Hipped roof lantern in the kitchen: light above the island or the table

Why a hipped roof lantern in a kitchen?

An open-plan kitchen in an extension often has worktops along two or three walls and an island in the middle. Light from one side casts shadows on the worktop. A hipped roof lantern with four sloping sides spreads the light all around, so you can see what you are doing at the counter and the island. More about light in the kitchen in general in a roof lantern in the kitchen.

If the kitchen is narrow and runs along the old rear wall, a lean-to against that wall is often the better choice. A hipped lantern needs space all around and works best in the middle of a wide room.

• Open-plan kitchen with an island in the middle of a wide room
• Light all around, fewer shadows on the worktop
• Concealed drainage in mullions and hip profiles
• In a narrow kitchen along the wall a lean-to works better

Where does the lantern go relative to the island and cooker hood?

An island hood hangs from the ceiling and needs an extraction duct. So directly above a hob is no place for glass. Two solutions work well. Put the lantern above the dining table with the island beside it, and the hood in the solid part of the roof. Or choose a downdraft extractor in the worktop, which keeps the ceiling above the island clear.

Match the size to the layout. The standard goes up to 9 m² of glass in one piece, for example 2.5 by 3.5 metres above a table for eight. Larger is possible with segmentation and concealed mullions. Think about the evening too: with LED lighting in or around the lantern, the spot above the table keeps its atmosphere after dark.

Cooking steam and condensation above the cooker

Cooking produces heat and moisture. You remove that steam with a good cooker hood, and a window or vent in the wall helps while you cook. The lantern itself is a fixed glass roof with no moving parts, so the extraction in the room does the work.

Condensation forms when warm, moist air meets a cold surface. A good cooker hood, ventilation through the wall and a thermally broken frame limit it. Why it sometimes still happens is explained in condensation on a roof lantern.

Glass, connection and installation

Water drains out of sight through the mullions and hip profiles onto the flat roof. The standard pitch is 8°. HR++ double glazing is more than enough for most open-plan kitchens, especially facing south. Facing south, solar control glass helps keep the kitchen cool, and keeps food on the worktop out of full sun. Delivery is from 2 weeks after approval, and your builder installs it using the manual for each roof type.

• Floor plan or sketch with island, table and extraction
• Roof dimensions and preferred glass size
• Orientation: south, north, east or west
• Preferred frame colour inside and outside

Frequently asked questions