Window not centered over sink?

slc2053

15 years ago

We're planning a U-shaped kitchen layout and want to put in a window...but....we'll have seating on one side of the "U" at a peninsula...the bottom of the "U" will be the sink wall, which is an outside wall. However, we'd like the window to be more for viewing while we eat at the peninsula rather than the window to be solely for the person at the sink.

Has anyone done a similar window placement? I thought about putting in a window that partially (maybe 1/2 way) is over the sink and over the peninsula as I'm afraid a window over both areas would be a bit too big!

Any advice or photos of the not so typical window placement would be helpful.

TIA!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

jagl
15 years ago
I've got a window in my kitchen that is half way over the sink and half over the dishwasher. I thought it was a little odd at first, but have gotten used to it and I think its fine. I think it would be nice to be able to look out while you eat. Sorry, I don't have pictures of my kitchen,yet.
greenandgold
15 years ago
Same for me--no pictures yet, but my sink is going to be moved from centered under the window to under the right side of the window. The move was necessitated by layout of new cabinets, and I'm not worried about it. I think it will be just fine once I'm used to its new position. Ideally it would be more centered, but I think after a few days I won't even notice. I'd go with your gut and go for a counter view as well.
Related Discussions
Window Arrangement
Q
Comments (14)
Boxerpups, thanks for all the pics. Awesome as usual! I like the idea of the windows flanking the range but... 1. I don't have room for upper cabinets anywhere else but that wall, and it would decrease from 90" to 60" of upper cabinets for the whole room. 2. Not sure if I want to have my kitchen to look like a kitchen when it's ALL open (don't have a living room just great room). 3. We're leaning towards a modern/sleek look and a hood/vent over an electric cooktop, seems off to me. Gas doesn't seem to fit in modern IMHO. 4. It would put the main sink on the island (dirty dishes and all, though we do keep things pretty tidy - TYPICALLY). The parts I like are. 1. Decoratinging a hood over the stove top really allows for a personal statement (if I put the range on the island, it will be a downdraft). 2. Venting would be much less expensive. 3. I like the idea of prepping next to the stove, with the window in front of me.
...See More
Week Six of Construction on White Dove
Q
Comments (5)
Ahhh, glad you like it. I have the electrician here today, he is roughing in as he calls it, for the new electrical box, setting the masthead for the power line which comes in from the street. Our old power supply line barely clears the corner of the sun porch roof, which is against code. This time it will be much higher, with a fairly tall masthead. All the (four) old electrical panels inside the house will disappear into one 40 slot breaker box mounted outdoors on the side of the house. Eventually, when we do some work on the driveway, we'll put the service underground from the power pole at the street. We have no need for a wired phone line, although we do have a wired cable service and wifi for internet. The stucco guy is almost done except he'll be back after the electrician does his work to touch up, and to repair the stucco on the fireplace chimney. The flashing on that and the cap is in the hands of our roofer....who is not here today, since we are awaiting the arrival of the new shingles. DH wanted the high quality UHD architectural shingles, so for those we wait for 25 squares to be delivered by truck from GAF somewhere. We have a GAF factory here in Mobile, but it makes another type of roofing....when I was a kid, it had huge bales of old comic books to process for roofing (Ruberoid was the factory name then), and my brother and his friends would jump their fence and pilfer for comic books. We always had plenty to read! :) Also, I made contact with the A/C people, the ones I've done business with for a long long time and I trust them, so they will give the contractor their estimate to do the new ductwork for this job. As quickly as they responded I have a feeling the job is not too small to interest them. They did the whole shebang for my MoccasinLanding house in 1990, including total ductwork and heatpump. and the electrical work for 200 amp service. I know they do good work. Well, my best friend is coming to get the old cabinet handles and knobs, she can use them in her rental house. I will also ask her if she wants the old back door, which is glass with blinds in the middle. It was sized to fit the small doorframe of the old backporch which had been enclosed, and we need 36 inch doors now.
...See More
Help! Windows going in tomorrow!
Q
Comments (30)
