I like the title of your post :)

My current sink is in the peninsula facing the counter height seating and "kitchen lounge" area. I actually like this setup because I'm frequently cooking and washing up while friends and family are visiting and while DD sits at the counter and does her homework, has her breakfast, etc. It makes me feel like I'm in the middle of what's going on and not missing out. I might replicate this in our next home, although I would like to have more windows and light.

I've had a window at the kitchen sink in a few homes but don't remember gazing out of them too much :)

Staring out a window at night also freaks me out a bit - probably due to scary movies and some frightening experiences with "peeping toms" as a youngster.

I look out the window every time I'm at the sink. I sort of had to train myself to do so; slow down, smell the roses, etc. We have a seasonal mountain view plus several bird feeders to look out, so once I got in the habit of looking out, it stuck. I also like to look out the window over our prep area as well.

I've lived for years with a kitchen that the sink faces a wall. Never been a problem. This is one of those stupid design things like the inane kitchen triangle (which even when it wasn't an outdated concept, was roundly misapplied to situations other than the minimal sized kitchens it was developed for).

sbkh-I was meaning that in the old house no matter which way I faced - sink or peninsula the windows were in direct very comfortable view without turning my head. New build I have an island with the sink where I spend most of my time but it faces the living room/fireplace (which is not a bad view but it's not a window). I can see out the windows but it's not direct view because it doesn't FACE the windows if that makes sense?

Dream kitchen - window over the sink - and on either side of the range. You never know what you loved or miss until you move on to something else ya know? Other than the windows the layout in that old kitchen was awful. ;)

Autumn.4....I know exactly what you mean. I have a nice kitchen in this house but I do miss that window over the sink. Cleaning up at my island sink just isn't the same. Loved, loved loved your description of watching for the bus. Made me smile.

Redlover-it brought back so many memories in a flash that I haven't thought about in forever. My first little dude that used sit clipped onto the peninsula and point at the bus is now 13. We used to time our lunch around seeing that bus. My does the time fly.

My sink use to face a blank wall, when I redid the kitchen I added a new window and moved the sink location so it overlooks the back garden.

The old location was like solitary confinement.

Casey

I'm another one who loves all the windows I can get, and I adore my huge window over my kitchen sink. I lived in several apartments before I bought my first home, and hated having a sink not under a window in so many of those apartments. The wall felt like it was on top of my face! I love looking out the window, watching the birds and wildlife, seeing the green grass and landscaping...

I love looking out my kitchen sink window while doing the dishes. I have a view of the hills and the sky, the trees, the birds, the weather, the clouds, the sunset, silhouettes of the landscape after the sun goes down. Every day there is a different view. I do a lot of dishes and it doesn't seem like work. Sometimes I go in there just to look out the window.

My kitchen is on an upper level on a hill, at the level of many of the rooftops in my neighborhood. That may make a difference because there is so much sky to look at.

I do look out my kitchen window. It over looks the deck and then the yard beyond where we see pheasant, quail, deer, coyote and other wildlife. And beyond that I can see the end of our driveway, the road and our mailboxes. In the new house my sink is under the window and I will have pretty much the same views except we won't see the road and mailboxes. instead.No deck but farm fields

I don't look much outside the window, but I LOVE the natural light and the feeling of spaciousness that windows provide. I truly hate having upper cabinets in my face when I'm working, and having a solid wall only inches from my head (i.e. still no window, but the uppers removed) is only marginally better. Neither is good or desirable.

Windows or open space (like what's above an island or a peninsula) above all my work areas (sink, prep counters, etc.) is a requirement in my next kitchen. There will be at least two exterior walls and almost no uppers and almost no non-window walls, and it will be glorious!

Our inability to add a window in our dark kitchen is my least favorite thing about our current kitchen. We REALLY could use that light and that breeze in that darkest corner of our condo.

I meant to do my work today,

But a brown bird sang in the apple tree,

And a butterfly flitted across the field,

And all the leaves were calling me.


And the wind went sighing over the land,

Tossing the grasses to and fro,

And a rainbow held out its shining hand,

So what could I do but laugh and go?

I Meant To Do My Work Today

by Richard LeGallienne

This poem explains my life.

I have a window over my sink, and I have a huge window by my desk and computer looking out upon my miniature horses cavorting in their fields.

i don't have a window over my kitchen sink, but there is a wall of windows 24 feet across the room and yes i look out of them all the time i look out my windows alllll the time.....and make landscaping decisions on what i see when i look out....

My mother loved having her kitchen window looking out onto the street and gazed out through it on the rare occasions she washed up.

Mine looks into the back garden. Okay, it's not really a garden as such, but I like looking into it. Sometimes I see a skink going hunting or a bird coming to check out goings on. And I used to watch my guineapigs. Lovely things.

