Kitchen Cabinets
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Play the Trading Game With Kitchen Storage and Views
Cabinets have their place, of course, but just imagine handling kitchen tasks with a glorious panorama for company
Houzz Contributor. My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. I am licensed to practice architecture in Illinois, Florida, New Jersey & Wisconsin and I am a certificate holder from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Since 1996 I have worked from my home office and provide full architectural services exclusively to the single family residential market. My passion is to transform my clients' houses into their homes. I strive to have the "new" home accommodate my clients' lives without fighting them at every junction. I look to add curb appeal to encourage a beautiful streetscape. And I design any addition to look and feel like it has always been there.
Our projects have won numerous design awards as well as having...
Houzz Contributor. My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located... More »
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It seems that for well over a century, the vast majority of houses were built with a single window above the kitchen sink. Usually tiny and with a lot of space between the window sill and the sink, these windows allowed the person washing dishes a bit of light and view while toiling away. And these small windows used a minimum of wall space, allowing for the maximum amount of upper cabinets.
These cabinets, strategically placed near the sink, were in a convenient location. I can remember my brother and I efficiently washing, drying and putting away all the dishes from dinner. What was obvious about this arrangement, however, was that we were giving up light and a view for the sake of mere efficiency.
But over the years, the headstrong drive to design everything solely for efficiency's sake has given way to making sure are kitchens are filled with delight as well, whenever possible.
My guess is that the folks who get to use these kitchens with amazing views don't miss that little window and extra cabinetry at all.
These cabinets, strategically placed near the sink, were in a convenient location. I can remember my brother and I efficiently washing, drying and putting away all the dishes from dinner. What was obvious about this arrangement, however, was that we were giving up light and a view for the sake of mere efficiency.
But over the years, the headstrong drive to design everything solely for efficiency's sake has given way to making sure are kitchens are filled with delight as well, whenever possible.
My guess is that the folks who get to use these kitchens with amazing views don't miss that little window and extra cabinetry at all.
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| Sure, unloading a dishwasher is easier if there's a cabinet right there so you can easily put away those dishes. But why not use an adjacent storage cabinet or dish drawer? That way you can have glorious windows like these to capture the light. |
| Lots of windows are especially nice when there's a spectacular view. This one big sheet of glass makes standing at this sink to clean the dishes a joy. |
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Just in case you think a large window is for big kitchens only, here's proof that even a small kitchen is well served by having an extra-large window above the sink and stretching across the countertop.
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by ARCHIA HOMES
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| Certainly making the windows all operable will allow you to extend the space of the kitchen out to the yard and beyond. |
| This design approach can be anything from traditional to contemporary. |
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Transform your sink area into an aerie from which you can view the horizon and up to the treetops and clouds. My sense is that a lot of dishes get hand washed in this kitchen. Even I'd be tempted to stand there at the sink and wash a few.
What about if you want all of those wonderful windows, but you don't want to loose any cabinetry space? Try some glass-front cabinets that let the sunshine in while showing off some of your favorite dishes. The trick is to make sure you get all of that window geometry to align with the cabinetry design.
Of course, all of this glass means you'll want to have plenty of glass cleaner around.
Of course, all of this glass means you'll want to have plenty of glass cleaner around.
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| If having all of that glass to clean seems a bit much, try a simple bank of windows flanked on each side with cabinetry. You can make this a real focal point of the kitchen with a valance between the cabinets that ties everything together. |
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| Or go all out and make the window something amazing. Big, bold, arched and full of style, this window creates a focal point and enlivens the kitchen. Of course, the bigger and bolder the window, the less space flanking it. But don't worry; just take the cabinets to the ceiling or, better yet, take the cabinets from counter to ceiling. Have something big and bold and stylish, just like the window. |
Ideabook published on Dec. 27, 2012.
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This is the kitchen of our previous house.
Another thought is a movable dish cabinet- roll it to the dishwasher, then back to its home. You could roll it to the table as well.
Another option is to make the counters a little higher around the sink. Six inches would allow an extra row of storage drawers. It means the counters are high for workspace, so it depends on what else you have and what you want.
But actually in my plan, I save the big window for prep space, because prep is more often done in daylight. Cleanup for us is often after dark. The dish sink faces inward, with a view of four other rooms, so helpers cannot hide! LOL
1. Do you miss the upper cabinets?
2. Do you spend lots of time cleaning glass around the sink, particularly? (I have a son who CANNOT wash dishes without spotting the typical kitchen sink window we have.)