One of the most common interior home remodeling projects is the kitchen. That’s understandable, especially if you have an older or historic home. The kitchen that once functioned well at the time the house was built is now outdated and doesn’t work with today’s lifestyle or design trends. If you’re considering revamping your kitchen, we’d like to discuss what is the hottest trend right now: the open kitchen. While the open-plan house design is fading in popularity, open kitchens are all the rage, for a number of reasons. And we can install the windows that work with this style.
Slim-frame fiberglass casement windows from the Elevate line by Marvin. Photo courtesy of Marvin Brands.
One of the top reasons to go for an open kitchen is light – natural light being the best. The trend toward facilitating more daylight in a home has been around for several years, partly because we’re spending more time in our homes than we used to. And the benefits of natural light for physical, emotional, and mental health can’t be underestimated. That’s where the right windows and doors can make a huge contribution.
Another reason is the tendency of the kitchen to become the family’s gathering place. The old ‘family room’ has moved from a TV spot to the kitchen. Friends and family can pull up stools and either chat with the cook or help with food prep. And with more families opting for home schooling, the kitchen counter or table is often the school room. It might also be a work-at-home spot. Another reason for great natural lighting!
Open kitchens also facilitate entertaining and socializing. And if that kitchen has patio doors that open onto outdoor living spaces, even better! Activities can flow effortlessly from inside to outside.
For open-style kitchens, we highly recommend fiberglass windows, especially the ones offered by Marvin in their ‘Elevate’ line. (Shown above are casements from this line.) Fiberglass windows can be constructed with thinner frames since fiberglass is incredibly strong yet lightweight and doesn’t require as much framing as comparable wood or vinyl windows. Less framing means more light entering from the same size window opening.
And you can combine window styles for even more light. Note in the photo above how the casement windows are topped with fixed coordinating transom windows. The look is seamless and goes almost to the ceiling.
There are other window styles that will work with open plan kitchens as well – watch for our recommendations in a future article on our blog!
Window Outfitters, Inc. is THE replacement window company serving the Minneapolis area and outlying communities. We are proud to be a Marvin Authorized Replacement Contractor, but we offer windows from other quality manufacturers as well.
Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.
