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Kitchen sink not centered under window

mom3boys_fporfl

11 years ago

We are in the process of developing a design and have gotten great feedback from y'all that has changed EVERYTHING in our original design. The biggest influence was a comment regarding how bad it is to walk across a traffic area from the stove to the sink. So we've come up with a solution that uses a long stretch of counter, housing the stove and sink on the same wall. The wall actually opens up to a family room with a TV and wood stove; the opening is currently a 72" window opening (was the former window before the family room addition).

So the question is, would it be OK to move the sink off center of that window for the express purpose of accommodating a run of 12-18" countertop --> cooktop --> 3.5' prep space --> double sink --> dish drain above/DW below next to the wall so as to be unconspicuous? If we do, should we just open the entire wall up so we don't have as much of an issue with the off-center stove? We would have liked to keep at least a 24", maybe 30" stretch to the right of the sink to house a cabinet above the dish drain for cups/glasses to unload right out of the dishwasher. There is only a wall to the further right of the sink/DW area. The distance from the wall to the existing window opening is about 40", so if we did do a wall/cabinet with the existing window opening, a part of the right side double sink would be against a wall, and the remaining would be open. No symmetry on other side.

Without regard to the rest of the kitchen design at this point, is this even a little OK to even comtemplate?

This post was edited by mom3boys_fporfl on Fri, Jan 4, 13 at 23:12

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Comments (5)

dee850
11 years ago
Just a few days ago, I had my sink and faucet installed off center of our window. The window is 35" wide and the faucet/sink center is at about 12" from the left of the window. I'm sure some would consider this a terrible mistake, but I'm ok with it so far. Of course it's only been 2 days at this point, so take that for what you will! Off-center is not my ideal, but it allowed us to have a straightforward layout that worked with Ikea cabinets, and gave us the kind of counter space and distance between sink and oven that we wanted. I think the fact that we do not have uppers on that wall makes the asymmetry less stark than it would be if uppers surrounded that window symmetrically. The angle from which you will most often view that area may be worth considering, too. In my kitchen, the most frequent viewing angle minimizes the appearance of asymmetry a bit.
angie_diy
11 years ago
This thread would probably be helpful for others to review: . http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0102274117023.html?14

Personally, I think the layout should trump the aesthetics. I also think that having a window over a prep area is a really nice touch. In other words, I vote "Go for it!"
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How important is it to center a sink under a window?
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Another vote for the second layout--I think it'll just look a bit off without the sink centered under the window. I went thru the same dilemma in my tiny kitchen remodel...maybe my solution will work for you.....have you considered an 18" wide dishwasher? Those extra couple of inches saved on the dishwasher side of your sink might give you room for a larger sink base still centered under the window. I downsized from a 24" to 18" Miele dishwasher, and really prefer the smaller dishwasher for my usage, plus it made the whole layout just work better. One other idea which might work if it fits with the look you are going for----there are quite a few options (Franke and Porcher for sure, and probably others) for 24" wide apron front farm house sinks with squared off bottoms (as opposed to the curves of the Shaw sink) that can be installed right on top of shorter 24" base cabinets, so you can maximize the size of the sink in the sink base. Here is an example of the kind of sink I'm talking about(Porcher): Hope this helps!
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Our sink is aligned w/the right pane of the window. Sink base is 36" and sink is almost as wide. This photo is taken at an angle and early on in the remodel. Tomorrow I can post something more recent. FWIW, the sink was off-center pre-remodel but only by a few inches, now it's off-center by at least a foot. I actually think it looks better this way and is better to look out (no divider in the way).
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Ajsmama, you know I never even noticed that the gazebo emphasizes that the sink is off center in the second picture. I guess the perspective on the view outside shifts as one moves about the kitchen, even a little-- the gazebo appears to be to the left of the faucet in the first photo. I guess another reason it has never bothered me is that I don't look at this window straight on from a distance in my layout, and if I'm actually at the sink I'm taking in the whole view of the garden and woods. Like many others here, I was oblivious to my off-center sink for more than a decade until I realized the asymmetry when measuring for new cabinets. I briefly considered using a blind corner cabinet in order to center the sink, but the loss in functionality wasn't worth it to me.
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When we started the remodel the original sink was a couple of inches off center. I never realized it till I was thinking of the new design. In order to accomodate a lazy susan cab in the corner, the sink had to be pushed 3 more inches off center. I really worried about this before moving forward, but function won out in the end and my sink is off center to the window. My remodel isn't finished yet, but I don't think it would have been worth it to center the sink and lose all that much needed space in our small kitchen. I am glad I made the decision I did. I think it all depends on what you think you can live with- off center sink, or more limits to your cabs. Good luck.
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justmakeit
11 years ago
We haven't quite started the reno yet, but I have more or less finalized plans with the help of a kitchen designer (and, more importantly, GWers). The KD is a fussy guy, with a lot of thoughts about symmetry and the right way to do things, so it really surprised me when he said it was perfectly fine not to center the sink under the window. He doesn't know as much as a typical TKO GWer, but given how many weird restrictions he has on kitchen design, I thought I'd throw it out there.

As for me, I think functionality trumps symmetry most of the time, and if scootching the sink over gets you more prep space or storage space, go for it! (That's what I'm doing, but I won't have photos to share for months...)
hollylh
11 years ago
Ours isn't centered (for more prep area, and also the window was a retrofit) and I don't even notice it now. Will post a pic when I get to other computer with the right picture files. Go for it!
mom3boys_fporfl
Original Author
11 years ago
Great feedback, folks. I'm finally getting excited about going through this process with this new design. GWers are fantastic, I must say. :)

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