My mom puts windows right down to the counter in all of her kitchens (she's done 3 or 4 in the last decade). It's like her signature and it looks stunning! She's done a few different approaches such as running the counter top right into the sill as one seamless piece, or using a contrasting piece of material as the sill sitting on top of the counter. She has also done one that was just painted, though I'm not sure what the material underneath was. I think you just have to use common sense - choose your materials wisely, seal the seams as best as you can (or don't, if in a spot it would be better to let the water run rather than pool) and clean up spills promptly. It's like having a sink in a wood counter top - sure there may be a bit more maintenance in the grand scheme of things but if it looks fabulous then you can make it work and it's not as scary as it seems.

For the size of the window, I would stop in at a few window manufacturers to see what they say. If they can manufacture it and it's what you think would look best, then tell your contractor that's what you want to put in or find another contractor who will. With a window that wide, you'll have to be confident that the weight of the house above it is still supported properly with appropriate horizontal beams above the window. I'm sure I'm not saying that properly but hope you know what I mean and others will probably reply with whats involved from and engineering/code standpoint.

I agree that 3x7 would be very wide and skinny. 4x7 sounds like more pleasant proportions and a spectacular feature in your kitchen!

When you have the window meet the counter, you typically don't use wood trim

Here is a picture of my old kitchen, its hard to see but there is no wood trim, the edges are drywalled, and the tile just wraps around the drywalled area. So there is no water damage to occur. I liked mine but the water did spot the window glass so that required some upkeep.

My contractor is also not a fan of counter height windows. That said, they have done a lot and say that the clients love them. I am getting my existing window out, making it bigger to bring it down to counter height, and changing to a bay window so that I have a lot of space behind the sink for herb plants. I also think that it might help reduce splashes onto the window. My plan is just to take the counter all the way back to the window.

Our kitchen window is counter height (wood trim on sides and top only) and have had zero issues in the 11 years for this house.

Counter-height windows are actually not that unusual - at least not on this site!

When we remodeled, we replaced our bay window that was 22" off the floor for one that's 36" off the floor with the counter all the way into the well - and we love it! I will say that our bay is 18" deep, so that makes our counters pretty deep behind the sink. We do have wood on the bottom b/c of a measuring error (long story), but it's only a short piece. We have had no issues with it - it's been almost 9 years now.

One thing to keep in mind is that if the bay area is too deep, it may be difficult for you to open windows (casement are best in this situation) or clean the windows. We're a tall family and it's a bit deep even for us. [I have my DH and DS clean the windows b/c they're well over 6' tall (6'5" & 6'7", respectively).]

Being able to reach all the way to back for cleaning the counters is also a consideration. (I have no problems with that, I can reach the windows, I just can't reach the tops of the windows for cleaning!)

Measure your arm reach b/f you finalize your plans to be sure you can reach what you need to reach. I suspect a bumpout 9" to 12" is the limit for most people.

Here's a thread that has pictures of counter-height windows. Mine is in it - as I recall, it's from b/f our remodel was done, but it will show you what we did.

I particularly like MamaDadaPaige's (8" bumpout) and ErickaNH's (6" bumpout) windows - MamaDadaPaige's is close to the top of the thread and ErikaNH's is half-way down the thread. They posted both interior and exterior pictures.

counter height window pictures please

• http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2484108/counter-height-window-pictures-please

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The above thread also contains instructions for determining the correct height to install the window(s) - based on your finished floor height.

Just use whatever material you use for your countertops of the trim at the bottom of the window. Or even better, use bronze or steel windows, if you can afford them. They look amazing done that way!