I couldn't cope with a kitchen that had no window. I am baffled by the modern design of kitchens.

Miniature horses cavorting about!!! And here I was, happy with some miserable skinks and a useless bird. Can we swap views, sbkh?

I feel like I'm in a timeout when I'm against a wall, whether its a window or not. I like to face my family, guests and TV when preping or doing dishes.

New house has windows flanking stove. I feel like there is more concentration required when cooking.

My apartment in NY is all on an inside wall and I hate it. Absolutely no light coming into that kitchen. And the funny thing is the kitchen we had right before that one, was exactly the same.

My condo here in FL is also in "interior space" except my kitchen sink on the island looks out onto our dining room sliding doors and beyond that is the view of the water. Not too shabby.

My new house build started off with the prep sink not having a window, but now it too will have a window. My prep space to the left of my prep sink will also have a window.

And my island will have the cleanup sink to look out onto the backyard. This whole house is being designed to let the light in. Every room with the exception of the master bath and the upstairs bathroom were designed to have windows and/or sliding doors on at least two sides.

I plan to, and planned two sinks. So, the one I enjoy working at more, the prep sink, is under and in the middle of a large window bank with a beautiful view. I put the cleanup sink in the island facing the pantry as I hate/rush/pawn off/assign as a chore that job!

I do, multiple times a day. Not just when I am washing dishes, but when I get a cup of coffee, a cup of water, fill the dogs water bowl, etc. The window has a view of the front yard and sky and I have seen families of deer, and other critters. I also see our trees being swayed by the wind, interesting birds, sunsets, lightning, and of course rain and snow.

We had our architect design our house around a window over the sink - we also have a prep sink in our island. It was very important to me. And yes, it did create some challenges. We have dogs and the dog area will be right outside that window. Also, I like to have bird feeders outside that window, and it does have a lovely view as well. For me - the more light in the kitchen - the better. But, I have several friends who have no window in their kitchen and they love it. Do what is best for you- good luck!

The original question suggested one of many possible reasons for placing a window at a sink. It is not necessary to gaze out a window to benefit from it.

I do gaze out the kitchen window. I am never so focused on washing a dish that I don't have a few seconds or more to check out the sky or the trees. When the construction is done and the "moonscape" has become a garden, I hope there will be birds to watch. I don't actually have to watch the water fill up a pot or a pitcher, I can tell by the sound when there's enough. So plenty of time for gazing here!

Thinking now about what is different about a kitchen window-- I'm not sure there are other windows in the house that I stand right next to and look out. Other windows tend to be looked out of while seated or from a greater distance, so it just seems like a different type of experience to me. Which isn't to say you can't live a full and happy life without a window over your kitchen sink!

Oh, I do love gazing out my kitchen window over my sink ... it's a wonderful view that has over time included horses and donkeys in the back pasture, 3/4 acre pond in front of that pasture ... my "water feature", lovely gardens in front of the pond, and bird feeders, hummingbird & oriole feeders hanging on the deck ... and wonderful sunsets. All of which I will miss as I have sold the farm and will be moving in a couple of months.

I am short , not quite a small person but 4'11". For 44 yrs all I saw through my kitchen window is maybe the tips of the trees in my back yard. I am not amused! I had my husband lower the standard cabinets, he did not like the idea, but I am the one that works in the kitchen, now I want to do something different, no I don't want a blank wall, I am not sure what I want in place of a window, I do have a nice back yard ,but I can't see it! Maybe take down a cabinet on the left side of sink, and put in a different shaped window, he says. I say I still can't see, out the window! Does he think I am still growing at 68 yrs old? He just does not get it, he is over 6ft! The only things he sees is over his knees. Watchout cats, and dogs and small children, He will trip over You! I am all done ranting, I need help! Houzz people any ideas?

I don't necessarily prefer a window over the sink, but do want a view from the sink, not facing a blank wall. In our ski house we had a window over the sink and I enjoyed the view, but at home, the sink overlooks the den with a view beyond. From the sink I can see the family in the den, the tv, and the view outside through the den windows, including watching the hummingbirds at the feeder. I like that broad view better.

Mary you'd have better luck if you actually need help by starting a new thread. People who post to this thread will read the OP and respond to that.

For those of you who have a window but choose not to put the sink there, then what do you put at the window?

I do. My window looks out to a lake. It's a beautiful view and helps make the chore of washing dishes a little easier.

I use to gazed out my kitchen window over the sink when the view was of forest and orchards of apples and cherries. Now I gaze out to make sure my neighbor doesn't cut his hand off on his table saw.

As ARG pointed out, the natural light is very important.

