To turn a windowless room into a kitchen? Or should I add a window?

[OrangeCrushes]

We are converting a reception room into a kitchen. The room has doors into a conservatory but no windows.

Photo of room attached. The window would go to the right of the chimney breast, where there are currently shelves.

Due to the narrow size of the room, we will have very limited wall space for units. I'm very torn between a desire for natural light and ventilation v. more useful kitchen space.

YABU = Add a window!
YANBU = cupboard space is priceless

Interesting photo and idea 🤔

We actually quite like the conservatory and are trying to do a budget project, so removing it is not an option for now. In the future, we may want to replace it with a proper dining room extension, which is part of the reason I want to put a window into the kitchen as part of this project.

Could you have windows instead of the standard splash back? Perhaps even on both sides of the chimney breast? I know it sounds unconventional, but friends in Australia had it, and it worked brilliantly. Then you still get the cupboards above too.

I’d go for a window , kitchens need good ventilation the same as bathrooms .

Is this your own design OP or have you got advice from a designer / architect?

I think you could run the risk of a very problematic space, and I really think making this change while you still have the conservatory is a poor decision.

I think you'll arguably spend a lot of money and have an imperfect solution, and still have to replace / do further work in the future, when you come to address the conservatory.

To your question - without doubt, you need a window. I can't remember ever seeing a kitchen without windows and wonder if this meets regulation requirements?

This is my own design.

I have concluded that without a doubt, we will have an imperfect solution due to the limitations of our budget and the space.

My plan is to ask the builders to future-proof for the dining room extension.

Could you have velux windows?

Window is needed.

I always cook with the window open to stop grease coating everything in the room so I’d say definitely get a window!

No, unfortunately.

Long window above cupbiards, opened electrically.

Windowless kitchens are quite common in smaller flats. That’s said I’d always go for a window if possible.

Im very wary of your plan to get the builders to future proof the design Op. There’s no way they will guarantee that and you would be stuck if , when the time comes, they or a builder say what you want is no longer possible etc.

Go for a window, even if you lose cupboard space.

We keep quite a lot of the kitchen stuff we don't use every day in a big cupboard in the garage. Eg big casserole dishes, posh glasses, turkey roasting pan. When we lived in a flat and didn't have a garage we stored all the stuff under the spare room bed.

Our current kitchen doesn't have much storage / cupboard space but it does have big windows. I wouldn't lose a window to gain a cupboard.

Presumably you'll have cupboards/storage in your island?

Think I’m the only one not seeing why a window is necessary! The windows either side of the conservatory door are staying aren’t they? I don’t think you need one it looks like loads of light. Check before you bother - due to extensions either side of me my kitchen windows let in hardly any light.

Have a window. Who wants a dingy kitchen.

I dont know why but I cant see the photo but would say that in Spain, Italy, Green, Turkey etc etc, windowless kitchens are fairly commonplace.

If you’re on a budget and want a window, you may find it blows your budget. You’ll need a lintel fitting to building regs to put a window in. Best of luck. Hope you find a positive solution.

It would be a pretty miserable way to live with no window in your kitchen just so you can store more stuff in upper cabinets.

Moving a kitchen to a different room isn't a cheap option. Do you want to post your floorplan to see what other suggestions people have?

I do

I like symmetry so it would be no for a window
poss could go for a letterbox style window high up
people are getting so hung up about ventilation
mechanical ventilation is far more efficient than a window you open
I would change the doors and possibly the frame to let more light in

I’m still really not getting the problem @OrangeCrushes - if you live with this room as it is - with the conservatory door & windows either side - the light won’t be any different if you change its use?

Is it more that you will be using the room more & think you’ll notice the lack of light?
Is the room dark atm as it is? Lots of kitchens have tiny cottage windows - your door to your conservatory seems to let in a lot??

I wouldn’t like a window where you’re suggesting I think it will look odd personally.

I have done this before (maybe under other usernames) but sure!

I will also post my IKEA mock-up of the future floorplan.

We currently don't use the room tbh. I think additional light and ventilation could make a nice difference, and the room will be darker if/when we tear down the conservatory and put in a dining room extension.

@OrangeCrushes oh finally sorry - I see!
In that case a unanimous yes to a window!

I would want to check what building regulation approval you need for whatever work you end up doing. Otherwise it’s a pain when you come to sell

I wouldn’t buy any house that didn’t have both a door and window in the kitchen. You need light and fresh air. Personally I’d knock through the conservatory and make it all one huge room, with the kitchen in the nearer bit and the dining or lounge area near the doors.