Kitchen faucet off-center with window; design dilemma, help!
I have a design dilemma regarding the sink base needing to be 5-6 inches off-center with the window. Ignore the two-basin sink in the design I’ve attached photos of; I am doing a large, single-basin sink. So the faucet would be off-center with the window…. The importance of this fact is the first part of this question. Second part is deciding on a window configuration to mask the faucet off-set if we keep the current cabinet layout.
We are in the position of not centering the sink due to 1) Having previously ordered non-returnable cabinets to fit an entirely different layout, and 2) This layout maximizes the usable and functional volume for the kitchen base cabinets, as well as maximizing the usage of the cabinets we already ordered.
Now, if we were to change the cabinet configuration solely to center the sink with the window, I would need to discard the 36 inch 2-drawer base cabinet to the left of the sink, and order a 30” base instead. But, that would mean not only storage loss, but would require two additional 3” dishwasher end panels on both sides to the right of the sink to compensate for the 6” of visible dead space on that wall caused by the smaller, 30” drawer base to the left of the sink. This solution is not ideal for me at all, BUT, depending on how big a deal it is to have the faucet sticking up in front of the window 6” off-center…. perhaps I would consider it. Please give opinions on that!
My kitchen designer feels that having the faucet off-center is compensated by the fact that we made everything else very symmetrical. The window is centered on the wall. The wall cabinets to either side of the window are the same size, creating symmetry. Lastly, the island is centered with all that. The view out the window will draw the eye as it is a nice view.
This kitchen opens to the dining area and living room, so when one looks across at the kitchen and out the window, you will see the symmetry of the above mentioned things, with only the faucet sticking up and being up to 6” off-center. Perhaps not terribly important???
The second part of this is getting the right window configuration. It’s been suggested that I avoid a window that has window panes or lines that make it obvious that the faucet doesn’t hit center. Need to get something that masks that as much as possible.
This window space is 76” length X 36” High. I will leave about 10” between the countertop and the bottom of the window frame, and put backsplash there behind the faucet.
Doing one big picture window, single pane is one option; but, I’m not a fan of the solid piece-of-glass look, plus the fact you can’t open the window at all. Still an option, though, if aesthetically it’d be better….
The designer is suggesting a single pane across the bottom expanse to camouflage the off-center faucet, but then make it shallow at maybe 18” deep (half the depth of the 36” window space), and the put 3 casement-type windows across the top that can be opened via hand cranks.
I marked off measurements with tape on a blank wall to help me visualize this look. Please see photos of this and tell me what you think. Unfortunately the horizontal frame line where the windows meet hits right about eye-level if you’re standing at the sink. But maybe this isn’t a big deal, and the overall look matters more? Or maybe getting windows with extra-thin frames would help decrease that frame taking up space horizontally across the 76” length. Or another option is change the depth of the windows to a different depth split instead of 50/50; 60/40, 70/30, etc….
Open to any other window configuration suggestions as well and all thoughts regarding the importance of the faucet being centered. I’m really hoping it’s not a big deal and we can just leave it as it. But if it’s a huge problem visually despite all the symmetry in the rest of the kitchen, let me know please!
Thanks in advance!
Please ignore the inconsistencies with the cabinet colors and type of window in the design; this is strictly to illustrate cabinet layout and window/sink placement.
My tape markings for a window 76” x 36”. Top of the counter top is at the top
of the wainscoting at 36” from the floor approximately. Blue tape is where the faucet would sit approximately 5-6” off-center with the window. Faucet 16” tall:
Actual wall where window will go. We’ll be taking these windows out, but this is the view outside:
Comments (17)
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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...See MoreHelp! Off centered windows not centered in room that needs chandelier.
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Comments (26)I was just purging some of my saved kitchen photos, and look at all these off centered sinks and faucets I found! In this first one, the sink faucet is obviously not centered, but see how the sink cabinet looks slight off center to the window as well? Now the rest of the kitchens below could be slightly off, or they might be perfectly centered. It looks like the photographers were trying for a straight on shot, but notice in each the faucets do not look perfectly centered? If the camera is just a hair off center, it won’t line up. So how often do you stand perfectly centered to the window and then move an inch to the left or right and then stop an stare once you get the dang thing lined up? It will never happen and believe me I have tried! 🤪 Ok I’ll quit now, but seriously I have a dozen more! Lol! I do think I figured out the trick though. You never leave the faucet spout straight. You always keep it angled towards which ever way tricks the eye to make it look more balanced to the window. 😉 And Artemis78, I always love seeing your cheerful lime green kitchen!...See More
Buehl
last monthOh another option is to get a sink with two uneven bowls, then install the faucet b/w the bowls. We did that. Our faucet is NOT centered on the window, but I didn't care and no one has ever commented on it in the almost 16 years we've had it.
Function is more important to me than "looks", especially something to trivial (to me) as centering the faucet on the window.
You have a large window space, so I think it will be less noticeable than if you had a narrow window. In fact, I'm not sure anyone would expect the faucet to be centered given the size of you window space.
Very old pictures (from right after the Kitchen construction was finished):
Size of the basins in my sink. Note, the only thing that does not fit in the large base is the 3' long shelf from the refrigerator -- but I don't think it would have fit in a single bowl either.It's in a 36" wide sink base.
Kari thanked BuehlAnnKH
last monthYou're right, Buehl, I forgot that part by the time I got to the end!
When we moved into a 30-year-old home recently, the first thing I did was add pullouts to most of the base cabinets. Mine are better than typical roll-out tray, because the door is attached to the lower pullout, so it functions as a drawer.
Kari thanked AnnKHKari
last monthThanks for the feedback!
Yes, the sink will be an undermount. The sink I was planning to use has a center drain, but I’ll look into whether the measurements would hit correctly with the center of the window if Iswitched to an offset drain with faucet mounted above the drain. I’m not sure I’ve seen any photos of how this looks online, but I’ll go searching!
When you say ’3-window’, would that be your recommendation regardless of whether the faucet is centered? or only if we end up centering it?
Is this photo the style of window you’re referrencing? Sorry, I’m not well-versed with windows!
Kari
last monthKari
last monthKari
last monthI taped some potential window arrangements on a blank wall. the blue tape is exactly where the faucet would be in relation to center. I think the bottom option is probably the winner.
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
last monthlast modified: last monthKari thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
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