“I lived in a small town where the houses were mostly built in the Victorian era. I designed many kitchens in historical areas, which meant that the exterior of the house could not be changed. Some of these buildings also had low window sills in the cooking area, because they originally housed cabinets and stoves,” is the recollection of one of the designers who had to deal with “old” kitchens.
Do you recognize in these words the problem of your own home? Don't be sad! Today, the Kitchen Interior Design resource will tell you how to beat this significant inconvenience so that it becomes the highlight of your home.
Agree that now window sills located at knee level are a real problem. How can you improve your kitchen if almost all the furniture presented in specialized stores is higher than the level of the window sill?
In such a situation, the worst thing you can do is to place cabinets directly under the window, thereby covering the lower part of it. Firstly, you should prepare for the fact that you have now created a black hole in your kitchen, where things left on the countertop and accidentally thrown down will constantly fall. Secondly, of course, it will be almost impossible to wash the windows, and this is not very convenient, you will agree.
Instead, think creatively. For example like this!
Sink installation (Pursley Dixon Architecture)
How to decorate a window sill in the kitchen in a practical and beautiful way
When you have to come up with alternative methods of how to fit everything you need without losing precious space in a small kitchen, you have to resort to various methods of reorganization and decoration. To implement the idea of how to make it both beautiful and practical, a window sill is perfect, which can be used as a tabletop, and organize a convenient food storage system on it and organize a work or dining area - there are a lot of options for using ideas.
A window sill can not only have some function, but also become an accent in the interior of the kitchen.
Stop leaving this space idle, the white empty window sill is a relic of Soviet times, stop setting up a warehouse with junk on it, which should always be at hand, but not in sight, in our time, wasting such space is simply not an affordable luxury! For some reason, we always forget that the window sill can either be expanded, extended, or combined with the kitchen countertop, but by implementing such a design, you will completely no longer need a full-fledged table, which occupies an impressive part of the area of an already small room. Let's look at options for how to decorate a window sill in the kitchen in a practical and beautiful way.
Curtains and tulle are the usual decoration for a window opening, but sometimes the interior looks great without them.
And if you still want to hide from prying eyes, then blinds are an excellent solution for this.
Roller blinds look more homely than blinds and are easier to care for
Placing dishes on the windowsill
In almost any home, the kitchen is the center of economic activity, so all decorations should be functional. If the kitchen cabinets are filled with things, then these should be beautiful and at the same time practical things and utensils, for example, cups and saucers, glasses, mugs, vases, pans. If you take out some of them and place them on the windowsill in the kitchen so that only their silhouette stands out against the background of the window, your window sill will attract attention with its unusualness. However, do not assign these items a purely decorative role; use these items periodically. After washing them after use, return them to the windowsill or exchange them for other items from the buffet. You will get an original, constantly updated exhibition. You can arrange a window sill in a particularly original and practical way if the sink is located directly next to the window; see several examples of window sill design in the photo below.
Not many are ready to support this idea, but it is unique and suitable as a demonstration option for window sill decoration
A dish drying rack will not only help save space in cabinets, but will also provide practical use on the windowsill.
If you have a bad view from the window in your kitchen, then placing the sink and household utensils by the window will help to stylishly beat the unsightly landscape
What kitchen utensils can be placed on the kitchen windowsill?
The window sill in the kitchen will be decorated with carefully selected and specially grouped ordinary kitchen utensils. A modern galvanized bucket, an old metal grater, glass bottles, a mortar and pestle and a flower pot make up an impressive and original composition. They match each other in size, are made of natural materials, so they look great together. But this cute composition is by no means eternal, because all its objects are functional, used and replaced with others.
DIY plywood and tile countertop
It is quite logical to develop the idea of combining a tabletop with a window sill to making it yourself from materials that are almost always available at hand - waterproof plywood and ceramic tiles. You can recycle the tiles left after renovation, or you can choose more wear-resistant porcelain tiles. The number of tiles is determined based on the dimensions of the future countertop.
You will need two sheets of plywood, which will be attached in two layers. Before cutting them, it is necessary to take the exact dimensions from the window sill and calculate the total depth of the tabletop so that it does not exceed 70 cm, otherwise it will be difficult to reach the window opening. After the measurements are taken, the work is divided into several stages:
- Cutting and preparing plywood parts: tabletop elements are cut out with a jigsaw along the marked lines, and then covered with impregnation and a waterproof compound.
- Leveling the base: at the time of fastening, the base surface must be level; from the side of the kitchen window, support bars are installed on it, and perforated metal connectors are installed along the edges.
- Installation of the first plywood panel: the plywood is securely fastened with self-tapping screws to the bars and to metal connectors.
- Installation of the second sheet: wood glue is applied in a zigzag manner to the first board, then the second layer of plywood is laid and pressed tightly, which is recommended to be pulled to the first with self-tapping screws.
- Treatment of joints: the gaps between the countertop, window and slopes are sealed with silicone sealant or liquid waterproofing. Free edges should also be treated, including the cut areas.
