The kitchen window gets more use than almost any other window in the house. It gets cracked open to clear the steam from a pot of chili, it fogs up on a January morning in Wausau, and it frames whatever you look at while you rinse the dishes. If you are planning a kitchen update in Green Bay, Appleton or Oshkosh, the window deserves as much thought as the countertops.
Here are kitchen window ideas that look good and hold up to a Wisconsin winter.
1. Put a crank window over the sink
Leaning over a sink and faucet to push up a heavy sash is awkward, and it is the reason so many old kitchen windows stay shut all year. Crank-operated styles are easier to reach.
- Casement windows hinge on the side and open outward, giving you top-to-bottom ventilation.
- Awning windows hinge at the top and open from the bottom, so you can leave them open during a light rain. Renewal by Andersen awning windows use folding hardware that tucks out of the way of plants and dish soap on the sill.
A good test comes from accessibility design. The U.S. Access Board’s guide to operable parts calls for controls that work with one hand, without tight grasping, pinching or twisting of the wrist. Those rules are written for public buildings, but the idea works at home too. Can you open the window over your sink with one hand while the other holds a dish towel?
2. Pair a picture window with operable sides
If your kitchen looks out on a backyard, a garden, or a wooded lot near Waupaca or Minocqua, a picture window gives you the most glass and the biggest view. Picture windows do not open, so many homeowners flank one with a casement on each side for fresh air. Renewal by Andersen picture windows use slim Fibrex frames that leave more room for glass.
3. Add a bay or bow window for a nook or herb shelf
A bay or bow window projects out from the wall, which creates a deep sill for herbs and houseplants or room for a built-in bench at a breakfast table. You get more light and more usable space without changing your home’s footprint.
4. Choose a sliding window where a crank will not fit
Sliding windows glide side to side and never swing outward, which helps when a deck, walkway or shrubs sit right outside the kitchen wall. Their sashes lift out so you can clean the outside glass from inside the house, a real help for a kitchen above a walkout basement.
5. Match the window to your cabinets and fixtures
A kitchen window should look like part of the room. Renewal by Andersen windows come in matte colors inside and out, or with a real wood interior that can be stained or painted to match your cabinets. Hardware comes in finishes like satin nickel, oil-rubbed bronze and antique brass, so the crank can match the faucet. Grilles can also sit between the panes of glass, which keeps the inside surface flat and easy to wipe when the stove spatters. Try combinations on our window and door visualizer.
Plan for steam and cold glass
Kitchens add a lot of moisture to the air. The EPA’s guide to mold and moisture notes that cooking and washing dishes raise indoor humidity, and it recommends a range hood vented outdoors and indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally between 30 and 50 percent.
In winter, that moisture collects on the coldest surface in the room, which is usually the glass. A window that keeps its inside surface warmer is less likely to fog or frost. Wisconsin falls in ENERGY STAR’s Northern climate zone, which has the program’s toughest window criteria. You can compare Renewal by Andersen’s glass options on our energy efficiency page, and our post on condensation and ice on the inside of windows covers what is normal and what is not.
The frame matters too. A wood sill next to a sink takes splashes every day, and over time it can need sanding and repainting. Fibrex material never needs painting, which makes it a practical choice for a window that sits a few inches from the faucet.
A few sizing tips
- Leave room for the faucet. Most designers keep the bottom of the window a few inches above the backsplash so a tall faucet can swing freely and the sash can open.
- Center the window on the sink, not the wall. It is the view you will see most often.
- Think about airflow. A kitchen window works best with an opening on another wall. Our guide to natural ventilation and cross-breezes explains how to set it up.
Kitchen designers often plan around the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s planning guidelines, so if you are working with one on a remodel, bring your window plans into that conversation early.
Common questions
What is the best window for over a kitchen sink?
Casement and awning windows are the most popular choices because their cranks are easy to reach across a counter. Sliding windows work well for wide, short openings.
How do I keep my kitchen window from fogging up in winter?
Run the range hood while you cook, keep indoor humidity in the 30 to 50 percent range and look for energy-efficient glass that keeps the inside surface warmer.
Can I replace just my kitchen window?
Yes. Every Renewal by Andersen window is built to fit your existing opening, so you can start with the kitchen and match the rest of the house later.
See what fits your kitchen
The best way to choose is to look at your kitchen in person. Schedule an in-home consultation with Renewal by Andersen of Greater Wisconsin. We serve homeowners in Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh, Neenah, Kaukauna, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, Waupaca, Stevens Point, Wausau, Minocqua and nearby communities, and you can see window styles in person at our Appleton showroom at 1300 S. Lynndale Dr.
