In the house, coziness and comfort are important for every person. Sometimes, to create suitable conditions, you need to make an effort, especially if the apartment is small and you want to fit in so much. The kitchen is one of the most important places. It houses a work area, an area for eating and contains the largest number of household appliances in the house. Additional space is needed to accommodate all this. One of the winning solutions is a tabletop instead of a window sill. In this article, you will learn from what materials window sills-tabletops are made, how to properly install such a structure, and what installation features you will have to observe.
Window sill countertop in the kitchen
We list the typical designs of a countertop located under a window:
- Surface with drawers for storing household items.
- Surface with sink, drawers and/or dishwasher.
- Area for food preparation without washing.
- Table or bar counter.
In each specific option, there are difficulties with proper installation and design. It is difficult to fit a tabletop located along the window into the set due to the height difference between the window sill and the kitchen furniture.
Role in the interior
In addition to functionality, the countertop will play a significant role in the interior of the kitchen and windows. In order for it to fit perfectly into the overall design, you need to follow some recommendations:
- The material used must match the color scheme and style of the rest of the interior;
- The shape of the product should be convenient during use;
- You can decorate the window and the product itself not only with fresh flowers, but also with various designer vases and kitchen utensils;
The window sill receives maximum natural light. - The window in the kitchen does not have to be covered with a curtain or blinds;
- If the kitchen is tiny, then a bar counter is not the best solution (it will take up too much space and make the room cramped);
- The legs of the table can also be used as interior decoration (legs decorated with designer forging will look interesting).
The width is selected individually and depends on the strength of the material and the availability of free space.
Work area with sink
Washing dishes while watching the cityscape is pleasant enough, but additional cleaning of wet spots from the surface of walls and glass will be required to prevent mold from forming.
If the width of the window slopes is small, a sink is not installed under the window opening, because in addition to splashes flying in all directions, you will have to deal with one more trouble: due to the water mixer installed above the sink, it will be impossible to open the window for ventilation.
The described problem is easily solved by three-leaf windows, where the central sash does not open. A sink with a mixer is installed under it.
When installing a folding table and using additional legs, it is important to correctly calculate the width of the tabletop and leave the required gap of 30 cm between the radiator and the feet of the people sitting.
Important points during repairs
According to the rules, moving a heating radiator requires special permission and approval. But in reality, everything is different - just the consent of the management company is enough. Do not forget that moving the battery also brings with it the need to disconnect the riser. That is why all replacements and transfers of batteries are carried out between heating seasons.
Remember that it is prohibited to install a stove on such a countertop. This is prohibited by various regulations, and splashes on the windows are also not a very pleasant sight.
Since the tabletop will be adjacent to the window and the external wall, it is recommended to make it from a very wear-resistant material. The best option would be artificial stone; it is very reliable and ideal for the kitchen.
Boxes for storing utensils
Storage drawers free up useful space: you can store half of your kitchen appliances and containers in them, but they create additional problems with ventilation and heating. To prevent windows from fogging up and walls from becoming damp, it is enough to make holes in the countertop. A decrease in temperature is a natural consequence of installing boxes and will require additional measures.
A wide window sill can also be used for items of primary importance, but this is undesirable for two reasons: because of dust and natural light, which will be significantly reduced if the window is cluttered.
Sequence of work
Measures for replacing a window sill
To install a new window sill, you will have to carry out a full range of measures. As we know, planning leads to success. Therefore, it is important to prepare everything in advance, familiarize yourself with the work ahead and have an idea of what will need to be done. Let's look at the work that will need to be completed in several stages:
- preparation of tools for work;
- dismantling an unusable window sill;
- installation of a new window sill.
Bar counter
For large rooms, choose a wide tabletop that turns into a bar counter. A “U”-shaped kitchen unit divides the room into two zones.
Sometimes designers combine a work area with a tabletop running under the window and a bar counter. This option is suitable for rooms where it is not possible to install a dining table.
Artificial acrylic stone is used as a durable material for window sills and countertops. The bar counter must be flush with the tabletop, so if necessary, the height of the window sill is additionally increased at the stage of preparing the wall.
