Design Build Remodeling Tip: Garden or Bay Window

Garden or Bay windows are a great touch to add to a home. They invite the outdoors inside, adding sunlight and warmth without sacrificing comfort. Garden windows often project outward from the existing structure. This creates a shelf area which is commonly used to house plants, including flowers and herbs. Garden or Bay windows serve as mini greenhouses. Thus, almost any plant can be grown in a garden window. Many gardeners will grow herbs, orchids, and houseplants in their windows. Late winter is an excellent time to start seeds in the garden window.

If you are planning to use a garden or bay window by your kitchen sink, size the window so that the sill will be just below the counter height. Then have the new countertop extend into the window, at the same level. This looks great and acts as a water-friendly, easy clean up base for plants placed in the window!

Pictured below is an existing kitchen, and then two computer aided designs of a remodel that includes a garden window.