Tips

How to pick out kitchen windows

Searching for kitchen windows? We’ll show you how to get around the challenges and make the most of the opportunity to bring light and fresh air into the heart of your home.

A kitchen with white zellige tile, a large wood island, and a bank of three white windows above the sink.

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With essentials like range hoods, cabinets, and microwaves taking up wall space, it can be tough to fit windows into a kitchen. And yet, they serve an important function by letting out smoke, steam, and cooking smells and letting in fresh air. Equally important, windows bring feel-good natural light into this oh-so-important room. Here’s how to get around the challenges and pick out windows that’ll make your kitchen a place everyone loves to be.

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What are the best windows for a kitchen?

If you’re looking for a quick answer, here it is: Pick casement windows for the kitchen. Their cranks make them easier to open anywhere you’ll be reaching over a counter or sink. They’re vertically oriented, allowing top-to-bottom ventilation, and have a shape that fits well amongst the cabinetry. They’re also versatile in terms of design — selections can help them blend in with traditional or modern spaces. There’s a lot to consider when picking out windows for a kitchen, so keep reading for more pointers.

Light pours through a row of six open casement windows that serve as a backsplash in a kitchen with sleek modern cabinetry.

If you remember one thing, make it this: Casements are king in the kitchen. These 400 Series Casement Windows with contemporary profiles are 5’ 9” tall with sleek frames that match the modern design of this open-concept kitchen.

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400 Series Casement Window

Products used in this image

400 Series Casement Window

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What’s the best window for over a kitchen sink?

If you’re leaning over your sink to reach the window, you might struggle to get the leverage needed to push up a double- or single-hung window. That’s why the crank-operated casement window is such a winner here. It’s also easier to maintain, no small consideration in such a hard-working space, because it can be cleaned (exterior, too) from inside your home. Keep this one in mind for anywhere in the kitchen you’ll be stretching to reach the window — above a countertop, banquette, etc.

Often, you’ll see twin casements — two casements that are joined together above a kitchen sink. One thing to keep in mind with this option is that the mull post (where the two windows meet) will be right in the middle of your view, which kind of defeats the purpose of having a window over the sink. To get around this, consider a row of three casement windows or an extra-large casement window. Another option could be a combination of a picture window joined to an awning window for clear views and fresh air. Finally, an outward opening awning window can also be a good option when sizing is right.

Two rows of black-framed casement windows with grilles above a concrete kitchen sink surrounded by marble countertops and white cabinetry.

Casement windows, like these ones, are a favorite above kitchen sinks because their crank handles make them a breeze to open. Selecting three windows means that there’s a clear view through the center window from the sink.

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Casement Windows

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Casement Windows

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What are the best kitchen windows for a new construction home?

Make entertaining easy with a pass-through window! Popular in between kitchens and outdoor living spaces, this type of window creates a completely clear opening, so you never miss a joke — even when you’re mixing drinks or refilling the chip bowl. And it comes in many forms. Find options that fold open accordion-style, slide open like a patio door, or disappear into the wall (pocket). There are even automated options that open and close on their own.
When you have the luxury of high ceilings, add a row of windows above your upper cabinets. Windows along the roofline (called clerestory windows) can let in light all day long. And just because they’re out of reach, doesn’t mean you have to give up the ability to open your windows. Our 400 Series, A-Series, and E-Series Awning Windows all come with the option of power operation, so you can open the window with a click of a button.
Create a contemporary look with windows as backsplashes. For a look that’s unique and contemporary, skip the tile and use windows as your backsplash. Awning and picture windows can fill this space well. Set flush with the countertop and below the upper cabinets, they’ll shed light on your every cooking project.

A Mid-century Modern home with a kitchenette featuring a Folding Pass-Through Window above the sink.

This Folding Pass-Through Window opens up to a patio space and pool, which makes it easy to pass out snacks and drinks — so the dripping wet kiddos can remain poolside.

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Pass-through window

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Pass-through window

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What are the best kitchen windows for a remodel?

When you’re working with the space you’ve got, there are still ways to add windows to a kitchen. Here are some of our favorite ideas:

Replace an upper cabinet with a window. A casement window can work particularly well because of its vertical orientation. If you’re completely overhauling your kitchen and have a lot of space to work with, you could take this concept one step further and forgo the upper cabinetry completely. Instead, add in a bank of windows or even stack two banks on top of each other.
Add corner windows in a breakfast nook. Breakfast nooks are a charming feature found in some older homes. One way to make them even more cozy is by inviting in lots of sunlight. Windows on two walls will always be better than one because of the opportunity to bring in light from multiple directions. Although you can order corner windows that are joined together through our E-Series product line, a corner window effect can also be created by installing windows on either side of a corner. Double-hung windows often suit more traditional home styles, but if you prefer the crank-operated casement, you can style it to look like a double-hung by adding a check rail — the member where the top and bottom sashes meet.
Bring the outdoors in with a kitchen garden window. If you can add a window through your kitchen remodel, this one is particularly impactful. A garden window acts like a miniature greenhouse and can be created with a box bay window. A box bay has a picture window at center and flanking windows at 90 degrees. Flanking windows can be casement or double-hung windows. Both options open (or vent) so you can cool your plants off on warm days.

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When HGTV host and pro remodeler Laurie March remodeled her LA home, she replaced the upper cabinetry on one wall of her kitchen with a row of E-Series Picture Windows that look out over her garden. Installing the windows so they sit flush with the backsplash creates a clean, contemporary look that’s further complemented by the drywall returns — no trim around the windows.

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Your kitchen window FAQs answered

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Need help in other rooms?

Let’s take it room by room.

A bathroom with a large soaking tub in front of a floor-to-ceiling window that’s half covered by a white curtain and a floating vanity made of blue-veined marble.

Bathroom windows

We love an awning window in a bathroom because it can let in light and air while preserving privacy. Its horizontal shape is ideal for limiting how much of a room is on view, and it's often placed higher on the wall for exactly this reason. As for products, the 100 Series product line is a particularly good option because it’s made with Fibrex® composite material which resists rot and decay.* So don’t think that just because privacy is paramount in the bathroom, you can’t have windows too. We’ve got more bathroom windows selection tips.

Bathroom window selects

A bedroom with a large picture window at the end of the bed and a hinged door with sidelights and transoms leading out to a deck.

Bedroom windows

In a bedroom, you want windows that will help you get a better night’s sleep. Certain window features, like triple-pane glass, STC upgrades, and laminated glass can help muffle outside noise. And there are also safety and security features that can help you sleep in a figurative sense by giving you peace of mind. Also consider that natural light intake has been shown to improve sleep,* so having more windows to soak up more daytime lighting could help as well. Find out more about how windows can improve your sleeping environment.

Bedroom window selects