Do you have a picture of the third window? My first instinct is that when you move the windows down, they look too small. They fit well in the higher orientation. But it sounds as if the higher orientation isn't very functional.

Have you asked if the windows could be a BIT larger without incurring the structural costs? As opposed to making the windows as large as you originally thought?

I think they would be great left empty for artwork. However, with your style home, sconces would also be a great choice. Not-so-great would be putting shelves up there. Your windows are small. If you crowd them, they will seem even smaller. Let the light in and reflect around the room.

The other original window is an awning window in the laundry room. I don't have a picture of it handy and because of the angle and other things currently in the room I can't really get a shot of it that shows it well. The current kitchen windows have always looked awkward to me in their current position. The bottom sill is about level with my eyes--and I'm 5'7". That's just not a height that makes sense visually for windows.

We could make the windows taller but not wider. Three would have to be very narrow to fit in that space and that would be weird looking. So we could do two taller windows. But at that point we would be paying $2,000 for about four square feet of glass. And the windows would not have the exterior ogee detail that the rest of our double hung windows have (all other windows are currently original) it just doesn't make sense to me to pay that much money for that little change and to lose an original feature of the house.

I really appreciate the input, but we have already agonized our way through this as you can probably tell from the novel I have written and decided that keeping the original windows is the best of the available options.

Moving the windows to a different height than I have sketched on my elevation is an option though.

Funky camper, thank you! I considered art, but somehow in those spots in an old house that feels contrived to me. Maybe if I found just the right artwork, I would feel differently. I found this houzz image

Shaker White Inset · More Info

Which shows shelves next to windows with sconces above. But there are twice the windows here so the effect may be quite different.

My concern with moving them down would be the exterior elevation. Do these windows heads line up with other windows or doors on the house? If so, it may look very odd from the exterior. I would seriously consider taller windows, same width. Not sure where you are, but here in So Cal there are several custom sash and door places that can match existing old school ogee sash.

Or, drop them down and add a small fixed transom sash above, to line up with existing...

I love the look of a wall with no upper cabinets - with any windows, large or small. It sounds like lowering your existing windows will be a good solution. And I think a combination of sconces and shelves would work well, it doesn't seem like too wide of a space. How about 3 sconces above so you have one centered above the sink and then one on each side centered above the shelves? Or maybe consider just one shelf on either side. Skip the higher shelf, which would be harder to reach and keep clean anyway.

Actually moving the windows down would improve the exterior. The current window position lines up with nothing on the exterior. Moving them down would line the bottom sill up with the existing awning window and the bathroom window and bedroom windows that are on that wall. The top would also then line up with the awning window, which is the next closest window. So moving them as I have drawn would make the exterior more coherent than their current placement. (Many kitchen windows in this neighborhood are placed this way and the only explanation I have is that they are placed so high only because they put wall mounted kitchen faucets underneath them.).

Matching the existing windows ogee detail would have cost more $$$. I investigated that route when we still thought we could get the bigger windows.

Here's another houzz picture with shelves around a smaller window.

The Farmhouse · More Info

Those shelves are quite shallow, which might be a good idea if I went with shelves.

If I went with sconces above the windows, maybe these?

Like ediblekitchen suggested, with one centered above the windows/sink and one on each side.

Then maybe shallow shelves 18 inches long and only about 8 inches deep on each side of the window. Maybe just one on each side?

Alternatively, I could do double sconces like these on each side of the windows (with different shades).

And this flush mount fixture hanging from the ceiling centered over the windows/sink (with the opal shade).

And then maybe a fabric valance over the windows to help take up some of the space above them?

Those look great. The second option might be good if you are tying into another light fixture in the kitchen or adjacent room. But personally I like things grouped in 3s, so I would tend toward the first option.

Just a small correction to my earlier description of the exterior. Moving the windows as I have drawn would line the top of the kitchen windows up with the top of every other window on that wall. It would also line the bottom of the window up with the closest window. Bottom line is the same, moving the existing exterior windows to the place I have drawn is the best outcome for the exterior of the house.

In case it makes any difference to anyone's thoughts on the shelves, etc, here's a picture of what we are planning to do for the backsplash.

Large gray blue island anchors the space · More Info

We are doing cararra marble counters and plan a slab backsplash with that cut out detail on each end of the sink run. And the sill of the windows will be marble and it will extend out past the windows to the end of the backsplash. I think it's sort of the effect of an antique dresser.

I'm not sure if that would mesh with shelves? Or if it might look better with the sconces on the sides?

Thank you all!

I never knew art could look contrived. Hmmmm, interesting concept. I'll need to digest that.

I think I would wait to decide on the shelves/lighting issue until you get those windows moved and farther along on your project. Of course, we can still discuss options because it's fun!

We just removed what was to be the only uppers left in our kitchen as we were going to move them up a few inches to get more clearances between counter and cabinets. OMG! I had been told that I should remove them because they crowded the window but I didn't realize how much that was true until I saw it for myself. And my window is a large picture window so I didn't expect that. We're not putting them back up. I'll lose a little storage but the trade-off will be worth it.