- Finishing the front edge of the tabletop-window sill: the edge of the panel should be immediately lined with an applied metal, or better yet, oak edging, having a height of 8–10 mm above the plywood base - this way the glued tiles will lie flush with it.
The finished base remains to be treated with latex primer, and for gluing ceramic tiles - with ready-made mastic. Further cladding is carried out using standard technology.
Cement pad on plywood table top
Laid tiles with rubbed seams
Additional work surface on the windowsill
The most common way to use a window sill in the kitchen is to organize an additional workspace. To do this, you just need to install an additional tabletop along the entire length of the window sill. If you try a little, you can even install a sink on the windowsill, in addition to the countertop.
The idea is to use it as a table top. is now extremely popular. Place a sink in front of the window! This design will allow maximum use of natural light. It will be more convenient for you to work, and the kitchen will become lighter and more spacious. Granite, wood, marble, quartz, tile or stainless steel countertops - in terms of material, the options are unlimited.
The best materials for making countertops are granite or marble. These materials are able to withstand high humidity and significant temperature changes. A tabletop made of natural stone will not change its shape over time, will not dry out or swell. The stone countertop is resistant to mechanical damage. In addition, such a countertop has a beautiful appearance, which will make the kitchen interior more sophisticated.
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How to resolve the conflict between the countertop and the window sill? The window sill is hollow plastic, 30 mm thick, the table top is 38 mm. There will be furniture bodies up to the window sill. Is it possible to mill the tabletop from below so that the window sill “fits” into it? How to seal it then? What are the consequences of such a decision?
Next is a photo of the window sill. Let me clarify that its lower edge is at a height of 830mm, and its upper edge is 860mm. Considering my height (160cm), the level of the working area (read tabletop) cannot be raised above 860-870mm.
Here you can see that if you cut the window sill to fit the tabletop, there will be an ugly hole.
And here you can see how much the tabletop will overlap the window sill.
In general, this is real. Ideally, it is better to change the window sill, making it from the same post-forming material, but as I understand it, the window has already been replaced before, and it is tightly clogged. Cutting a hollow window sill along the length to the depth of the tabletop is also unsightly. Making a cut with a router to a depth of 145 mm towards the corner of the room from the rounding of the tabletop and removing 30 mm of the thickness of the tabletop 65 mm from the window is difficult: you need a good long cutter (expensive), various fasteners to fix the tabletop, a lightweight router.
Anything can be done, but the risk is great. I would try, but I doubt that at your request they will agree to do this in production.
There is another solution. Order this recess to be made on a cutting machine. It is used to saw the material of your kitchen. I ordered something similar when I assembled the double sided drawers. The groove in the sidewalls is designed for 16 mm chipboard, and I am working with 18 mm. The bottom of the box had to be made of 18 16 along the edges to a width of 2 cm on each side.
The following is done: The saw extends above the carriage to the height that needs to be removed. In your case 30 mm. You need to drive it in such a way that the saw teeth meet the front side of the postforming. It is not necessary to drive the entire depth of the tabletop (600 mm), but it is easier for sawers. In your case, 160 - 200 millimeters is enough. Since the thickness of the saw is 3 mm, your tabletop will have to be driven on the carriage along the saw step by step 22 times (65/3). It would cost me 22*0.6*0.3 = $4. If you do it carefully, everything will work out. Then sand the recess, preferably with a drill attachment.
As for sealing, use silicone caulk (transparent). Apply it to the entire surface of the recess with a layer of 2-3 mm, immediately before finishing and final installation of the countertop. After installing the countertop, carefully wipe off any excess that comes out from under it with a dry cloth. I think everything will work out.
Why can’t you use a router in the same way as you suggest using a format machine? Place the tabletop face down, set the router to 30mm and select stripes from the edge? Just how should the cutter go into the plastic so that there are no chips? Should the knife be on the plastic side? Are there any restrictions on the width/diameter of the cutter?
Julia, I am not aware of your capabilities. But always, when I try to do something that I do for the first time, I test it on waste. There are a lot of milling cutters, that’s why there are concerns. And the main thing is fixing the part. Having worked with a router for 7 years, I cannot tell you that a router in your case is better than a format machine. There are fewer surprises with the formatter. The cutter should not break out the plastic, so it should move towards the plastic. You understand that they make 20 thousand revolutions per minute in the opposite direction.
If you lived in Minsk, I would conduct experiments with you, but, theoretically, I cannot mislead you. The formatter method seems to me optimal, and therefore cheap. $4 is not 200 (the cost of a German cutter). A hand cutter has an average speed of 20,000 rpm. Without reliable fixation, there is a risk of damaging the material. It is better not to do such manipulations manually. Everything is easier on the machine. They will set up a ruler, secure the tabletop with clamps, and run it once. Then they will install the ruler with an offset of 3 millimeters, lower the locking lever and run it again. Then a couple dozen more times, and that’s it. It couldn't be simpler. I have been working with a hand milling machine for a long time and have conducted various experiments. Therefore, he must give qualified advice, and not engage in amateur activities.
