Window above countertop--Open up and down or slide sideways

11 years ago

We have to pick the window type for our kitchen. It is a galley kitchen and the window sits 6 inches above the countertop and goes almost to the ceiling. It is Our only window in the kitchen--3 feet tall and about 3.75 feet wide.

The counters will be 24 inches deep.

Should I get one that opens up or slides open sideways?
Which do you have and what has worked well for you?

Do you like (fake) panes or one big piece of "glass."?

Thanks!

Comments (10)

aloha2009
11 years ago
It will depend on the style of your house and other windows in your home.
Fori
11 years ago
Short people will cuss at you if it opens up. But it sounds like it'll be proportioned awkwardly to open sideways.

Is it possible to go old school and get one where the whole thing cranks out? I guess if you don't need the ventilation, that might be silly.

The appearance of the window should match others, but I don't think the mechanism (how it opens) needs to.
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palimpsest
11 years ago
Casement (crank out) are the easiest to operate in this location, and they can be made to match or coordinate with the other windows in your house (even double hung)
jentrex
11 years ago
I would suggest not installing a double hung window (up and down type). It would be difficult to reach over the counter to open it. With the measurement you provided an awning window would be something to consider. It opens out at the bottom. The crank is located at the bottom and the locking levers are located lower on the sides. Both the crank and locking levers are easy to reach. Over my sink I installed a 40 inch wide by 30 inch high awning window with an 18 inch fixed transom window above (attached to) the awning window. The total size is 40 inches x 48 inches. The fixed transom window has vertical muntins which match the style of my other windows. I used Marvin windows. Marvin has many style options.
deedles
11 years ago
An awning window is what I'm going with. Then you can keep it open if it's raining, too!
thirdkitchenremodel
11 years ago
I've had all of the types of windows mentioned and hands down my fave is crank out. Waaaaybeasier than the others to operate. Currently I have a very wide window with a center fixed pane flanked by 2 crank outs. Love it but it did limit the number of upper cabs I could use.

(Obviously a Before picture)
cawaps
11 years ago
I haven't had a crank-out, but agree that double- (or single-) hung windows are a pain in the patootie to open leaning over a counter. I have a slider over my sink now and it's fine. But crank-out sounds like a better option given the dimensions.
alex9179
11 years ago
A casement allows the most air flow over the others and the easiest operation. I have a wide, single-hung window above my sink and it's a grunt-fest getting that thing open for a shortie. I can't wait to rip it out. My problem is that it's next to the narrow path into the backyard. So do I go for easy operation or possible head injury? :)

As far as mullions, it depends on your house's style. My super boring, 80's ranch has windows with mullions-though not fake. Each section is a single pane and ridiculously inefficient. We want to replace them with just glass. However, I do like the prairie style.
breezygirl
11 years ago
I considered everything for my three new kitchen windows. Crank out means an ugly screen on the interior. I didn't want that. Awning windows also mean interior screens. A vertically opening window can be difficult to open over a 24" deep counter, and the vertical bar hits right about eye level for me. A horizontal slider certainly isn't romantic, but has fewer cons for me than the other types. Plus, I was used to the sliders, and the rest of my house had them.

Here's what my previous 44"ish slider window looked like in my old kitchen.

And my new 6' window. 24" windows flanking my rangetop are stationary, non-opening panes so the small windows didn't seem chopped up and busy.
hosenemesis
11 years ago
If your other windows have small panes, then you might want to match those windows. I hate washing my windows, so if I were to start over I would not get windows with lots of little panes. I have a double-hung window in my kitchen and I don't mind reaching to open it up from the bottom.
Renee

Window above countertop--Open up and down or slide sideways

Comments (10)

aloha2009

Fori

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