Practically every home renovation show since the year 2000 has had one simple goal: remove as many walls as possible. The biggest drama always came from waiting to find out if a wall was load-bearing and therefore unable to be removed. This was especially true of kitchen walls, which were sacrificed for the dream of one large space for living, cooking, and dining. But over the last couple of years, homeowners have started to — gasp — put walls back. Many think the years of pandemic living, where work/school/life were all happening in one home, may be the reason. 

There are pros and cons to having a fully-walled kitchen, and one big con is the lack of natural light. Many kitchens are located further into the home and may have only one small window, which can start to feel claustrophobic, especially if you are there for hours on end. One way to brighten up a dark kitchen is to add an internal window, which will allow light to flow from other rooms. This vintage design feature is a whole lot cheaper than cutting through outer walls, and a win-win for those who don’t love open-concept floor plans, but crave more light. 

In old homes, the kitchens were often located in the far back or basement of a home, where live-in cooks and maids could prepare meals far from main living spaces (à la “Downton Abbey”). In the 1950s and ’60s, internal kitchen windows (also known as kitchen pass-throughs or serving hatches), became a popular way to add light to these dark rooms without a full renovation. They also allowed homemakers to pass dishes easily into dining rooms, and feel not so cut-off from the family while cooking and washing dishes. These hatches were a precursor to the open-plan living craze that had yet to sweep the nation. 

Kitchen hatches are seeing a comeback thanks to the current move away from open-concept and the ongoing popularity of midcentury modern design. They are not only a practical addition to any kitchen, but also bring some retro charm to the space. As with any cyclical design, the kitchen hatches of today have some modern twists that bring the look into the 21st century. As formal dining rooms are used less as the main eating space, pass-throughs are now used between the kitchen and living room instead. And since they serve less of a functional purpose, they are more decorative, often incorporating architectural details and glass windows into the design. 

You can create a pass-through on a load-bearing wall, making it a good alternative if you always wanted to knock it down but found you couldn’t. To do so, you need a stud on either side of the opening, a header, and side supports. It is a big and messy job, so if you don’t have renovation experience, you should hire a contractor. There may also be rewiring involved which will necessitate an electrician. Once the wall has been removed, you will need a piece of wood, granite, or other material to act as a shelf, counter, or simple frame. The addition of a window will add a lovely design feature and allow you to close off the space if necessary. If your only need is to let in more light, you can opt for a cheaper picture window. They can cost anywhere from $65 to $700 depending on size (since it doesn’t need to be properly insulated, an indoor window should be on the cheaper side). An opening window such as a bifold will cost more; the cost of a 4×4 foot bifold window is around $800 to $1,500. 

Modern kitchen pass-throughs serve more of a social purpose than simply that of a “serving window,” therefore you may want to add a shelf and bar stools to accommodate guests. This is a great way to add extra seating in small spaces, and can become a great breakfast or homework station for families.