Eek! This got way off track from my original question. I've been referencing this forum for years (probably my most Googled term is "gardenweb" followed by a question or concept) and I've had 20+ working versions of this kitchen over the years of planning it, and so what I'm locked in on is based on a LOT of thought. Also our architects, who I trust, worked with us to come up with the overall flow of the house, and I am thrilled with it. I understand work zones, seating overhangs, etc. Not saying I know everything (obviously) but just feeling a little talked down to here. Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Got some good avenues to pursue. And I've got a temporary mouse worked out so I'm not constantly selecting and deleting so I can make some progress in Sketchup. Edited to add a condensed version of my original questions. I tried searching the forum for answers but didn't find answers that addressed all of the factors I was considering so I made this post. Thanks to all of you who addressed these! 1. Everyone agrees that having a sink centered on windows and a range hood centered between windows is good. But if I have both on one wall, what is the priority? 2. Given that I have an 8' long butcher block island behind me that I could prep on, is the fact that I only have 30-36 inches of space between sink and cooktop an issue? 3. I'm basing a lot of my design on giving the dishwasher as much space as possible. Do you think this is that important or do those of you with only 36" between dishwasher and wall/island whatever feel that it's adequate (i.e. not too much ankle biting)
...See More
Kitchen sink centered or off centered under large kitchen window
Q
Comments (15)
How much hand-washing do you do--sterling/silverplate, crystal, plastics, pots and pans? Or, do you throw everything in the DW? That would factor into the decision---if you throw everything in the DW, then you are mostly looking down while you scrape the plates and load the DW. But if you hand wash many items and enjoy gazing at the view as you work, then an off-center sink will work better. Also, how much prepping do you do before cooking? Chicken nuggets, frozen pizza, canned vegetables, or do you cook from scratch, and spend a lot of time rinsing and chopping vegetables and meats? If the latter, then the solid wall will be in your view while prepping, if the sink is under the left window. A couple of other things to consider are 1) distance from sink to range and 2) distance from sink to fridge. NKBA's recommendation for prep space is 48" (36" minimum), so with the sink centered on the studs, you'll have the perfect amount of prep counter. With the sink offset, you'll have an extra step or two between the sink and range, but extra steps are good exercise. :) The recommended max distance between any two appliances in a work triangle is 9' (108"), but in the plan with the off-centered sink you'd have almost 11.5' (136"). Again, just a step, or two, so if you don't cook a lot, it won't make that much difference. The island, as drawn, also intersects the path between sink and fridge, (but not more than the NKBA recs), but I have an idea which will eliminate that and incorporate the support posts. Other advantages to having the sink closer to the range, are that it leaves more prep space on the left side, for a helper, and more space to store dishes on that side, so a helper can unload the DW, or gather dishes to set the table, without interfering in your prep tasks. I'm posting this here, instead of the other thread, to save time. You might consider using a table/island combo, with the table being the same width as the outside measurement of the posts. NKBA guidelines GW Kitchens discussions--dishes in drawers
...See More
melindy
15 years ago
We lived in an older home where the window was centered between the sink and dishwasher. I kept thinking the sink must have been moved to allow for a built in dishwasher at a later date (because why would you do that??) until I saw the blue prints. Asymmetry in certain settings really bugs me, such as that kitchen. Every time I looked at it, it bugged me more. (It could have been a cumulative effect, as that kitchen had many issues!) I'm just really compulsive that way, and realize it. However, your pleasure at having a view while eating may make you happy every time you sit there. Going with your gut is good advice. You'll know where you spend more time, and where the view will mean more to you.
chefkev
15 years ago
If you have enough upper cabinet storage space and can afford it, I'd vote for going with a bigger, more centered window.
scubated
15 years ago
I don't like asymmetry normally but in your case I think it would be great. I am lucky to have a bay window in our breakfast area and we are not doing counter seating but I think expanding the window to cover the sink and counter eating is a great idea. It will create a nice focal point in your kitchen and highlight your view.
californiagirl
15 years ago
I asked about this issue on another thread this morning because my architect really wants the sink to be placed in the center of a big window but this arrangement prevents me from having a dishwasher on either side of the large sink, which is what I really want to do. In our case the whole back wall of the new addition is windows and French doors because we back onto an arboretum.

The sink in my current kitchen is not centered on the windows and I never noticed until this issue with the architect came up, although I think the kitchen was rearranged in the 1950s so it may have been originally symmetrical.

Why does having the sink centered on the window matter?
Buehl
15 years ago
I think it's more "tradtional" or "customary." But, as you see by the above responses, you don't have to follow customs...do what makes you happy and what you want!

Window not centered over sink?

Comments (7)

jagl

greenandgold

Related Discussions

melindy

chefkev

scubated

californiagirl

Buehl

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US