How can I enlarge the window above my sink to brighten up my dark kitchen?
Asked by Mathis Guillot 
2 months ago
Last Updated: September 21, 2024
What are my choices for enlarging the window above the sink? I’m wondering if it would be simpler to make it bigger since the window juts out from the wall. Our kitchen is pretty big, but this is the only window, and it always feels so dim in here.
The room appears darker because your window is in the bump out. Is there a specific reason for the bump out?
I’m not entirely sure. We didn’t purchase the house from the original owners.
I suggest looking into that and repositioning the window back into the wall as usual. This way, the bump out can be eliminated. Keep in mind that a larger window would result in fewer cabinets and the bump out would have to be enlarged.
The bump out creates a lovely deep windowsill for plants, especially for those of us who enjoy having plants in front of the kitchen sink. 😊
Definitely, though it does take away some natural light from the room. I usually include a deep bottom sill whenever possible for those who want to use it for plants.
Yes, it works great for her when she’s cooking. Our bump out faces southwest too. Perfect for plants and sunlight. I switched it from a double-hung to a full awning style. Much easier to open with just a crank.
Expanding it would require too much effort, and you would also sacrifice cab space.
Might be simpler to install a skylight. You’ve got cabinets and a bump out that would require a complete redo
That’s a good suggestion, but it seems to be a two-story house from what I can see.
Oh yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Perhaps some bright recessed lights then?
Oh yeah, that would definitely liven up the space! I typically like to install a LED pot light in front of the majority of the upper cabinets.
Mentions having 9 lights in his kitchen along with a large window. Even without the lights on, his kitchen tends to be on the darker side.
Agrees, kitchens can be tricky with natural light due to all the cabinets. He has 6 LEDs and a pendant light above his sink.
The room appears darker due to the black countertops. They tend to absorb light and a larger window might not make much of a difference. If you prefer not to paint everything white, changing the countertops is the way to go.
Hey , I have a window that looks like that with black counter tops. I also have a white backsplash and it brings in a lot of light.
Consider installing a solatube skylight.
Less light comes in because of the bump out and the dark countertops. It also seems like the existing window may be smaller than the original framing.
Mentioned it’s a replacement window.
I am thinking of adding under cabinet lighting because I really enjoy having them in my kitchen.
You might consider installing a garden window in the opening to let in more light from the rooftop.
Your suggestion is much better than my idea of using a set of Archimedes convex hyperbolic mirrors (LOL), but you can still roast marshmallows with my solution.
I’m 62 years old but I still enjoy roasted marshmallows!🤣
Apart from the fact that they use a lot of energy
Those aren’t the ones I offer! Maybe look into it more before making such a broad statement!!
Sure thing, I’ll get started right away!
Bless your heart and your emotions. Your remark missed the mark. Stick to reducing in size
😂😂
To let in more light, consider a bay, bow, or garden window which eliminates the bulky frame.
Adjusting the window size is not feasible; there are various framing elements that would need to be removed and replaced. I think the idea of a ‘garden window’ is great, but you could improve it even further with a full frame single plate. We tried it with a louvre window (opens at the bottom with a crank) and it made a significant difference. A full single pane eliminates the need for a brace in the middle.
Loves his awning window 👍
How about a new window that has more glass and less frame?
It seems like the kitchen isn’t very spacious… How about adding a skylight on the roof? My cousin had dark rooms (bathroom and hallway) that were brightened up by having skylights installed
Is located on the ground level
The first thing that catches my eye in the pictures are the dark countertops. Have you considered replacing them with lighter ones and adding under cabinet LED lights for a brighter look? Installing a larger custom window would require modifying your wall and removing cabinets, which is quite a significant task