All I can say of the pictures above, is the white one in the middle appeals to my eye.

The countertop my friend built me is the Wilsonart 'Olivine.' Absolutely love the colors!

You're down to the fine details, aren't you?

I would put wood trim surrounding the sides like the pic with the white cabinets in your pictures.

If the window is not centered in the opening this will allow you to shim the trim in the "jamb" on the side that is off and cover it up with side trim to make it look all centered, when finished.

Another white kitchen vote here, I like the window as its own element, not intermixed with the others...

This post was edited by ctycdm on Sat, Feb 8, 14 at 23:28

Okay, I have to agree. The other two pics strike me as somewhat 'clumsy' or maybe just unfinished. Maybe I can get the cab guy to plane down some jambs so the one doesn't sit proud of the window frame.

Yes, I am getting down to the eensy, squeely details. Makes me nervous!

This post was edited by deedles on Sun, Feb 9, 14 at 0:46

Trimming a window jamb to flush with the drywall isn't that big a problem.

Yeah, maybe not. I'll have to talk to DH and see what he thinks about the whole thing again.

Other than the color, I can't see how #2 is different from #1. Definitely no to #3.

Which one are you calling #3, linelle? The wrap with the garden window?

If so, #2 is the white one which has wood trim around the window and #1 has no trim at all.

i like #1
going to last longer and looks good with the kitchen

But the window sill is the same material as your counter, right? So, the way I understand it is that the white kitchen is a very different scenario.
Not sure I understand, but do these pics help:

Yes, the windowsill will be the counter material.

Trying to explain the problem using thIS pic from your post.

There is only 1/4" of window frame showing past the plaster on the left side. Wood jambs are typically 1/2" thick, so the jamb would be sticking over the frame and in front of the window sash 1/4" on the left side. I think that would look idiotic. The other side has 1/2" of frame so the jamb would be flush with the frame on that side which doesn't sound a whole lot better, as a little frame reveal looks nicer, IMO.

We'd have to tear out the drywall on both sides of the window opening (and probably should as the other options are starting to feel really cobbled up right now) to be able to trim the window in wood or anything else and not have this problem.

So, I was just going to leave it a painted hole with a window in it and call it done. But that bugged me, so I thought maybe I could turn the corner with the backsplash into the window area but that's not really grabbing me either and that stuff is 1/2" thick, too.

I've seen so many pics of windows without trim that looked great, but for some reason mine doesn't seem to have the same effect. Guess I'm trying to find a way to not tear out the plastered in stuff around that window and still have it look good. Maybe there is no way. Blah.

Do you really notice the 1/4" difference? Or perhaps more accurately: Will anybody apart from you notice the 1/4" difference?

I'll notice it. I just don't want some off-kilter 'cause my eye is always drawn to it. Just weird like that, I guess.

Okay, so here is my actual window with some crude paint program 'cabinets' and the backsplash. Added a sill in yellow for the sake of.. uh, being able to see it. :)

Will this look goofy without trim around the window?

I think part of it is because of the low roof line, we had to keep the windows shorter than I wanted to on this side of the house and this kitchen window seems really squatty.

Could really use some eyes to clearly see the 'form' of this area and what it needs to look best. Not trusting my own right now.

Have you considered wrapping the window in wall tile and taking it to the ceiling, like this?

I still don't get it. Isn't there always going to be a difference in space between your cabinets and the window, whether or not you frame it? Could you move the right cabinet over and play around with the color of the window frame, so that when you look straight at it, it doesn't look off kilter?
Or could you run the backsplash material into the jamb after the sill is put in and make it a 1/4" thicker on the right side?

nsm: there isn't a difference on the wall, it is the window frame because the window wasn't set evenly into the rough opening.
Sorry, I guess I'm not explaining this clearly.