Why is there always a window in front of the kitchen sink?

Question

In just about every apartment I've lived in and house I've been in has a window in front of the kitchen sink? Any idea why?

Answer 1

Not that long ago, windows and lights used to be expensive. Also a home may have had only the kitchen sink and an outhouse for bathroom. Bath tubs like in the movies in the kitchen where hot water came from a pot on the stove.

Before electricity the way to light a room was using windows. Women used the sink a lot back then to cook from scratch, wash dishes, wash hands. So it made sense to put the window over the sink so mom could look over the yard to see the kids play or see who was coming.

Windows were also used to cool the house, so it was a good place to cool off with the windows open while working at the sink. The light source also helped since it would not cast a shadow for the person at the sink. A window anywhere else would have cast a shadow over the work area near the sink.

Now many new homes have the sink in an island or where ever since lighting and cooling is no longer a concern.

In small apartments you still see windows over the sink because wall space is limited and small kitchens look brighter with a sink with a window rather than cabinets overhead.

Answer 2

Window Over Kitchen Sink

Answer 3

Kitchen Windows Over Sink

Answer 4

Because, for some kitchens, it might be the only place where you can have a window. And, without any windows, the kitchen would be very dark (kitchens are supposed to be kind of bright and cheery).

I just completely remodeled a house last year where we moved all of the rooms around. We put the kitchen sink in the corner of a room with two exterior walls. We then put a window in each wall above the sink. Because of all the cabinetry, this was the only place we could place windows and, without them, there would be no natural light coming in and we would not be able to ventilate the kitchen by opening a window.

Answer 5

When used in traditional ways, the kitchen sink area generates a lot of moisture and/or steam ... in the days before modern ventilation systems, the window over the kitchen sink helped to dispel some of the steaminess/dampness that may otherwise accumulate.

(Examples: fill the sink with stove-heated water for washing, rinsing; pouring the boiling water off of pasta, potatoes; the steam generated by sterilizing baby bottles and canning jars.)

Finally, the people who do the washing up and/or cooking chores tend to spend a lot of time at the kitchen sink. The window at the sink provides light to do the chores by, as well as something to look at besides a wall.

Answer 6

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Why is there always a window in front of the kitchen sink?
In just about every apartment I've lived in and house I've been in has a window in front of the kitchen sink? Any idea why?

Answer 7

It is a traditional thing.
Women used to spend a great deal of time in front of the sink before the invention of the microwave and the dishwasher.
It was nice to have a view when you were going to be slaving over the dirty dishes for a couple hours a day.
It was only about fifty years ago when those two inventions did not exist. It was the late 70's or early 80's before these two inventions were common place in peoples homes. We have come a long way. Thank goodness! :o)

Answer 8

It's out of tradition more than anything.

When I was a girl, I stayed in an old farmhouse without plumbing ~ clean water was brought in through the kitchen window from the well, and dumped out the window when the dishes were washed. In the days before plumbing, strategically placed windows saved a lot of steps :)

Answer 9

I once read that windows in kitchens were by the sinks so that if ever there was a kitchen fire, your emergency escape route (window) was near a source of water in case you had to throw water on the fire to create a safer escape for yourself. I have no idea if there is any truth to this, but it almost makes sense when you think about it. Unless it was a grease fire, which you are supposed to smother.

Answer 10

actually it was both for having a view to do the dishes and to see the kids playing outside. plus before we had fans over the stove it helped air out the kitchen of smoke/burnt food.