With your smaller windows, I still think shelves will crowd the space. And light won't reflect around the room as well with shelves and the items on them sucking up the light. If you do go that route, you might just do one shelf on each side, something narrow, with just a couple pretty things on it, aligned with the bottom edge of the window. And art and/or pretty sconces above. Don't crowd items. If the sconces are eye-catching on their own, they could BE the art. Art doesn't just mean paintings.

Thank you!

I don't think I can wait until the windows are in to decide on lighting as it will effect the rest of the lighting choices for the room and some of these fixtures are made on order so they have longish lead times. I also just have a general preference for trying to make all related decisions (window placement, lighting placement, etc) in concert. I will feel much more settled on the window placement if I know how I will design around it.

As far as art looking contrived, I don't suppose the art itself would necessarily look contrived (though it could because I do think art in and of itself can look contrived). But sticking art in a place that it doesn't fit could look contrived. So, for example, a gallery wall where someone continued the pictures underneath a low window might look contrived to me. I'm just not sure about this placement. I don't think houses of this era would have had pictures or paintings on the walls. And the tall narrow space would restrict the art choices. That doesn't necessarily rule art out of course! But it gives me pause. Something to think about.

If I do shelves, I'm thinking they would be painted white and hold my drinking glasses, which are clear glass.

I'm sorry I wasn't clear. I meant wait to decide on the shelves. Yes, move forward on your lighting. I really like all the lighting choices you posted so far and think they ARE the art. Especially those double sconces with the striped shades. Lovely. If you go with them or something equally eye-catching, I think that shelves, even white ones with clear glasses on them, could detract from the lovely light fixture as well as obstruct the play of natural light bouncing around your room. Or, if there is enough space between the sconce and the shelf, you might be fine with one, narrow shelf hung low. Does that make sense?

Thanks! I think I need to decide on the shelves and lighting in concert. If it do the double sconces in each side of the window, then I probably would not do shelves. If I do sconces above the windows, then I probably would do shelves. (I have a hard time making decisions in isolation.)

I think maybe one thing I need to decide is whether there would be too much wall space above the windows. And if there is, would that be best addressed by putting wall mount sconces up there to "fill" the space? That might lead to doing shelves to fill the wall space.

The other alternative I have thought of is to address the wall space above the windows by putting up a valance. But I'm not sure I want a valance. It might be too much stuff going on in a small kitchen.

But if there is not too much wall space above the window then I think I could more reasonably choose to put sconces on each side of the window.

I really appreciate all the input. "Talking" this through is very helpful for me!

I like the look of the sconces above the window, but I do think they may glare since the bulb will be exposed. (wasn't it you concerned about this in a previous thread?) I dislike open shelves so take this with a grain of salt;), but I think the best look will be the double sconces on either side of the window with no shelves. I agree with funkycamper, I really like art in the kitchen. What about a row of small prints, framed sketches, watercolors, etc., above the window, if the space is large. (If you thought art BESIDE the window was contrived...... :D) Will there be 1.5 feet to the ceiling as it appears in your elevation sketch?

Do you mind sharing where you found that double sconce?

Yes, I am the concerned with glare person--good memory! And good point. I'm wondering if they would be better since they would be up so high I would have to look at the ceiling pretty much to catch the glare?

I do like open shelves so that's definitely playing into this. I like them for looks and for function. It would be really handy to have our water glasses right there where the dishwasher gets unloaded and where I fill them up.

And yes, the top of the trim of the windows (assuming we used the same kind of trim) would be right around 18 inches from the ceiling.

Double sconce is from schoolhouse electric. (The other lighting in case anyone else is looking for it is from rejuvenation).

Thank you!

Are you sure you can move the windows without requiring similar structural changes to embiggening them?

(Your current window setup, by the way, is perfectly generous in window size! And if you end up not moving them down, I sort of love how they work visually with the cabinets and wall-mount faucet, etc. As a short person, I do realize they must be impossible to open though!)

Yes, our GC is quite certain he can move them up or down without creating problems (no cutting studs). Who knows what will happen when he actually opens the wall up of course, maybe the whole thing is one rusted nail from collapsing for some reason we don't know about. But he is as sure as can be at this point.

I very briefly re-considered just leaving the windows as-is and switching to a wall-mount faucet. But wall mounts don't come in pull down or pull out and I already went in those circles about twenty times. So I'm not looking back. No wall mount faucet.

And I really would like to be able to open those suckers. And to be able to see the kids playing in the driveway. So. Down they come.

Thank you all!

Just adding another possible sconce for above the windows if we go that direction.

But with an opal shade and blue stripes. We are keeping some of the original Hoosier style built ins on a different wall and painting them a medium blue so a blue stripe would tie in. This would eliminate any glare concerns. I'm kind of liking the white powder coating too because it seems like it allows for a bigger fixture without it feeling heavy at the top of the wall? Other colors in All of the new cabinets will be white and the counters will be carrara. The floor will be dark wood. I'm thinking we will paint the walls a pale grey-blue.

I love your lighting choices. Where are you finding these? Thank you!

The white sconce is from barn electric. The ceiling fixture is from schoolhouse: http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/lighting/surface-mount-fixtures/satellite-4-surface.htm The double sconce is from schoolhouse electric. These sites all allow you to change shades and finishes on some of their fixtures so you might have to poke around to come up with the exact combination I have posted.