Materials for Kitchen Windows
Homeowners seeking practical materials for their kitchen windows should avoid wooden frames. While beautiful, wood is high-maintenance and prone to rotting and mold in high-moisture environments such as kitchens or bathrooms.
Vinyl, on the other hand, is a great material for kitchen windows. Far cheaper than wood, vinyl is moisture resistant, and it will stoutly outlast the threat of mold or decay. Though it may not be as pretty as wood, vinyl for your kitchen windows is practical and will save you the hassle of constant maintenance.
If you’re willing to pay a little more for your kitchen windows, fiberglass is also a great option. Slightly more expensive than vinyl, fiberglass is just as resistant to moisture. Additionally, many homeowners find fiberglass more aesthetically appealing than vinyl. Fiberglass is often constructed to look like wood, and it also can be painted, unlike vinyl. As long as you’re willing to pay a little more for your kitchen windows, fiberglass will provide the durability of vinyl combined with the beauty of a classic wooden frame.
Kitchen windows above the sink can make this space bright, airy, and comfortable. | © CC BY 2.0 flickr.com / Sitka Projects
Styles for Kitchen Windows
A window above your kitchen sink can make doing dishes much more pleasant. Bay, bow, casement, and garden windows are all great styles for kitchen windows.
Bay and bow windows are ideal for cozy breakfast nooks. They let in plenty of natural light and can allow you to enjoy a view of your garden or lawn.
Casement windows will also let in natural light. More importantly, however, these kitchen windows can provide your kitchen with some much-needed airflow. Whether you’re a master chef or merely a dabbler in the reheating of frozen food cuisine, your kitchen is bound to get steamy. Thus, it's essential that your kitchen has at least one window that can open in order to clear out any smoke and prevent the growth of mold. Casement windows can be opened wide to let in refreshing and reinvigorating breezes. Additionally, casement windows can include screens, which will allow you to let the fresh air in and keep irksome bugs out.
Garden windows can add personality to your culinary realm. Essentially, a garden window is a smaller version of a bay window, built into the wall and often placed behind a kitchen sink. This clever nook will provide extra shelf space. Because a garden window captures light and heat, it is an ideal setting for a mini-greenhouse of potted herbs, spices, and flowers. Garden kitchen windows that can act as indoor herb gardens make cooking with fresh herbs much more convenient.
Kitchen windows can provide spaces for indoor herbs and flowers. | © CC BY-SA 2.0 flickr.com / Susan Serra, CKD
Conclusion: Ventilation and Charm for Kitchen Windows
The kitchen is often one of the most joyful and used areas of the home, so take the time to research your kitchen windows. Choose durable frame material like vinyl or fiberglass, and choose styles that will create comfort and convenience for you and your home's residents.
