We installed our window before floor and cabinets were installed... It's not that difficult...all you have to do is measure carefully and explain what you want to the window installer. Show them a picture as well. I would not raise it 2" b/c it will look like a mistake, like you planned for counter-height but missed. Either plan for counter-height or 6" or so above...and I recommend counter-height. Additionally, if you can do it and it will fit the architecture of your house, bump out the window 6 or 7 inches to give you a "splash zone" (see links below) and extra room behind the sink. Here's how to measure: First, are you replacing your current floor? If so, will it be before or after you put in the window? If before, you need to know the thickness of the floor and the materials used to put in the floor. E.g., our tile floor went in after our window. So, we had to know how thick the tile was (3/8") + thickness of thinset + subfloor/hardibacker (if either will be put down). Then, we had to subtract the thickness of the vinyl that was still in place but was going to be taken out later (1/4") [If your floor is already out, you won't have to do this step.] If the window will be going in after the new floor or you are not replacing the floor, you can skip this step. Next, find out the height of your cabinets themselves. Most are 34-1/2" high. But, if you have raised or lowered your counters you will have a different height. Now, determine the thickness of your countertop material. If granite, is it 2cm or 3cm? Generally (in USA), the west coast has 2cm and the rest of the country has 3cm. (1cm = 2.54 inches, 2cm = 0.79", 3cm = 1.18") If 2cm, you will need to know the thickness of your plywood subtop as well. Add these numbers together and that's how high off the floor you will need to place your window. Depending on how much you trust your window installer, cabinet installer, and countertop installer, you may want to add a half-inch or so for "wiggle" room, and but I would not want to add much more. 1/2" or so can be "hidden" with a sill so it won't look like it's a mistake. Our window height ended up being about 1/4" higher (window installer's mistake), so we put in a sill to hide that 1/4" difference...you can't tell (at least I can't...and that's all that matters!) If itÂs "perfect", you wonÂt need a sill. Also, be sure you can use the window crank (if casement). Here's a slideshow of what we did: Measuring for a Counter-height Window And, the final result: Some threads: Thread: counter height window pictures please (scroll down to MamaDadaPaige's and ErikaNH's windows for bump outs) Thread: Counter height window owners--Help!

Ours is exactly like Mamadadapaige's and Buehl's (didn't see frans - didn't look long enough). They didn't charge more for the window bumpout. They just templated the area around the window sill area where the counter would go - bumping right up against the window frame - and then when they came out with the fabricated pieces, they put them in place. They did say my kitchen was incredibly challenging, one of their most difficult, but I believe that was a product of the very small slabs (had to use 3 of them they were so small) and all the various cuts I had - my counters ended up like puzzle pieces with a lot of obstructions (fridge panels, a hutch cabinet, the window bumpout, a cooktop bumpout, etc). The granite had to fit perfectly against all these things with zero gapage and there were 3 seams in mix too, with one of the seams is in the window bumpout area and the other 2 at the cooktop top and bottom. You will love running your counter to the window. I get so many compliments on it, and so far I have found splattering water doesn't come anywhere near the window. Love it!

2littlefishies- we will have 10' ceilings. I loved the idea of taller ceilings when we started building our house, but now I'm frustrated all the time trying to work with them. Cabinets were hard to figure out and now curtains are really hard because of these transoms. Michelle- I don't really know all the details. The window was ordered from jenn-weld. They will be tall and skinny, but because the transoms divide it up I think it will be okay. Our original plan was a 48" window divided into 2 panels. I didn't want that because I didn't want the window stile to block my view. Im not sure, but I think it may have been a custom window. I hope that helps a little. I'll have to look into roller shades. I don't think we'll have privacy issues, but we are building in a subdivision where there will be other people around. Plus since it's a south facing window might be nice to filter the sunlight sometimes. The light might be pretty bright on the breakfast table.

I think this has been a fruitful discussion. I hope it continues. The more I think about this, the more I believe people should be encouraged by KDs, the kitchen sellers at the big box stores, cabinet makers, etc., to consider counter heights when planning a kitchen. And I think a big shout-out to many of the great contributors here at GW is called for because until I spent hours...well, really weeks of hours...reading through reveals, advice to folks planning their kitchens, and such, I never would have thought of all these types of details being important for a good, functional, pleasant space. GWE’s (GardenWeb Experts) are the bomb!! Last night I made a big salad and started a pot of “clean out the refrigerator” soup. I really liked chopping and that kind of prep on the higher counter. My DH helped a bit a really liked it as well. I also made scratch biscuits. I hand-mixed the dough at four different heights: on the higher counter with the triple breadboards on top (didn’t like), regular counter height (didn’t like), on the breadboard when it was slid into its slot, just below counter-height (liked it much better but still a bit high), and then put the breadboard across two counter-height stools (a bit too low). I think a small stretch of counter somewhere in-between the latter two would be nice for that type of work and other baking, machine-mixing, yada yada type tasks. I’ll continue the experiments. My chiropractor...who I seldom need anymore due to the excellent exercises he’s given me to strengthen my back and keep myself in alignment...does a weekly radio show on our local station. I called in this morning and mentioned this issue and asked him about it. He was very enthusiastic and gave some examples of people he has worked with who have had back issues directly related to long-term repetitive movements where things are not at the right height for them. So, really, for someone who cooks a lot, this isn’t a trivial issue. I really want to learn more about this. Oh, gosh...my friends already think I’m the anti-high-heel and heavy-purse nazi, now I'll be the counter-height nazi, too. But I had a back injury for which I was told I would never fully recover, only have limited mobility, and will always have pain. Well, I proved them wrong on all counts due to proper exercises (mostly from chiropractor) and body movements. I can go hiking with a 30+-pound pack and other activities, like 50-mile bike rides, that they said I'd never be able to do again. And I haven't taken a pain pill since 2008. It's because I've become the healthy-back nazi, LOL. This stuff is important for quality of life issues, imho. Off my soap box. @westsider 40 - Good points about not kneading long. I really don’t bake often where I need to knead. When I do, I move my large breadboard to my table and do it there. So it might be best to just continue doing it that way. @Oaktown - 14” difference! Wow. You would almost need two separate kitchens to work best for the two of you. Yeah, I think you should have a stool under each appliance and in each toekick. Just pull the whole thing out when you’re cooking. DH can push it all in when he’s cooking. @tracie.erin - Interesting on the stove height. I can see why that would be good to have it lower since your arm motion is different when stirring and such at a stove vs. chopping/slicing/dicing in a prep area. I do think my stove is the right height. If we do raise the counters on the wall, we’ll have to make adjustments for a lower stove top. Thanks for the tip. @laughable - Yes, I’m trying to put a lot of thought into this kitchen. And you are one of the people who have really inspired me to put in the extra time and effort to get it right. It will be my last so it better be good! I usually transfer from stock/crock pots in the sink because I’m unbelievably clumsy, lol. The pictures aren’t showing, darn it. I just am getting the Photobucket “This person has moved or deleted” message. It could be my computer. I had to take it back to factory settings last night and am still loading updated drivers and such. I’ll come back later and check it again. I can visualize your explanation of what he did in his own kitchen and why. Still need to get to my library to see if they have any of his books.