Jill Sharp Brinson seen in House Beautiful
Have you noticed kitchens where the window sits nearly flush with the countertop, often right behind the sink? Over my Christmas break I made an exciting discovery about both my kitchen and dining room that changed how I’m imagining the space. I’ll explain what I learned and how it could reshape the layout.
Remodeling a kitchen is always full of choices, even more so when you’re working within an existing footprint and a budget. You want the end result to be both functional and beautiful, so it’s worth taking the time to weigh options and explore possibilities.
I’ve already shared a few of my design ideas: my dream of adding a Dutch door, my plan to let the house evolve toward a modern farmhouse mixed with 1950s cottage influences, and my preference to stay within the original footprint rather than adding on. Recently I’ve been reconsidering a corner of the kitchen that used to serve as a little desk area.
That corner with the desk felt like it might be better used as a built-in bench under the window, which would help reduce clutter and make the spot more functional and charming for our family. I loved that idea, but I also assumed a regular-height counter couldn’t fit beneath the window. I hadn’t measured—until the holidays.
At first I was sure a counter wouldn’t work, because that’s what I’d always thought. But out of curiosity I measured, checked typical counter heights online, and even asked my mom the height of her new countertops. To my surprise, there was plenty of space to install a standard or even taller countertop below that window without changing the window itself.
We had originally thought placing the sink under a new window with a view of the backyard would be ideal. Even though the kitchen corner window could accept a taller counter, a sink there might feel cramped. Then a new idea hit me: the dining room has a larger window, and it too sits high enough to allow a countertop underneath.
What if I moved the kitchen into the dining room, opened up the wall between the rooms a bit more, and placed the sink under that big dining room window? The thought was thrilling—the dining room window has the best view, and standing at a sink there would feel lovely. It would also let light flood the workspace.
We’d considered removing the wall before, but basement stair placement and the existing stove location made that layout tricky. Reorienting the kitchen so the sink faces the backyard makes the idea of opening the wall much more sensible. I’ll share plans and options for how the kitchen and dining spaces might work together in a future post.
UPDATE: See how our kitchen turned out here!
Can a kitchen counter really sit flush with a window? Yes. After searching Pinterest, Houzz, and other sites I found plenty of examples, and I realized how much I love the look: abundant light and an unobstructed view make it an ideal spot for a sink. If you add an extra-deep countertop, you also get more space behind the faucet, which reduces splashing and creates a comfortable work area.
In my previous house I had a large window above the sink, but a raised backsplash made the area feel cramped and was harder to keep clean. Deeper counters offer more room behind the faucet and make cleanup easier. For my current house, a dining room window that allows a countertop below it opens up new layout possibilities that I hadn’t considered until I measured.
Below are a few photos of kitchens where the window and counter align closely. The styles vary, but the core idea—placing an unobstructed window at sink height to maximize light and view—is consistently appealing.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on design and trends recently—I’ve enjoyed reading your comments. Your feedback always helps as I sort through options for this house.
UPDATE: See how our kitchen turned out here!
Related posts:
10 Reasons I Removed My Upper Kitchen Cabinets (my previous kitchen)
7 Tips for Planning a Kitchen Remodel