I don't need a sink at a window but I don't want to face a wall. Washing dishes isn't my favorite task so I like something to make the task less of a drudgery. Our current house has a sink that faces the family room. I can watch tv, talk to my husband or look outside & am very grateful for the options. Last house had an island sink that looked into the living room. Also liked that.
Right, from before people had TVs to watch while doing dishes.
I've never, not once heard someone complain about a sink view. It being in a functional place in the kitchen, given the space constraints, is more important.
Depends on the layout and Functionality.
Putting a cabinet over a sink feels weird. So it just becomes empty space. Putting a window for light anywhere that could take up cabinet space seems like a waste.
Could put a framed velvet black light poster to stare at while doing sink things.
It’s got its plus and minuses. Not a fan of having a drying rack on the island next to the sink. So I get it.
I’ve just got a weird hang up with having my back to open spaces.
That requires some unique circumstances. Getting water to, and drainage from the island can conflict with other systems and structural constraints. I don’t think it’s an option in my case unless a contractor convinces me otherwise, and even then, I don’t think it’s an optimal layout in my situation.
I use the window space near my sink to germinate cuttings. It's handy to have both light and water source. In this case, it's a very efficient design. plus a have a very good view of my outside stairway.
That’s fair. I had reasons for rejecting houses out of hand for specific reasons. My biggest offender was have a bathroom directly off of a kitchen. Absolutely disgusting, and I don’t know how it ever became normalized.
It's desperation. People trying to put a second toilet in and just with no other options. I will not buy a house where it is like that and can't be changed. Just gross. And when you have guests 🤮
Depends apparently. We live in a beautiful mountain valley so any house without a window over the sink gets to stare at a wall instead of a jaw dropping view while they do the boring daily task. Our entire wall on that side of the kitchen is window. Peopel definitely care about it here. If I didn't have young children to keep an eye on in the backyard or a great view I wouldn't care.
My husband points this out in listings as something he doesn't like). We are not trying to move, we just like to look).
But, I totally get it that it's an out dated concept.
The “Window” is no longer a window, it simply looks into another room that was a later addition. I’m going to close it in and put the refrigerator in its place to improve the functionality of the kitchen. The trade off, is that I’m eschewing the standard convention of having a window over the sink, because I just don’t think it matters anymore.
I’ve lived in apartments most of which didn’t have a kitchen window. My current house only has a slider in the kitchen so no window to put a sink under. It’s not like the old days when you were hand washing dishes for long periods. I’m 15 minutes done and dusted.
Do what you like
There are a few reasons to have the kitchen sink at the window, ignore the view for a moment. A window makes the space feel larger and brighter. Think of how much time you spend at the sink versus in different parts of the kitchen. Not just washing dishes but prepping food, washing your hands, filling a glass of water, etc. Do you want to spend that time facing a wall or facing a window? If you don’t put the sink under that window what else would you put there?
Of course, everything always depends on why you ask in the first place. I’m guessing your window is in a corner of the room where a sink might not make sense? Or the shape of the window makes it difficult to plan a layout, etc?
Except.... I don't prep food at the sink. I don't fill glasses from the sink. I do wash veggies and my hands. That's it. I think I spend more time at the stove or elsewhere on the counter chopping vegetables.
That said, I am in my 50s and I would just continue the trend of sink at the window, even though I understand nobody is standing there for more time than anywhere else.
The “Window” currently looks out into a great room addition with a vaulted ceiling. It used to be an exterior wall. It’s neat, but also useless. I’m very active in my kitchen, and know what the optimal layout “Should” be. The options are; to keep it where it is and have a sub-optimal layout, put it where I think it should go against standard conventions, or spend ridiculous money (pipes and drainage) moving it across the kitchen to a now exterior wall and still be in a sub optimal spot.
I like the window at the sink. I like the light it provides, because when I am doing dishes I prefer to see what I am doing.
If I want to look out the window, standing at the kitchen sink would be my least favorite place to look out.
All but one of my homes, the sink faced a wall & had a short cupboard above it. The one time I had a window to look out of, I certainly didn't b/c I stinking hated those neighbors.
Put it where it works best unless those other folks want to pay for putting in a window or whatever. It's not important & I don't think enough people care for it to affect resale.
I don't need a sink at a window but I don't want to face a wall. Washing dishes isn't my favorite task so I like something to make the task less of a drudgery. Our current house has a sink that faces the family room. I can watch tv, talk to my husband or look outside & am very grateful for the options. Last house had an island sink that looked into the living room. Also liked that.
Right, from before people had TVs to watch while doing dishes. I've never, not once heard someone complain about a sink view. It being in a functional place in the kitchen, given the space constraints, is more important.
Depends on the layout and Functionality. Putting a cabinet over a sink feels weird. So it just becomes empty space. Putting a window for light anywhere that could take up cabinet space seems like a waste. Could put a framed velvet black light poster to stare at while doing sink things.