How to choose the right size?
Measurements must be taken taking into account the characteristics of the lower sections, as well as possible accessories for the window sill-tabletop (for example, a sink, hob, etc.).
Useful advice
! Be careful and precise when determining the required characteristics. Even a slight deviation will cause damage to the material or lead to additional unnecessary costs.
To choose the correct size of tabletop you need to know:
- The width and length of the window sill-tabletop.
- The width and length of the cutout.
- The exact location of the cutout for the hob or sink.
- Indicators of indentation from the front edge of the cutout.
Window sill table in the kitchen
A small kitchen in Khrushchev needs space optimization. A sufficiently deep window sill can be extended and used as a dining table or equipped for sitting surrounded by soft pillows. It will be inconvenient to use a window sill as a bar counter, but there is enough space to install a sink.
A workplace with natural daylight, where it is pleasant to wash dishes and cook while watching the landscape outside the window is another reason why owners of small apartments make a window sill part of the kitchen unit. For active women, a dishwasher that can be installed in the window sill area becomes a salvation during a busy working day.
A folding table in place of the window sill is a great find for a tiny kitchen. When unfolded, the tabletop turns into a full-fledged dining table. The folded table does not interfere with free movement around the room.
Another trick for optimizing a small space: the tabletop under the window can narrow in a certain place to provide free access to the refrigerator or pencil case.
Preparing tools
Preparing the tools
If you want to install a new window sill quickly, efficiently and without hiccups, prepare the following tools in advance:
- roulette;
- level;
- hammer;
- chisel;
- hacksaw;
- scrap;
- drill or hammer drill;
- polyurethane foam;
- jigsaw;
- silicone sealant;
- sandpaper;
- cement mortar;
- putty knife;
- respirator;
- mounting knife;
- boards with a small cross-section;
- paint for slopes.
If you don’t have something from this list, don’t rush to the store. When you are not sure that you will need these tools in the future, you can borrow them from good friends or acquaintances, or even better, from relatives. Having collected all the necessary equipment, you can begin dismantling the window sill.
Lighting, curtains
For additional lighting above the bar counter or work area near the window, install pendant lamps at a distance of 70 cm above the surface or attach wall sconces to the sides of the window opening.
For curtains, preference is given to Roman fabric or roller products with a vertical lifting mechanism. Horizontal blinds and classic short curtains will also be relevant when decorating a window with a window sill-tabletop.
Before installing a tabletop instead of a window sill and using the space under it for household needs, you need to make sure that there is free air circulation around the radiator or central heating radiator. Only thanks to free air circulation, the kitchen will remain dry and warm, and window slopes and walls will not mold.
If a countertop instead of a window sill in the kitchen is used as a table or work area, as indicated in the photo below, a ventilation grill must be built into it or a series of holes must be made. Cabinets under the countertop are equipped with perforated inserts or lattice doors.
Important technical points:
- When decorating the space under the countertop with utility cabinets, despite the ventilation holes, the room temperature during the heating season will decrease by 2-3 °C. An additional radiator compartment or a floor heating system will help compensate for heat loss.
- Before installing the tabletop with your own hands, the window slopes are subjected to antiseptic treatment using a primer and then covered with waterproof paint. These additional measures help prevent mold from growing on surfaces around the window.
- According to fire regulations, the space under the window cannot be used to install a gas or electric stove.
Balcony construction
Replacing a window sill on a balcony involves installing a window structure, and this is the best moment when you can completely change the interior and apply a modern approach. If the owners want to use the freed-up space to create a workplace for studying with a computer and papers, then a good solution would be to place the stove on the windowsill, smoothly turning into a table.
Corner models look stylish and modern, where the connection is made not along the length of the balcony, but from the end. For variety, you can create a structure that will be higher or lower than the base of the window opening.
The balcony is an extension, where the conditions are different even from the bathrooms and kitchens. Therefore, when choosing a consumable, you should be guided by factors affecting the operation of the room. The best and most reliable material among professionals is considered to be plastic or stone. You can give preference to beech, oak or cherry boards. You just need to make sure that the window sill and the interior are in harmony with each other.
