Kitchen window wonders – window designs and decorations

October 23rd, 2007

Is Look twice at your kitchen window: it working as hard as it should to bring in the maximum amount of natural light while connecting the cook with the outside world? Does it function as a focal point? Do work areas take advantage of it? Even a small kitchen can feel less claustrophobic if the window is doing its job. Here are examples that show just what a kitchen window can do.

* Dynamic duo

This kitchen window combines the best of both worlds: storage and view. Nearly the full height of the wall, it opens the room to a woodsy scene. A narrow strip of cabinets is supported by the metal frames of a commercial window system. The windows at counter level can open for ventilation.

* Panoramic backsplash

In this kitchen, the original ranch house–style sliding window was replaced by one big sheet of glass. The counter butts against the base of the window frame, so the wall-spanning window doubles as an eye-catching backsplash. The sleekness and simplicity of the cabinetry and counter design create an understated frame for nature. An operable sliding window at one end of the glass panel (visible at the far left of the photo) offers ventilation without obstructing the beautiful vista.

* Featured attraction

The bay window above the sink in this kitchen resembles a theater marquee thanks to the checkerboard frame of blue and white tiles that rises out of the backsplash. The tiles–which contrast with bright yellow field tiles covering the rest of the wall–function like blinking lights, drawing attention to the workspace and to the greenery in view. “The owners love color and were not afraid to use it. Without this tiling, the kitchen wouldn’t be so dramatic,” says designer Janice Stone Thomas.

Entry Filed under: Kitchen Windows