All about how we created the backsplash window at our #WaterlooModern project.

The problem

A low light kitchen that only fits one person at a time.

The ask

A large island for family cooking and a seamless mid-century inspired look.

The solutions

1. Enlarge the existing kitchen window to match the span of the countertop creating a “window backsplash”.

2. Add an “appliance wall” to counter storage lost from not doing any upper cabinets where the window goes.

3. Add a large island with an induction cooktop and downdraft ventilation.

In this post, we’ll focus in on #1: How we created a window backsplash.

“What a difference the window has made on the amount of natural light that comes into the space! ”

One of the main challenges of this home was a lack of natural light in the key areas of the home. The heritage protected frontage of the home has very small windows consistent with other homes of a similar age.

A large dividing wall down the center of the home created a narrow hallway between the kitchen and bedroom quarters.

This wall meant that no light from the front of the house reached the back of the house and vice versa.

A photo from the realtor listing shows the diving wall. The photo is severely doctored to make it seem brighter. Below is a photo I took on my first visit to the home. It was a September afternoon on an overcast day and the lack of lighting and windows in the living room really made it feel like a cave.

The back of the home had some large picture windows in the dining room but just a small window above the sink in the kitchen which was really a shame because the back of the home overlooks an in-ground pool and beyond the property is a school with a small park making for a very tranquil view of tall trees.

To take advantage of this view as much as possible, we added a large picture window that spanned the entire length of the countertop.

This was one of the main features of the kitchen design and set the stage for how everything else fell into place. Here’s a look at the build progress.