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Source: olimp-okna.ru
Instead of a window sill there is a bar counter
For those who have long dreamed of having their own bar counter in the kitchen, but due to the size of the room it was not possible to install this element of the interior, a window sill may be the best solution. You need to place a tabletop on the windowsill and place several bar stools near the window sill counter. Thus, the house will have an additional place to relax, where in the morning you can enjoy a cup of aromatic coffee, or spend a romantic evening with a glass of wine, looking out the window.
Dining area on the windowsill
The window sill area can be used not only as a bar counter, but also as a small dining table. Of course, a noisy group of family, friends and relatives will not be able to gather at such a table, but there will be enough space for 1-2 people. For the table you will need a tabletop that will protrude slightly beyond the wall. This is necessary so that when sitting at the table, your legs do not rest against the wall.
Another original option for organizing a table from a window sill is a dining table top that smoothly transitions into a table top on the windowsill. This design option for the window sill will increase the number of seats at the table.
Repair, restoration, maintenance of countertops that extend into the window
- if there is a joining seam on the countertop, it must be regularly rubbed down so that microorganisms do not settle on it;
- it is enough to wipe a smooth surface with a damp cloth, while embossed and textured surfaces need to be cleaned with a brush;
- In case of heavy contamination, you can use detergents after first testing them on an inconspicuous part of the countertop.
Restoration and repair:
- when restoring a wooden tabletop, it is coated with liquid plastic, thus not only removing chips and scratches, but also increasing water resistance;
- minor scratches and stains on artificial stone countertops can be eliminated using polyester liquids;
- If the integrity of the tabletop is damaged, it can be restored by covering the crack with polyester resin and then sanding it after the resin has completely hardened.
How to install a window sill yourself, video instructions:
A table top-window sill is an interesting option to build in and save space for many interior styles: minimalism, Scandinavian style, and chalet style. This countertop looks great in a small white kitchen in a Khrushchev-era building, where there are few squares.
Storage system instead of an empty window sill
We have already indirectly touched upon such a topic as organizing a system for storing food on the windowsill and under it, but still decided to consider this issue in more detail. In a small kitchen, the same problem always arises, a lack of space to store all the necessary things. After all, in the kitchen you need to place not only a large amount of dishes, various household appliances, but also all the necessary food products.
Additional storage space can be installed under the windowsill. If, of course, there is no heating radiator there, then under the window sill you can install an additional cabinet, the height of which is determined by the height of the window sill. It is better if such a cabinet is made in the same color scheme and the same stylistic direction as the kitchen set. You can also place a washing machine, dishwasher or even a built-in refrigerator under the window sill.
Built-in refrigerator under the windowsill
The window sill provides great opportunities for additional storage, which is relevant in any home. You can use space under windowsill seats or add hidden drawers and open shelves, baskets, boxes, drawers - storage organizer. This place is too valuable not to use it!
Is it possible to change the height of kitchen furniture?
Hello. Renovations are just being planned. Therefore, I would like to resolve all emerging issues in advance. Kitchen on the 9th floor of a panel house. Is it possible to change the height of the kitchen furniture (in our case, reduce it), because... I would like, if not to combine the window sill, then at least leave an area for opening the window? The height from the floor with a window sill is 80 cm, the height of the kitchen unit with a countertop is 84 cm. When the window is opened at such a height of the kitchen furniture, it rests on the corner of the table. Or is it possible to raise the window sill to the level of the countertop? Thank you all in advance for your attention, participation, and answers.
Denis Sorokin Manufacturer Hello, usually the height of the tabletop is determined by the height of the hostess (more precisely 10-15 cm below her elbow), this size is considered the most convenient. In your case, you need to understand: 1. the frames of the lower cabinets, in my assumption, should stand on legs 100mm, 120mm, 150mm, from this we conclude that they can be replaced with a smaller size, thereby leveling them with the window sill. 2. It’s worth thinking about whether it will be convenient for you to use a tabletop that will shrink? If so, feel free to decide to change the legs.
... it’s funny to talk about any replacement of windows, of course)).
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A place to relax in the kitchen instead of a window sill
For spacious kitchens, the best option is to design a window sill in the form of a bench. In order to make a bench, it is necessary to take into account the height of the window sill. The appropriate height for the bench is approximately 45cm. To make the bench stable enough, use a wooden seat. To make your stay on the bench safe, you should install bars on the windows that will highlight the stylistic design of the kitchen.
Summer garden in the kitchen: the window sill is the right place
Recently, more and more often on the windowsills of apartments you can see not ornamental plants, but flower pots in which various spices and edible plants grow. Why waste money and free time on buying greens when you can grow greens yourself? After all, in order to grow edible plants you only need a few flower pots with soil, plant seeds, regular watering, and after a short period of time you can enjoy the results of the work done.
What to do if you have a very tiny window sill, and you just can’t turn it into a seating area, bench, storage space or reading nook? Small kitchen window sills may seem useless, but they hold a lot of different possibilities. Decorate it with flowers! All plants need natural light and there is no better place for them. Firstly, your window will be perfectly decorated, and secondly, living herbs will delight your eye at any time.
Succulents, cacti, bonsai or herbs - choose plants that make you happy. Plant them in beautiful containers and you will have the most beautiful decoration.
