Cheap fix: Hang some curtains or a pleated shade over it & pretend it's a window until you get that 'Aha! moment' for the perfect solution. I would probably drywall only the office side and fit shelves into the recess...perfect for spices...and have some doors made for it. Or not, depending on how obsessive you are. Later on, when finances aren't so tight, they might opt to replace all of the uppers (since storeage looks minimal) with something very similar and then paint all the cabinets. Replacing those few uppers and adding one over the sink would be a big improvement and not cost a fortune, either.

Hi y'all. Please show me some pics! I have a "window" from my kitchen into my DR in my condo (pretty typical of condos, apts., etc.) and I need help with tiling it. I thought this crown molding above the tile was a very cool idea! I would have taken it a little bit higher, though.

Ohhh...very useful discussion (thanks MrsPete!). I'm in San Diego and want a pass-through window of some sort for year round outdoor dining - I've been stuck on how to implement. I know I want the window down to the counter (thermal break concept noted). I plan to use a white quartzite inside and would prefer to use the same material outside as this ledge will be under an upper deck (I've heard that some white quartzite might discolor over time in strong sunlight?). The planned window, on the west wall, would be adjacent to an outdoor dining area in our side yard. Beyond that is the pool area (our house is sort of in the NE quadrant of the property with most space in the S-facing back and W-facing side). We most definitely want a window rather than a door (there are also doors on both walls, outside of kitchen area) because I want to be able to quickly hand out marinated meat for grill, finished kitchen items for outdoor table, or snacks to wet swimmers without actually having to walk outside. Speedier distribution means that something warm is likely to stay warm and the workload is properly distributed so that the cook only cooks and others set/clean up. Nano windows are too expensive. Sliding windows are a contender but I'd prefer to have the entire width open. We are all tall (mom is 6' and I'm likely to be the shortest in 4-5 years), so double hung windows might have us all bending down awkwardly to the openings. I'd like to find a casement-style window that can open all the way back to lay flat against the outside wall. Most casement seem to open only about 90 degrees (if that), which would put glass right out into a walkway. I'm not so concerned about the screen as the breeze comes in another direction so I'd usually have this window open solely for distribution. I do plan to blatantly steal Scrappy25's sitting bay with double hung windows/ledge for the south wall of the kitchen. It will be primarily for sitting and views outside (no cabinets on that wall), but will serve a quick pass-through if something is needed in the back yard... oh how I love Gardenweb and all you wonderfully creative people! Can't wait to hear what else comes of this discussion...

I am trying to find a good solution for my patio. The entire home has casement windows except the foyer which has 2 side by side 4' fixed over awning windows. Current Casement window doesn't open completely due to the cover over the new patio addition. Would love to have a pass through from the dining area to the patio cooking area, but not sure how to solve for the window. Will a double hung look odd on an MCM home? Will it look odd if only the 2 dining room windows are double hung? Could I do a fixed transom window over a casement window?