Kitchen Window and Light Planning

Planning for the Light You Get, Not the Light You Wish You Had

A Bellevue kitchen has two lighting seasons. From late spring into early fall there is enough daylight that almost any layout feels pleasant. From November through February the sky is short and gray, and the room depends almost entirely on how well it was planned. This service is the part of a remodel where we sort that out on paper, before cabinets are ordered, walls are opened or a window size is locked in.

It can stand on its own as a planning job, or it can be the first stage of a full kitchen remodel with us.

Starting With Daylight

Daylight is the hardest thing to add later, so we look at it first.

The window over the sink

Many mid century homes in Lake Hills, Crossroads and Eastgate have a small window centered over the sink with a high sill. Widening that opening or dropping the sill closer to the counter can bring in much more light. Doing it properly means a correctly sized header, attention to whether the wall is load bearing, new flashing so Pacific Northwest rain stays out, and a window unit that meets the Washington State Energy Code. When the span or the load path is not straightforward, we involve a structural engineer before quoting.

There is often a trade off. A wider window can mean giving up upper cabinets on that wall. We draw both options, with storage counted, so you can decide with the numbers in front of you.

Skylights and daylight tubes

Single story ramblers with an accessible attic above the kitchen are good candidates for a skylight or a tubular daylight device. A skylight brings in more light and a view of the sky, but needs framing, a light shaft through the attic and careful flashing. A daylight tube is smaller and simpler, and works well for a dim interior corner. In a damp climate we also look at condensation risk and insulation around the shaft, because a cold shaft over a steamy kitchen can drip.

Condos and fixed walls

Downtown high rise units usually cannot change their windows at all. There, planning is about keeping sight lines to the glass open, choosing surfaces that carry the light deeper into the room, and making the fixture plan do the rest.

Layering the Fixtures

Once we know how much daylight the room will get, we plan the electric light in three layers.

• Task light under the upper cabinets and over the island or peninsula, where the work happens.
• Ambient light from recessed or surface fixtures placed along the counter edges rather than in a grid over the middle of the floor, so you do not stand in your own shadow.
• Accent light inside glass front cabinets or above the uppers, which adds depth on dark evenings and costs little to include during a remodel.

Each layer goes on its own switch or dimmer zone. That is what lets the same kitchen feel bright for cooking at five o’clock and calm for a late dinner.

Surfaces That Help

Light that hits a pale matte surface bounces back into the room. Light that hits dark stained wood or polished black stone mostly disappears, or turns into glare. We bring counter, tile and cabinet samples to your house and look at them under your own fixtures at night. The choice is still yours, but you make it having seen the effect.

The Practical Side

Planning also covers what the new light needs behind the walls. Older homes may need new circuits or panel work, especially if an induction range is part of the plan. A range hood ducted outside keeps winter cooking moisture from fogging the new glass. New circuits, window openings and skylights are permitted and inspected through the City of Bellevue.

You come away with a drawn plan showing window sizes, fixture locations, switching and the circuits needed. Call (425) 627-2427 to start with an evening visit.