Two options. 1) You could create a galley style kitchen with cabinets on the left and right side and then keep the area underneath the window clear. 2) You could put the sink where the stove is now and create an island which has the stove. Good luck.

Put the faucet on the right side of the sink. That way, when you open the window, you won't hit the faucet (or you won't hit it right away). I assume you can't change the plumbing, but can you at least move the sink to be centered with the window? When you open the windows, you have a better change of avoiding a faucet that is mounted at the top and center of your sink. Don't get a faucet that is too high.

I think I would first try to see if I could get a sliding window (side to side, or up and down) instead of a double window that opens into a tiny kitchen and disrupts every plan in a crucial way. I would avoid putting an island in such a small space even though I know you were trying to get a spot to enjoy the view. The kitchen 'triangle' is really important to having a usable kitchen so that open stove and fridge doors don't get into a tangle, so I would instead place the fridge away from the stove and over on the right side where the island is, and have a counter with open space underneath to place a stool or two. Also, you might consider using the slightly odd space that leaves the kitchen (4'10" wide) as a pantry by lining each side of the wall with very narrow (8-10" deep) cabinets. This would help with storage and perhaps allow the main kitchen to not need upper cabinets which will impinge on the window view.

The best thing my husband and I ever did was hire a professional, independent (as in, does not represent any kitchen lines), kitchen designer. It was *the best* $1200 we ever spent. (this,despite my design skills).

A lot of your options are predicated on the types of appliances you choose, and the program for your kitchen (what do you need? want?). There are so many options and ideas that a good designer can come up with for you that would never have occurred to you or your developer.

For example, you can actually locate the taps inside the sink so that they do not protrude and interfere with your window --

http://remodelista.com/posts/5-favorites-concealed-faucets

The best piece of advice that I have for making use of such a small kitchen with so many design constraints is to make sure to get a good induction cooktop -- it will afford you more counter space.

Those are very strange, impractical, windows, and I have a hard time visualizing them... (just think, everyone else in this building is struggling with the same design problems that you are!)

I love a window at the sink. Am I reading that right? A wall to wall, opening window on the 34th floor? Wow. You need a sliding window there.

If possible I would for continue the counter along the back wall under the window then position the sink and dishwasher on the right, opposite the stove and refrigerator. Then, as @Home Body suggested I would install narrow floor to ceiling cabinets in what currently looks like an unused space exiting your kitchen. That may provide enough storage that you could do away with lower cabinets under the window, allowing you to tuck stools under the counter so that you can fully take advantage of your view.

Wow, there appears to be a lot of "wasted" space in that floor plan. (The over all plan, not the kitchen.) Are any of the walls removable? (I am assuming you own this apartment, not rent, from the kitchen design inquiry.)

If walls can go, I'm wondering if you could take out the one on the left side of the existing kitchen plan and make that whole end of the apartment an open concept kitchen/dining/living area. Not sure what the other spaces are designated for, but I'd forfeit a window in a sleeping area in order to enjoy the views when I'm awake.

I agree, though, with the idea of hiring a kitchen designer. Good luck!

I think hiring a kitchen designer would be money well spent. Consider finding a solve for the way the windows open so they don't have to sweep across the counters.

In Germany most windows open inside, so this is a common problem with kitchen faucets here.

We have special faucets which either fold sideways (not so nice) or which can be lowered, if you want to open the window.

Like so. Scroll down this page to see how it works.

I agree with homebody about changing the window to a sliding one (or, if possible, change the hinges so the window swings out). And I would definitely install a narrow pantry as suggested.

I can't tell exactly how much space is between the fridge and island, but I think it's best to have 4-5 feet between the fridge and other cabinets, otherwise it really impedes traffic when the door is opened, esp. with the fridge right at the kitchen entry. My sister lived in a rental with the fridge right across from the island and only 2-3 feet between and it was always in the way when she entertained, and she had the side by side fridge, so the doors were even smaller. I would recommend either doing a U shape kitchen, a smaller peninsula, or having an island on casters so it can be turned so the long side is against the wall, pushed out away from the fridge and basically just moved around however is convenient depending on how many people are in the kitchen.

This may sound weird, but one thing I like to do is go to Ikea and see how kitchens are laid out, where appliances are in correlation to each other, how kitchens function when appliance doors are open and so on. Take a tape measure (or pick up their paper ones) and see how far appliances and cabinets are from each other and see what you like and don't.

Why is it that in 'Good Questions' the enlarged photo always slips to the right under the ads? I can't see any measurements here :-( Or is this just me??

