 2", you yourself have solved the problem, good job. I like the window, it is a small but interesting feature of your home, both inside and out. Things like this to me add interest, everything doesn't have to be evenly spaced or where expected, little surprises are nice.

I think RES's point was, "whatever you do, don't reduce its size or remove it."

Have someone on Etsy make you a standoff custom trellis and get a climbing rose on there.

I don't understand the OP's concerns.

It is not great, but I would leave as is. Narrower window is not going to look any better ( oddly too narrow). Most of other solutions I think would draw attention to the window. I would just put some nice plant and forget about it.

Inside, is the window centered on the deeper countertop, or on the rest of the countertop? I’m just wondering how it will look to the eye, depending on where it is centered. And, since you will never look at it straight on, will your view even register whether it is centered or not centered, regardless of how it is positioned?

Hi bpath - I get to install the corner bookcase and play around with its depth before installing the countertop. This way I can test what you are saying. I am also not sure it matters how centered this is from the inside as you will never be looking at it straight on.

Nice corner spot for a container tree. It will mask the window, but you still will get some light.

https://www.pinterest.com/megdaceywalker/trees-for-privacy-screen/