Would it be bonkers to put a hob under kitchen window?

[LornMowa]

The longest wall in our kitchen is mainly taken up with a large window. Its making it very difficult to plan a good arrangement. DH thinks that we could put the hob under the window then we would have more wall space for cupboards and integrated double oven.

If we did it we would probably get a hob with integrated downdraft extraction like this which probably costs as much as the rest of the kitchen put together.

Has anyone done this and if you did, do you regret it?

[GwenStacy]

From helping my dad plan his kitchen, I seem to recall its actually against building codes to do this as it removes an escape route or something :(

[GwenStacy]

Also, if it was a gas hob, I'd be very wary of the flame being extinguished in a breeze…

[wowfudge]

Yes, I think you're right - not next to sinks or under windows.

Go right up to the ceilings with cupboards where you can - lots of storage space wasted otherwise and no mucky wall cupboard tops to clean.

[LornMowa]

We would probably get a induction one not gas. Our current window only has small fan light openings at the top at the moment which only a toddler could get through so it isn't currently possible to use it as a fire escape The room does have french doors on the other side which give another escape option.

[Justwhateverreally]

No no no it would look awful.

[LornMowa]

The room has very high ceilings unfortunately we are all shortarses and can't reach high cupboards with ease so our current ones don't get used and junk gets left all over the worktops

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

You'd always be wiping down the window, and because it's glass it would always be filthy - and posting that has reminded me about the type of splash backs you need for hobs, which leads me to think pps are right and building control says you can't do this.

How about putting the sink there?

[burnishedsilver]

If you're doing any building work is moving the window an option?

[Bootoyou2]

I think the window would get v steamed up and splattered with grease.

[Seriouslyffs]

Sink in front of the window. It's the law!

[LornMowa]

I was hoping that the superior German technology of the Bora hob would mean that there wouldn't be any splashes on the window. At the moment our extractor doesn't seem to do much so we have to wipe down the tiles next to the hob anyway.

We have been thinking about making the window smaller but it is underneath the upstairs window so changing it too much may look weird from the outside, although given that only the neighbours would look at it that is less of a concern for me.

[r2d2ismyidealman]

What about having to clean the window after cooking? Tiles are easy.

[Bunbaker]

"I was hoping that the superior German technology of the Bora hob would mean that there wouldn't be any splashes on the window."

That has nothing to do with the hob, but the style of cooking. If you never, ever fry anything your windows won't get fat splashes on them.

[Dontstepinthecowpat]

You could put in a larder cupboard which pretty much holds all your store cupboard ingredients, taking away the need for as many wall cupboards?

[annalouiseh]

Building regs your not allowed unless it is a fixed window.
If an existing room good practise you shouldn't put a gas in front of due to flame being blow out.
Selling in the future could also been seen as a problem

[LornMowa]

Just to re-iterate:

-We are not having a gas hob

• We haven't got room for a larder cupboard because the other two walls will have the double oven in an integrated unit and a tall fridge.
  

Looks like we are going to have to put the hob on one of the short walls and put the sink under the window.

Does anyone have experience of Bora products? They advertise on Eurosport channel but they don't seem widely available in the UK

[wonkylegs]

Building regs only apply to a gas hob in front of a window due to the possibility of the flame being blown out. If you are going for an induction hob this isn't a problem.
From a practicality point of view I wouldn't as others have said you will forever be wiping grease & splatter off the window. We don't have much but it shows up well on our glass splash back which will be what your window will effectively be only showing marks more as it's completely clear. Even a fantastic extract will not eradicate this completely I'm afraid.
Our kitchen has a lot of window / door space and not a lot of wall so we considered in front of a window but we squeezed the hob in and I'm glad we did.
Whoever mentioned about sinks in front of windows - not the law but is the generalised preference, light & views as prior to the advent of dishwashers it was the place in the kitchen you spent the longest.

[SunshineOutdoors]

I wouldn't because of greasy windows. Could you get a design made up with under counter integrated double oven then the hob on top of that? If you could get a computer print out of how it would look you might be happy with it?

[Elysianfields]

I lived in a house for 10 years with a hob in front of the window, and you are all right, the glass gets mucky and smeary quickly. Nothing a quick spray with flash and a microfibres cloth can't handle though.

I used to make lots of risottos and stuff that needed stirring because I could stir and gaze out of the window at the cows (as I stirred my beef mince slightly guiltily).

I used to use the window ledge to store useful stuff like salt and pepper and herbs so it was easy to bung stuff in. And yes that got mucky too. Even worse we had a solid fuel Rayburn so it was gritty sticky muck. For the sake of clarity the hob by the window was in addition to the Rayburn.

[Greencheese]

We've just bought a house with a gas hob under a window, not used it yet but it doesn't look good. I'll move it as soon as I can.

[burnishedsilver]

Just a thought.....is cleaning the window much different to cleaning a glass splashback?

[Teeb]

I think the different would be how much you notice it burnish. I don't think you have to clean down the splashback each and every time, even if you're only making a boiled egg. Where I think a window you probably would.

[SilentAllTheseYears]

I wouldn't do it with a gas hob because I sometimes go in the lounge when pasta/rice/potatoes or whatever are simmering and I'd be bothered about a draft from the window blowing out the gas - as I tend to open the window when cooking.
Also, how would you fit an extractor? It'd look odd over a window.

[LornMowa]

SilentAllTheseYears We would be using a downdraft extractor with an Induction hob

See the Bora website: www.bora.com/en/

[iggymama]

Have you had a price for the Bora hob? Looks very expensive.

Also how much cupboard space will you lose underneath for the gubbins of the extractor? If you are short keeping a base unit may be more sensible and fit a normal cooker hood as upper space is not so useful to you.