Can you do a baking zone in that area and have the counters lower to match the window sill?

Little window seats with storage drawers beneath would be cool and at least sort of in keeping with the period.

A sketch of your layout or pix of the kitchen would really help. That said, Victorians especially lend themselves well to the unfitted look so, the best way to look at this 'problem' is from the angle of it being an 'opportunity' to be creative.

Would a nice primitive piece of furniture work there? Can you build something for the space? That is, rather than trying to hide away the problem, you could make it a focal point & design something to make it look intended.

Follow the link for some really inspiring ideas.

Here is a link that might be useful: Moore & Bradfield

I'm a kitchen designer and had a similar issue with a client about 10 years ago. However, in her kitchen, the sink had to go under the window because they were 'un-enclosing' an original firelace that had been plastered up. So, they now had an 1850's original working fireplace where their old kitchen once stood.

I got a great idea from watching This Old House. You pull the cabinets out away from the wall....8" or so. Then when you put the countertop on, you build a 'window well'. So, you have your sink....then a little well drops down. It's a great place to put herbs or flowers.

Kompy

That's a cool idea, Kompy. Like an indoor window box. I can see a nice grape ivy spilling out & over.

Oddly enough, I originally wanted a window seat there, but my fellow GW'ers convinced me to do the prep sink instead.
Casey

If you look closely at this picture, you can see that the counters are higher than the window sill. This couple turned the whole first floor of their victorian into a kitchen/dining room. Sombreuil's prep sink is pretty amazing, too.

Hope this helps.

If you go to the FKB and look under corner sinks, House Vixen has a counter higher than her window too. Check hers out. Her kitchen is very nice and the space behind the counter looks good too.

Here is one from Bucks County Soapstone

Here is a link that might be useful: Sink in front of low window

Thank you so much for these ideas. That box idea is a good one - don't suppose you have a picture Kompy? We want to place the sink between the two windows or in front of one of them so maybe that soapstone sink will work. Casey your idea was very clever - any issue with things falling behind your sink?

Wow, these are great ideas! And the cabinetry pictures are inspiring, too!

Cheri, could you tell me what magazine (and issue) that picture is from? I'd like to see more of that kitchen.

Thanks,

Debbie

rexem, Sorry. I don't have a photo of the window well sink idea. 10 years ago I didn't have a digital camera. I originally saw the idea on This Old House....I wonder if they have any photos on their website.

Good place for a desk.

My old kitchen had a lower sill behind the sink. I used to get very frustrated because water was always splashing down there. A planter box would take care of that nicely but we never did that.

jayne

My existing counter is higher than my (fully working) window by about 4 inches: with the Formica backsplash, the whole thing makes about a 8 inch well.

The counter and backsplash just go straight across the wall, roughly cut out a little for the trim. If I took the sink cupboard out, I'd have a normal window and windowsill. I bet it's much more common than you realize, but you only notice it if someone does something conspicuous to call your attention to it.

I honestly think you don't have to do anything cutesy. I definitely wouldn't be pouring water blind down the back of my sink unless I KNEW for sure where it was going. And fake ivy is just ... horrible.

I stash my bottle of dish soap and a couple of other tall, inert objects down the back of the well. I'm planning on keeping it when I redo, just maybe with a little shelf atop the backsplash, but so I can still open the window.

Nobody wants a sink down around their knees, or an extra couple thousand in unnecessary cabinetry. Just put everything where it needs to be. It'll be fine.