Projects
Should your kitchen remodel include new windows?
A home design expert who decided new windows were essential to her remodel takes us through the decision-making that helped her turn a subpar space into her dream kitchen — follow along!
When she bought her house, Jami Supsic, former Home and Style Director at HGTV Magazine and Country Living, knew from the very beginning that she couldn't live with the kitchen the way it was. She was eager to draw on her years of experience and tackle a kitchen remodel. When it came time to go through with the project, she decided that window replacement needed to be included.
After all, she had bought this home outside of Brooklyn so she could finally immerse herself in a more spacious and calming environment. She wanted her kitchen to be a place where she could enjoy cooking and working. Windows, by connecting her with her peaceful backyard, added value to the remodel in a way that a fancy countertop just couldn’t. And suddenly, it was an easy decision to include window replacement in the project.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed because you don’t know whether to replace windows while you’re remodeling your space or devote your budget to other features, fear not! Supsic shares insight into how she made her decision, so you don’t have to start from scratch.
How to think about kitchen windows
Here are the questions Supsic had to ask about her kitchen remodel to get her to the point where she could say, “I genuinely love it, and I genuinely love the windows.”
- Where are the windows positioned? How does that affect functionality?
- Do they let in enough light?
- Do they let in enough fresh air?
- Are they maximizing the view?
- Does their position still allow enough space for cabinetry and shelving?
Let’s go through how Supsic answered these questions for herself, resulting in a project that’s beautiful, charming, functional, and efficient.
What direction are the windows facing and how much light will they get?
In Supsic’s remodeled kitchen, the windows face north and west. In a drastic change, she decided to move the location of one of the windows entirely. This is a huge decision, so let’s break down her thought process:
- Increased efficiency: In a small kitchen, it’s important to maximize space wherever you can. To make the most out of her cabinetry, removing a window made sense.
- Improved placement: After making the decision to remove one of the existing windows, Supsic decided to add one in the space above a built-in desk.
- Enlarged size: Supsic had to decrease the size of the new window, so she chose to make the windows above her sink slightly larger to maximize light where she could.
Supsic was committed to maximizing natural light where she could. The kitchen sink windows face north, which means she can count on steady natural light whether she’s cooking breakfast, lunch or dinner. The new window faces west, serving as a source of golden hour light in the afternoon, letting someone sitting at the desk know when it’s time to wrap up their work for the day. Even though the window is smaller, the strong western light means the total amount of light overall isn’t severely diminished.
