Architecturally unique and with endless functional value, serving windows are popping up more and more in residential spaces. If you're wondering what makes serving windows different from regular ones, they're essentially any kind of window that opens up wide enough to pass something through it—some of them flip up awning-style, some slide open, and others (bi-folds) open like an accordion.

 

Lark & Linen

Sometimes referred to as concession windows, they were originally created to make transactions for food vendors more seamless, and more recently, they've been adopted by hip eateries with to-go ventures that minimize square-footage, and thus, rent, as well as indoor foot-traffic.

In a domestic setting, they typically connect the kitchen to a backyard or deck space and promote indoor/outdoor living. So who are they good for? Basically, if you can't splurge on a second kitchen but would love to have another one outside, an extra-wide pass-through window is a compromise that won't actually feel like a compromise.

 

Alec Hemer

It'll come in handy if you have a pool and don't want kiddos running (and dripping) through the house come lunch time. In a similar vein, if you want to supervise kids playing outside and communicate without having to abandon your cooking duties, you can essentially be in two places at once just by propping the window open. Not to mention, it brings in a n nice breeze, making an indoor space feel much more airy and connected to the surrounding environment.

 

Studio Life/Style

They also make it so much easier to pass food from inside to outside when hosting al fresco dinner parties. And not all the fun has to be had during the summer—it can make grilling a lot easier in the winter. Joanna Saltz, Delish and House Beautiful's editorial director, opted for Pella's Architect Windows Reserve when she recently renovated the kitchen in her family home. The grill is conveniently located right outside the window on the deck, which saves a lot of trips back and forth and lightens the load.

Now that you've added pass-through windows to your dream house bucket list (or you've already called your contractor) don't forget to invite us to those epic summer dinner parties you'll definitely be throwing once it's installed.