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Does a window have to be centered above sink?

13 years ago

I am considering getting rid of some uppers and instead love to enlarge the window, but it would not be centered above the kitchen sink. Or would it be better to get a new separate window ( I would personally think that would look worse). There will be a slider door on the other side of the penisula in the DR

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Comments (13)

chocolatebunny
13 years ago
My personal opinion is that I prefer the window centered over the sink. It just looks "off" to me if it's not. If you cannot center it then I would prefer the sink completely away from the window, like on the peninsula.
weissman
13 years ago
If you don't center the window either the kitchen fashion police will show up and rip it out or you'll never be able to sell your house :-)

Seriously, I agree that it will look off if you don't center it.
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I love the mirror idea. I agree -- no valance, looks dated. If you do tile backsplash up to cab height, it would be fine to have the tile run across at the same line above the sink. You likely won't hang the mirror lower than that, due to water spots from the faucet, etc. I've seen mirrors in bathrooms that hang on a painted wall and overlap the tile backsplash, and that looks fine, too. Another option would be to tile the entire wall and hang the mirror over the tile -- I like the dramatic look of a column of beautiful tile. It adds color and texture interest. Good luck and have fun!
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We had same issue. We'd planned for one recessed light above sink but ended up with 2 because of the joist dad-smack at the center point of the new window. We replaced our existing window with one 3 times as wide and because the temporary sink we were using was in the existing location, no one seemed to notice. When our contractor started to do electrical work he felt awful because he could have moved the window a few inches down since he was custom building the cabinets. The funny thing is, once our new sink and countertops were installed, the 2 lights illuminate the large width of the area so much better than just one would have. And we put them on dimmers so we can adjust how much light we need. So it was a mistake that turned into something we are really happy with.
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FWIW - I had a corner sink in our old kitchen and absolutely hated it. The space below was awful as you could not see anything inside because the cab opening was blocked as soon as you tried to reach in. Things went in the cab, but soon got lost. I also hated trying to clean behind the sink into the corner. I'd have to lay across the top of the sink to even reach near the back. I am almost 5'5", so it is not like I was too short... In our new kitchen, our sink is on a blank wall at the moment that will soon have a bs with feature (when money allows). It is no big deal whatsoever to look at a wall. In our old setup there was a cab over our sink that felt close to my face. This new way, I have room to breathe. Our windows are by our table area in our kitchen, where the view is more important. Our prep area is on the island so that I can watch tv while prepping or converse with anyone in the den or dining room. I also listen to books on tape when cooking, so the view is not important. I am engrossed in whatever story, so that keeps my mind occupied while my hands are busy. If facing a wall would bother you, you could always put up a mirror to see what is going on behind you, but frankly, who is looking around while at the sink? I do what I have to do and move on. I don't linger to enjoy any view. In our previous house, there was a window behind the sink, but it faced the street side of the house, so we kept the blinds closed. It was a total waste.
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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
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scrapbookheaven
13 years ago
How about enlarging the window and just shrinking down the size of the upper cabinets on either side? I LOVE large windows over the kitchen sink. I think non-centered would look odd.
tracie.erin
13 years ago
I think it'll be just fine. You could always get a double unit and center it on just the left or right window, too.
artemis78
13 years ago
I think it looks better centered, if at all possible---we gave up some storage space to keep ours centered under a double window. But if it doesn't work out, another option is to have the sink off-center but the faucet centered under the window at one end of the sink.
dianalo
13 years ago
If you want the window and it has to be off center, I'd do cabs on one side only or some shelves on only 1 side. I think a pair of anything "upper" would make the off centeredness an issue. If you were totally asymmetrical, I think you could pull it off nicely as a stylish choice.
lisa_a
13 years ago
What tracie wrote: center the sink within one section of a double window unit. I see this done all the time in magazines and I think it looks great. In fact, I prefer not to have sinks centered under double windows. That puts the divider between the windows smack in the middle of the sink so that when I'm standing at the sink, I'm staring at the divider, not out the window.

You can also give the appearance that the sink is centered with faucet placement. If the faucet appears to be centered, the sink will appear to be centered. Kelly Morriseau, CKBD and blogger at KitchenSync, wrote about this tip at http://kitchensync.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/07/a-kitchen-desig.html (sorry you'll have to copy and paste the link into your browser. I can't remember how to imbed a link and I don't have time to look it up right now).

Look through FKB for inspiration. One place to start: elizpiz's gorgeous kitchen. She centered her sink under one section of double windows. Notice the faucet location.

Here is a link that might be useful: Elizpiz's sink/window set-up
formerlyflorantha
13 years ago
If you have a sink that with built-in drainboard or stone countertop with drainboard grooves, put the drainboard under one window and the sink under the other. Plumbing remains in same place. Or put butcherblock on the second window side of the sink.
pricklypearcactus
13 years ago
There is no reason you have to center a sink under a window. In my current kitchen (not remodeled), the sink sort of lines up with the left edge of the window and the counter run ends at the right edge of the window. The sink not being centered allows for a reasonable amount (about 20" rather than 6") of counter space to the right of the sink. It has never bothered me. I've thought about trying to center it when I remodel the kitchen, but I will not do so if I lose functional cabinetry. For me, the functionality outweighs the symmetry. I think a better question might be: Will not having the sink centered below the window bother you?
lala girl
13 years ago
Totally agree with lisa a (BTW elizpiz's kitchen is gorgeous) - personally, I would adjust just about anything I could to get a larger window. Just don't think anyone is ever sorry about the views and natural light that come along with it... Just make sure it looks purposeful, and I think you're set.
Jon T
13 years ago
I have a double window (horizontal slider) with the sink centered on the left window pane. I was thinking of centering the sink on the window opening for my upcoming remodel, by decided to keep it where it is to maximize my prep area to the right of my sink. As lisa_a points out, my view is not obstructed by the center divider.

Jon
momof3kids_pa
13 years ago
I think what you are proposing would be similar to my layout (but opposite direction), including a slider nearby. My sink is off center. It has never bothered me, nor has anyone pointed and laughed (unless they are holding it in)!!

{{!gwi}}

From the opposite direction:
{{!gwi}}

Head on:
{{!gwi}}
paulabrady
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you everyone! mom of 3 kids of LOVE your kitchen and all of the different surfaces and love the brick veneer.

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