When you say you can't have kitchen on the left side. Does it mean the appliances? What about a build in hutch that matches the cabinentry?! B/c I would consider eliminating the wall on the left side and move your stove and fridge to the right wall. and a row of cabinets on both the livingroom left wall and all the way down the hallway on the right side. What is the black area in the middle? If is storage- I would take that out and do a built in Fridge area there.

My link to concealed faucets is after the break, and so I'll post it again -- it's a cool solution.

http://remodelista.com/posts/5-favorites-concealed-faucets

I would avoid putting the sink in front of a low window. Depending on how low it is, it might be hard to run the plumbing there and you need to be able to open the windows. I would go with a galley style kitchen like suggested by HELLCAT in the first comment.

How about a U-shape with a mirror and the stove on the right-hand wall?

Refrigerator and a good corner cabinet on the left leg of the U. Sink with dishwasher to the left under the window, with the window opening so that it just clears the faucet and swings out over the sink (since you are more likely to clear what is in the sink than what is on the counter.) Another good corner cabinet, drawers and stove with the mirror acting as backsplash. On the end of the run, a cabinet or shelves with a countertop that curves or angles into the wall. Line the area to the right of the chimney with pantry shelves.

In these pictures, the closest I could get to showing a mirror was glass block - you'll just have to use your imagination. http://i1257.photobucket.com/albums/ii515/tbb1234/AptT1.jpg, http://i1257.photobucket.com/albums/ii515/tbb1234/Apt2.jpg
http://kitchenplanner.ikea.com/US/UI/Pages/VPUI.htm?LoadDesign=fc100f72b9234ed2922c3f3c3a038134&UIContext=Kitchen&IsSharedDesign=1

Thank you, so many great ideas, like hiding faucet or sliding island. We can't remove the black area in the middle and a wall on the left, as it's a load bearing one. Also we cannot change the construction of the window. Otherwise our story would be much more simple. I've been to the galley kitchen in the same building, didn't like the big empty space b/w the counters, so decided to go with this quite strange solution.

Why is it that in 'Good Questions' the enlarged photo always slips to the right under the ads? I can't see any measurements here :-( Or is this just me??

No, you're not the only one. It's very frustrating. You'd think that one of the world's foremost interior design blogs could afford to pay someone to create a sturdy webpage template, but perhaps the budget has been spent on chevron-patterned cupcakes.

I found this post a little late - sorry! Thought I'd post anyways in case it is still helpful to you. It's a tough problem. I'm seeing it like this. Eliminate the left side of the kitchen as you show it in the layout. Place the refrigerator to the left of the window, the sink to the right of the window, and cabinets in between. Extend the peninsula as far as you can to the left while still allowing easy passage and the door of the fridge to swing open and integrate the cooktop/stove into it. So essentially you have a galley style kitchen set up parallel to the window, rather than perpendicular to it, with a nice classic working triangle, and nothing to impede the window. Good luck!

this kitchen is NOT small, tho' it looks more like 9*7 usable. plumbing moves are limited, but is range electric or gas? either way, try galley-esque. for electric, undercounter fridge/freezer near L corner (leave room to open door), sink nudged to R side, w/ single-lever faucet in R corner/R side beyond window swing. these windows are standard height, not low. float an island--two paths into K--w/electric stove & downdraft fan in middle. island could have b'fast stools at approach side, stools facing window. keep upper cabs limited, do floor/ceiling pantry along black box wall. appliance sizes matter, even 1 in. avoid blind cabs; they take max space w/ min use & everything falls into the way back. if gas, swing plan perpendicular, center stove on L wall w/ lots o' cabs, move sink away fr window enough for clearance, same undercounter fridge/freezer, stools at R wall so seated look out window or at stove. could be island or peninsula. sink users would look at stools, not blank wall.

What is the resistance to using a kitchen designer? I would pay someone to solve this if I were you. If you buy your cabinets from Viola Park, they have excellent designers.

Not enough place for a fridge on either sides of the window, though I like the idea of stove on the island. The app is in Moscow, Russia, Viola Park designers not an option for us..

Unless you find a unique sink that will allow the faucet to be out of the way, do not put the sink there. I would try for under counter refrigerator/freezer drawers. Kitchenaid and Subzero make them here in the US and they are super expensive. I understand they are affordable in Europe. This will allow you to move the fridge/freezer under the window, and shift the sink to the other wall. Run backsplash or tile of your choice on either side of the window and love it!