Kitchens with a sink by the window: pros, cons and design

Owners of small apartments with small kitchens, every time starting renovations, try to free up some free space that they can use to their advantage. There are many ways to improve the functionality of a room, and one of them is to move the sink. Many modern designers suggest placing it near the window. However, in the redevelopment process, you can face some difficulties. Let's try to consider all the advantages and disadvantages of such works.

Many apartment owners sooner or later decide on redevelopment in order to increase the working area, optimize ergonomics and increase the free space.

Moving the sink to the window has many advantages.

• Increasing the functional space of the kitchen. In most cases, the space under the window turns out to be unused, in the most rare cases the window sill is combined with the table top and a bar counter or a dining table is placed there. By equipping a sink near the window, you can free up at least 50 cm 2 of usable area where you can place household appliances or an element of a furniture set.
• Reduced energy costs... A standard sink, as a rule, is installed in a dimly lit area of ​​the kitchen, therefore, it requires additional lighting. When installing a sink near the window, you can not turn on the lamp throughout the day.
• Maintaining a healthy microclimate. The sink is a place with high humidity, so mold often appears here, and an environment favorable for the growth of fungus is created. Thanks to the possibility of natural ventilation, water dries quickly and is removed almost instantly.
• Psychological comfort. An important argument in favor of moving the sink to the window will be the ability to favorably influence the user's mood. In this case, it will be arranged so that the gaze can stop on the landscape outside the window, which is much more interesting than looking at a blank wall a few centimeters from the face, as is the case when using standard sinks.

Even with the most original and competent planning of moving the sink to the window, you may encounter with some complications that should not be ignored.

• Placement of radiators. The main question that arises for the owners of the kitchen is heating the room. The standard layout and wiring of communications involves the location of the heat exchanger immediately under the window in order to install a heat curtain that protects from cool air. When installing the sink, the radiators will have to be removed, and this can significantly reduce the average air temperature in the room.
• Extension of the pipeline. It is unlikely that you will be able to move the sewer and water pipes, so you will inevitably have to spend additional funds to lengthen the pipeline. Be sure to take care of the installation and the highest quality materials: only in this case the service life of the entire kitchen unit will be significantly extended.
• Deformation of the table top. In winter, temperature fluctuations are far from uncommon. This often leads to cracking and swelling of countertops made from wood and wood derivatives. To avoid such an unpleasant phenomenon, you will have to take care of making the sink frame from moisture-resistant materials, for example, stone or plastic. If you don't want to see any material other than wood in your kitchen, treat the coating with a special hydro-repellent compound.
• Splashes on the window. This problem will always stand in front of you, there are 2 ways to deal with it: equipping the rack with a small apron that protects the glass from splashes, or installing a sink at a distance from the window, for example, at the distance of a window sill. By the way, in old buildings, the window frame is usually located just above the level of the table top. This difference in height only plays into the hands of the user, as it creates additional protection against constant splashes.
• Difficulty airing... Oftentimes, the placement of faucets prevents the window sash from opening freely.

If you are not afraid of the difficulties of redevelopment, then you can safely proceed with the transfer of the sink. Be sure to use some of the recommendations.

• To keep the heat in the kitchen, it is usually advised to use the "warm floor" system. This type of heating will perfectly cope with the tasks assigned to it and will heat the kitchen even better than traditional batteries. If this option is not to your liking, and you are determined to leave the radiator in its original place, then make special slots on the windowsill and on the surface of the sink so that the heated air has a place to rise. Please note that in this case you will still lose some of the heat.
• Sewer drainage must be based on on a competent calculation of the angle of inclination of the pipeline, otherwise frequent blockages are possible. It is accepted that the slope of the pipe for each running meter should be at least 3 cm. Thus, the longer the pipe, the greater the slope should be. It is best to attach the pipes to the wall, otherwise they will begin to bend.

However, even if you position the pipe at the correct slope, it will still this does not completely eliminate the risk of blockages, so it will be correct to purchase a disposer - food waste disposer. Thanks to this small device, the peel, small peelings and other product residues will fall into the drain in the form of a gruel and will not create any difficulties for the outflow of water.

The problem with ventilation is very easy to fix. Well-known manufacturers of sanitary equipment have long and successfully solved it, launching foldable mixers... If it is necessary to open the window, the "gander" simply folds to the side, and then returns to its original position. Another way to fix this problem can be purchase of a mixer with a low spout. It will allow you to open the window sash without hitting the sanitary device.

There are many different options for decorating a sink near the window, therefore, regardless of whether you live in a Khrushchev or in a large cottage, in any case you can choose the best option for your kitchen. First of all, you will have to take into account the peculiarities of the location of the kitchen window.

The design of the premises will also be entirely depend on the shape and size of the kitchen. For example, if you have an elongated space, then by placing the sink under the window, you can visually bring its shape closer to the classic rectangular one. If you are the owner of a square room, then with the help of a U-shaped or corner set, you can visually stretch and lengthen the room.

We offer a small selection of original and functional projects for placing the sink near the window. She will help you find an aesthetic and practical option that will fully meet your wishes and interior possibilities.

For errors in the design of a kitchen with a sink by the window, see below.