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mounia_chmali

Kitchen design question

8 months ago
last modified: 8 months ago

Hello, what can be done to add a window to this kitchen. My idea is to remove three cabinets and replace them with a window and add a wall of cabinets above the sink. The kitchen lacks natural light and ventilation.


Comments (12)

  • 8 months ago

    It appears you have poor lighting for your work zones. Natural light helps when it's daytime. You use the kitchen at night and on cloudy days.

    Mounia Chmali thanked dan1888
  • PRO
    8 months ago

    Yes, I have to keep the lights on during the day when it is cloudy .. sometimes even on sunny days

  • PRO
    8 months ago

    I would remove the two middle cabinets on the right side and replace with as large a window as possible. I would NOT put cabinets above the sink, you will block all the borrowed light from the room beyond. Find somewhere else to put whatever is in those two cabinets.

    Mounia Chmali thanked RappArchitecture
  • 8 months ago

    Yikes. So sorry about your lack of natural light. The only way to a window is to do an entire redo. Removing cabinets for a window on that wall will look off.

    Just a thought. If this is a one story home, I would look into solar tubes.

    Mounia Chmali thanked eld6161
  • 8 months ago

    If you put a window in the kitchen, what direction would it face?


    Undercabinet and overcabinet lighting would do wonders here - while maintaining your storage space and costing a lot less.

  • PRO
    8 months ago

    The window will face East… I do have lights under cabinets..

  • 8 months ago

    Is it a single story? Solar light Cans might be an easier solution.

  • 8 months ago
    last modified: 8 months ago

    I have terrible vision and lack of light also impacts my mood. I totally feel for you.


    What overhead light fixtures exist in your kitchen aside from the two glass island pendants?

    Can you post pics of all four walls and the ceiling? We are seeing an incomplete picture of the space and lighting needs.


    I would not cover the opening to the other room. You are underestimating the amount of borrowed light that comes in this opening and overestimating the reach of the light coming in through an area the size of three cabinets that will essentially be in the corner of the kitchen.


    Yes, I have to keep the lights on during the day when it is cloudy .. sometimes even on sunny days


    This will be true of your space even with a window on that wall. That window is not going to bring sufficient light into this kitchen.


    Why are the blinds in the other room down? Would you end up wanting blinds on a kitchen window for that same reason?

  • 8 months ago
    last modified: 8 months ago

    I also had a very dark kitchen because there is a sunroom attached and blocked out most natural light even though the sunroom was bright. We ended up putting in a solar tube and LOVE the natural light it gives.

  • PRO
    8 months ago

    IMO solar tubes are great on a sunny day but most cooking is done in the evening no use for a solar tube. I can't see the lighting you have in the ceiling but more pot lights will be cheaper than the rework of the kichen and adding windows and closing walls . MY advice first change all the bulbs in all the fixtures to LED 4000K that aslo means the undercabinet lighting . Open the blinds in the other r.oom too. Try that first then see if you need more lighting

  • 8 months ago

    This looks like a pretty new kitchen. Are the cabinets still available for order?


    Please show photos of the other two walls in the kitchen.

  • 8 months ago
    last modified: 8 months ago

    I wouldn't put cabinets over your sink, as that would close off the borrowed light from the room next door. I second the idea of Solatubes if you have a one story: I have 3 in my kitchen that include lights on dimmers, so we can use them at night too. (We used the square version instead of the round - just liked them better.)

    My cousin's former house had kitchen cabinets in front of windows, so they had light and storage together. This might work if new windows work with your exterior, the items you want to store are ok for display, and your contractor can do this. (His builder put up a fuss, then once installed realized he really liked them.) Example picture below. Houzz article with more pictures.