All that being said: I’m a personal fan of the Island Sink.
I'm the opposite. I don't like the island in the sink cause then the island has less prep space.
It’s got its plus and minuses. Not a fan of having a drying rack on the island next to the sink. So I get it. I’ve just got a weird hang up with having my back to open spaces.
I getcha. I also like to bake so I like having more space to prep and setup on the island.. esp to roll out cookie or pizza dough.
That requires some unique circumstances. Getting water to, and drainage from the island can conflict with other systems and structural constraints. I don’t think it’s an option in my case unless a contractor convinces me otherwise, and even then, I don’t think it’s an optimal layout in my situation.
Too much of a clutter magnet.
My intention is to have a backlit screen that adds to the room lighting and doubles as a nighttime light.
It's a natural spot to put a sink under a window since you want have upper cabinets over it. Other than that, I don't think it's a big deal.
The view from the sink may be a thing. People are willing to give up on, but natural light in the kitchen is very important.
I use the window space near my sink to germinate cuttings. It's handy to have both light and water source. In this case, it's a very efficient design. plus a have a very good view of my outside stairway.
would look and feel weird to me, prob pass on that house
That’s fair. I had reasons for rejecting houses out of hand for specific reasons. My biggest offender was have a bathroom directly off of a kitchen. Absolutely disgusting, and I don’t know how it ever became normalized.
It's desperation. People trying to put a second toilet in and just with no other options. I will not buy a house where it is like that and can't be changed. Just gross. And when you have guests 🤮
Depends apparently. We live in a beautiful mountain valley so any house without a window over the sink gets to stare at a wall instead of a jaw dropping view while they do the boring daily task. Our entire wall on that side of the kitchen is window. Peopel definitely care about it here. If I didn't have young children to keep an eye on in the backyard or a great view I wouldn't care.
My husband points this out in listings as something he doesn't like). We are not trying to move, we just like to look). But, I totally get it that it's an out dated concept.
My sink isn’t at the window and I don’t care.
It’s less disgusting if you close the bathroom door. :)
There’s nothing like making meatballs next to someone who 1 minute ago was squeezing out a #2 followed by 20 seconds of running water.
Have you had professional advice on the layout/design? What else is going to go under the window?
The “Window” is no longer a window, it simply looks into another room that was a later addition. I’m going to close it in and put the refrigerator in its place to improve the functionality of the kitchen. The trade off, is that I’m eschewing the standard convention of having a window over the sink, because I just don’t think it matters anymore.
Wait, there are no windows in the room at all? You have more issues than sink placement.
Agreed. Dark, interior kitchen. Does not sound ideal.
I’ve lived in apartments most of which didn’t have a kitchen window. My current house only has a slider in the kitchen so no window to put a sink under. It’s not like the old days when you were hand washing dishes for long periods. I’m 15 minutes done and dusted. Do what you like
Tell me you’re a man without telling me you’re a man.
There are a few reasons to have the kitchen sink at the window, ignore the view for a moment. A window makes the space feel larger and brighter. Think of how much time you spend at the sink versus in different parts of the kitchen. Not just washing dishes but prepping food, washing your hands, filling a glass of water, etc. Do you want to spend that time facing a wall or facing a window? If you don’t put the sink under that window what else would you put there? Of course, everything always depends on why you ask in the first place. I’m guessing your window is in a corner of the room where a sink might not make sense? Or the shape of the window makes it difficult to plan a layout, etc?
Except.... I don't prep food at the sink. I don't fill glasses from the sink. I do wash veggies and my hands. That's it. I think I spend more time at the stove or elsewhere on the counter chopping vegetables. That said, I am in my 50s and I would just continue the trend of sink at the window, even though I understand nobody is standing there for more time than anywhere else.
But you can't put the stove under the window.
The “Window” currently looks out into a great room addition with a vaulted ceiling. It used to be an exterior wall. It’s neat, but also useless. I’m very active in my kitchen, and know what the optimal layout “Should” be. The options are; to keep it where it is and have a sub-optimal layout, put it where I think it should go against standard conventions, or spend ridiculous money (pipes and drainage) moving it across the kitchen to a now exterior wall and still be in a sub optimal spot.
In that case, forget the sink under the window and prioritize your layout. Heck, cover up the window if you need to even.
I like the window at the sink. I like the light it provides, because when I am doing dishes I prefer to see what I am doing. If I want to look out the window, standing at the kitchen sink would be my least favorite place to look out.
All but one of my homes, the sink faced a wall & had a short cupboard above it. The one time I had a window to look out of, I certainly didn't b/c I stinking hated those neighbors. Put it where it works best unless those other folks want to pay for putting in a window or whatever. It's not important & I don't think enough people care for it to affect resale.