Mary - I'm not trying to be funny on this one. Have you tried the foot stool concept?:

Lisa Gaylor - if it's your prep space then you just have a nice working counter there. I'd love to have a window that was 'extra' so additional to the one over the sink.

This house my windows flank the range and my sink is in the island. I miss my window over the sink as I prep by my sink so I don't get to gaze very often anymore but I do love the light they bring and when I am at the stove I am looking outside into the trees.

I think it's great to have a window (or two) on the kitchen wall especially if there's a view or other purpose. Our current rented homes have kitchen sinks facing the front of the home with views to Drayton Harbor, not too bad. In our new home (under construction), with mountain views from the kitchen wall, I opted for two windows, one above the sink to the left of the stove and a second matching one on the other side which will bring additional light to the L-Shaped kitchen.

you lose cabinet space with this setup too.

The 21st century window over the sink is an island Kitchen facing the living room so you can see the Big Screen over the mantle.

I like to look out.

jp - depends on your view. I'd much rather look outside than at the tv any day. Outside is much more interesting than the junk on tv these days. And my current house the sink is in the island and faces said fireplace but tv is next to it not above it. It's rarely on. You can lay out the kitchen still having plenty of storage while forfeiting a couple of uppers for windows. But if you don't have a view then of course you probably wouldn't.

I love Virgil's pic above and jn's kitty. :)

We are going with windows and NO upper cabinets at all. But with me at 5'8" and DW at 5'2", we can't get into them well anyway. Big pantry and lots of lowers with drawers.

@Autumn.4, That would be lovely. I will fiddle with my kitchen layout.

I'm building with my sink on a Peninsula facing the dining room with a window directly across. This way I can talk with guests as I clean up. My prep area is the spot that has a direct window view - less likely to be chatting when doing most of my prepping.

I'll still have a lot of uppers, being tall and prefer them to most lowers.

Mark B No offense taken, forgot I was on a small step stool my husband had made for me and crashed into the island! Nothing broken, children said" your ok Mum, you landed on your bum" circa 1978 LOL

While not "gazing dreamily" out our kitchen window, I do look out quite a bit while at the sink. Mostly to come up with future landscape ideas or to watch my dog stalk squirrels and sometimes catch them. When thinking about how I use my kitchen sink, I came to the conclusion that I would hate it in my island. I would have dirty dishes on my island all the time which would drive me crazy. I clean up, and 5 minutes later a dirty dish magically appears next to the sink. Plus, I prefer an uninterrupted island workspace. Organize your kitchen however it works best for you! There is no law that says a sink has to be below the window.

Lisa Gaylor-once you prep without a cabinet in your face I think you will never go back. :)

We have a great view out of our kitchen window at the current house that I will miss when our new home is completed. I really enjoy looking out onto something so to compensate, we designed a private courtyard setting outside the kitchen and the window over the sink will be flanked with windows above and under the wall cabinets on both sides of the sink.

I do :)

I had a window over my sink in my last house. This house the sink is in the island. I really miss the sink on the outside wall with the window to gaze out.

It seems most house plans now have the sink in the island, with the kitchen on interior walls. There is too much splashing at the sink for someone to sit at the island.

If I ever get a chance to due custom, I would put the kitchen on an exterior wall with a window above the main sink, no question.

Asking "Who actually gazes out the window over their kitchen sink?" suggests a negative opinion of that arrangement based on a lack of awareness of the issues involved.

I would love to hear the OP's reasons for having a blank wall in front of the sink. As for a sink in an island, its great for the cook but unpleasant at best for those sitting at the island.

Just because something is done often doesn't mean its a bad idea.

As for shorter people and kitchen counters, I once designed a continuous step built into the cabinets with kick spaces above and below. It was effective but not cheap.

I love looking out of my kitchen sink window. I see all types of wildlife, so peaceful and calming!

Another advantage of a window at a sink is that you will be standing close to the window for an extended period of time and will have a wider, clearer view and be able to see more of what is happening outside. For me its an essential feature in a kitchen. Too many new homes bury the kitchen in the center of the house. Looking across a room through a window is a much different experience.

I spend a lot of time at the kitchen sink--whether prepping for a meal or cleaning up afterwards. We have a waterfront lot and the view from the sink is a nice reward when doing the mundane prep or clean up at the sink.

My over the sink window faces the side of my neighbors house 12 feet away. Why in the world the builder arranged the kitchen this way, I don't know. But, I keep the shade pulled down 99% of the time. I do have a half-moon window at the top of the window that's open and we can get light from it.

But, at our previous home, I never really gazed out at our backyard from our kitchen sink window.

But, it would be nice to have the option.

I think it really depends on how you cook.

I'm like you. I'm on a mission to get the dishwasher loaded or hand washables done.

I do listen to music while I'm cooking.