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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Kitchen design: Why are sinks in front of windows, and hobs on solid walls?

27 replies

Legacy · 07/04/2010 16:46

Am having kitchen re-done (knocking wall down to make breakfast room) and I am struggling to find a new design that 'works'...

I want a double oven at eye level, but we will only have one solid useable wall left, and I was going to put the hob there too, but tis looking cluttered.

I have a gap of about 1 metre wall between two windows - could I put hob, with glass extracter fan there? Would need to move sink further along....

Why DO people always put their sink in front of the window?? Is it just so they can look outside when washing up?

OP posts:
Frizbe · 07/04/2010 16:54

Sink, I think it's usually so that its near the drain, although a view is ok by me if I have to wash up hobs are usually on the wall due to the extractor fan as well, that been said my mums is next to her sink and she's had the extractor run along the celing to the old exit (she has double oven at other end of l shaped work surface) She has a small worksurface gap between the basin of the sink and the hob. hth's

Original poster
Legacy · 07/04/2010 16:59

Frizbe - is her hob near a window? How much of a gap does she have between the two? Does it work OK?

I know there's soemthing about not having gas hobs near windows in case a gust of wind blows the flames, but this would be an electric induction hob.

OP posts:
brogan2 · 07/04/2010 17:03

I think the sink thing is because the drain is usually outside the window. Also, if it was on a solid wall you still could not put an eye level cupboard above it as you'd bang your head so in a small kitchen it's the best use of space as eye level cupboards can go above everything else IYSWIM.

As for hobs, ours is in the island with the fan coming down from the ceiling so not at all on a solid wall.

Lifeinagoldfishbowl · 07/04/2010 17:06

Our sink isn't under or near a window.

LadyOfTheFlowers · 07/04/2010 17:07

I assumed it was so you had something to look at seeing as if you don't have a dishwasher you spend 60% of your life stood there.

I do know however, as I'm sure you do, you have to have oven, sink. fridge in a 'working triangle' and there is a maximum walking distance they need to be apart so you can work well in the kitchen. Can't remeber the distance though.

That's my (totally useless) input.

midnightexpress · 07/04/2010 17:08

I can confirm what's been said about the sinks. In our old flat ours had been moved away from the window at some point and the pipe, which had to go right across the room under the floor, was constantly getting blocked. Was a pain in the arse.

Plus it's nice to have a view.

ShinyAndNew · 07/04/2010 17:13

I helped my dad design my kitchen and wanted my hob in front of the window, but he vetoed it due to fire hazzard.

The sink could have been anywhere along the outside wall (because of drainage) But it's a very small kitchen so since the oven had to be away from the window the only place the sink could be is under the window.

I could have had the oven on the other wall, but that would mean I'd only have had half a worksurface on that side.

MrsJohnDeere · 07/04/2010 17:14

My sink isn't under or near a window.

ByThePowerOfGreyskull · 07/04/2010 17:16

Ilike having my sink infront of a window becayse I have something to watch when washing up (not everything goes in the dishwasher) and our hob is on a solid wall so we can have an extractor fan above it to suck out the smells.

we are changing our kitchen and are in the planning stages and alhtough it is a bug change round that we are doing those 2 principles will remain.

Original poster
Legacy · 07/04/2010 17:20

I'm less worried about my sink actually, as it would still be next to one of the windows, so drainage wouldn't be an issue.

Am wondering more about a hob with an extractor hood sitting between the two windows... can't decide if it will look weird?

Shiny - re fire hazard - was it a gas hob?

OP posts:
SuSylvester · 07/04/2010 17:22

my sink isnt
i dont spend much time there

ShinyAndNew · 07/04/2010 17:25

No electric. We once had an oven under the window in a kitchen he designed in my mums house and she burnt down the kitchen boiling eggs with widow open. The wind blew the curtains over the oven and they set alight. H has been very carefull since.

He reasons were: I might change my mind about not wanting curtains. I might change my oven to a gas one at some point. I might be in a rush and fling a towel or some oven gloves onto the window sill which may then blow off if the window is open. If there is a fat fire and the window is open the breeze would make the fire spread a lot quicker than if it were not near a window.

Original poster
Legacy · 07/04/2010 18:21

OK - no cutains and no chip pans here

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 07/04/2010 18:25

Yes I was thinking re windows, hot fat, etc. Gusts of wind but also, hot fat spitting up and looking horrendous stuck on the window! At least with a splashguard it just looks used until you clean it, with a window it would look horrible.

tootootired · 07/04/2010 21:04

Have you looked at this website

Dynamic space kitchen zoning for different shapes of kitchen.

According to that plan, you need about 90cm between the sink and hob as it's your key preparation area. Hob should not be under a window but the sink doesn't matter. But don't put a wall unit over the sink.

MerlinsBeard · 07/04/2010 21:08

All the kitchens that i have been been have had the cooker/hob/oven against an internal wall and sink under window.

As for the distance thing - i only have about 90 cms between my fridge and cooker anyway

Frizbe · 07/04/2010 22:41

Legacy, the hob is to the right of the window, in the corner of the unit (on the L if that makes sense) so no draught to blow gas out!

CarGirl · 07/04/2010 22:48

why can't I get the cynamic space kitchen planner to work?

tootootired · 07/04/2010 22:51

er - is an adobe flash thing CG? I am using a Mac but have used it on PC.

CarGirl · 07/04/2010 22:52

I want to use it

twolittledarlings · 07/04/2010 23:28

Oh dear, my nice kitchen in our soon to be new hosue is completely opposite of the norm.

I have the gas range cooker against the external wall with the glass extractor fan above of which there are 2 windows on either side of the wall. My hubby wanted the cooker there so that we can extract the smells directly outside. Our sink/dishwasher is perpendicular at right angles to the cooker with units above as well but the drainage isn't a problem as on the other side of the wall is the cloakroom which makes it easier for the builder to plumb in.

Not planning to open the windows whilst cooking as we have ordered the most powerful extractor fan possible for chinese cooking. (this is because in our current house, we have the cooker against the internal wall and the extractor fan extracts from one side of the room to the other side so is absolutely useless and not powerful enough. Also, the sink was under the window against the external wall) Hence now, hubby has requested this new design. Didn't have much ssay in the matter.

Hope it works. Most probably put blinds on the windows. Much safer.

Tortington · 07/04/2010 23:34

can i suggest - don't have a sink as such or have a really tiny one?

assuming you have a dishwasher - you only really need a prep area and somewhere to wash your hands.

if i was doing a kitchen redesign, i wouldn't have a sink, i would have a surface with tiny holes in that drains the water away. this way you have use of the kitchen surface when you need it

in fact one of my pet hates is sinks - i really fucking hate them

Tortington · 07/04/2010 23:35

just a suggestion not entirely what i mean

BertieBotts · 08/04/2010 01:08

Hmm, but then what happens if you need to wash up one plate now, or to wash something that isn't dishwasher safe? What would you use?

Original poster
Legacy · 08/04/2010 16:27

I can't imagine not having a sink, although we are going to go for a smaller one than the ginormous one we have currently!

What about washing e.g. a grill pan tray, or rinsing out vases, or any big stuff which you wouldn't put in the dishwasher (mixer bowls etc)

How would you manage (or does everyone have huge utility rooms?

twolittledarlings - your set up sounds like what I am considering... I quite like the idea, but DH is being a bit resistant, but can't say why..."just doesn't like the idea"

OP posts:
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