Plastic surfaces
They are sheets of chipboard covered with a plastic protective layer. The design remains one of the cheapest and most accessible on the market: the variety of shades and textures makes it easy to choose a countertop and fit it into an existing kitchen set. The material is easy to wash and clean with available detergents.
There is a strong temperature difference in the area where the product is installed: in winter, cold air falls down from the window, and hot air rises up from the radiator. Over time, due to temperature changes, the plastic structure becomes deformed and becomes unusable. In addition, plastic is susceptible to mechanical damage: over time, the working area becomes covered with small scratches and chips.
Professional opinion
- Experts recommend installing cassette roller blinds on windows under which such tabletops are located. After all, they are perfectly attached directly to the doors.
- If you plan to install a dishwasher under the new window sill, then it will be difficult to find a suitable option. After all, the vast majority of the entire model range is designed for a height of 82 cm.
- If the window sill is characterized by wide slopes, then in this case it is advisable to narrow them on the tabletop.
Replacing a plastic window sill with a countertop is often successfully done independently, but it is better to ask for help from professionals.
I ordered a kitchen a year ago. During all this time there were no problems. Despite the complexity of the work, everything was done quickly and with very high quality. The fact is that the kitchen space in my house is not very convenient, so the order was, to put it mildly, specific. The materials are simply excellent! Beautiful frosted glass and natural wood look very beautiful in combination. I'm happy with everything. Thank you!
Tree
Interior design trends of the last 2-3 years have shown the desire of urban residents for natural materials and traditional forms. In city apartments, Scandinavian style, Provence and country suddenly became in demand, and the ultra-fashionable eco-style again brought back the fashion for wooden furniture, decoration and blinds.
Varnished wood is trendy due to its high aesthetic properties. For countertops, beech, yew, oak, wenge, maple, and walnut are used.
A wooden countertop should not be used as a work area; it is not advisable to install a sink in it. The wooden surface is difficult to maintain: it does not tolerate contact with typical detergents and requires periodic treatment with special compounds.
Products for living rooms
Window sills as desks are very popular in living rooms, especially for children. It turns out to be a good place for a child to prepare homework and spend leisure time. The smallest member of the family can stack toys, while teenagers use the surface to store books and CDs.
The window sill can also be turned into a bookcase. Due to the lack of specific conditions, wood is ideal for a children's room. A small step is made, which is located just above the base of the window sill. The tabletop itself must be equipped with a joint with fasteners.
Stone
The most preferred option. Granite and marble slabs are very expensive, and agglomerate is sometimes more expensive than natural stone. The stone countertop is durable and resistant to temperature changes, mechanical damage and high humidity. Heavy products will require the installation of additional supports.
Granite or marble structures are installed only in large rooms; they are too bulky for small kitchens. Other disadvantages of stone slabs include: stone cannot be restored; it is impossible to make a solid tabletop longer than 2.5 m.
What will he be like?
We live in times of technological progress. Nowadays, there are so many materials for construction, and they are all so diverse and versatile that our ancestors would envy us. And this applies not only to durability and quality. It also has a beautiful, aesthetic appearance, which is important.
If we talk about window sills, modern models on the market are presented in various versions. The range of products is so wide that you can choose a model that would fit perfectly into the interior design, fully perform its functions, have various design features, cope with various types of loads and have a very reasonable price.
Plastic window sill
Plastic products . They are one of the most sought after materials on the market as they are affordable for most. Despite the low price, a plastic window sill can be called practical and reliable, resistant to light and heat, and can serve you for a long time, since it does not rot. However, under strong mechanical stress it can break. Considering the fact that the material is of synthetic origin, such a window sill has good environmental friendliness, which is very important, especially for those families who have small children. And of course, one of the important advantages of plastic products is a wide range of colors and product configurations, as well as their low weight. This fact will allow you to choose exactly the window sill that will harmonize with the overall interior of your home. It should also be noted that such a window sill can be replaced using a simplified scheme.
