Jill Sharp Brinson seen in House Beautiful
Have you noticed kitchens where the window is nearly flush with the countertop, often placed behind the sink? Over my recent Christmas break I discovered one such possibility in my own home, and it shifted my whole plan for the kitchen and dining areas. I’ll explain what I found and why it has me rethinking the layout.
Kitchen remodels always come with a long list of choices, and even when you’re working on a budget and within an existing footprint, there are many ways to make the most of the space. I’ve been aiming for a gentle evolution of my house toward a modern farmhouse-meets-1950s-cottage style while keeping the original footprint rather than adding on. That approach means careful decisions about placement, function, and light.
One corner of the kitchen has a small desk area beneath a window. I’d considered replacing that desk with a built-in bench to create a cozy eat-in nook and reduce clutter. I loved that idea, but I never measured the height under the window because I assumed a standard counter wouldn’t fit.
On a whim I measured during the holidays. I checked standard counter heights and even compared notes with my mom’s countertops. To my surprise, there was ample room under that window to install a normal—or even taller—counter without replacing the window. That realization opened up new possibilities.
At first I pictured the sink beneath a new window with a backyard view. But with the counter fitting under the kitchen corner window, I started to think even bigger. The dining room has its own window that sits at a similar height. If that window could support a counter, could I move the kitchen into the dining room, open the wall between the two spaces further, and place the sink under the larger dining room window?
That idea felt exciting immediately. The dining room window looks out onto the widest, most pleasant view in the yard. Standing at a sink there—surrounded by light and openness—would be a daily pleasure. We had previously hesitated to remove the wall because of the basement stairs and current appliance placement, but by reorienting the kitchen with the sink toward the backyard, opening up the wall becomes a much more practical option.
I’ll share more about potential layouts for the reconfigured kitchen and dining areas in a future post. For now, the key discovery is that windows at counter height make a compelling design choice: lots of light, a great view, and a fresh way to connect kitchen and dining spaces while staying within the existing structure.
UPDATE: See how our kitchen turned out here!
Can a countertop really be nearly flush with a window? Yes. After browsing Pinterest, Houzz, and design sites I found many examples of counters and sinks positioned close to window sills. I love the effect—an unobstructed view, abundant natural light, and a pleasing sense of openness. If you have extra-deep counters, they provide enough room behind the faucet to reduce splashing and keep the space easy to maintain.
In my previous house I had a large window above the sink, but a raised backsplash left an awkward gap that was harder to keep clean and made the faucet area feel cramped. Learning from that, deeper counters with the window nearly flush would give the faucet more breathing room and keep splashes on a flat, easy-to-wipe surface.
Below are a few inspirational kitchens that show the window-and-counter pairing in different styles. While my final look may differ, the core idea—placing the sink in front of a big, low window for light and a view—is the concept that most appeals to me right now.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on design and trends recently—I’ve enjoyed reading your comments and feedback. Your input always helps as I refine ideas for our home.
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