Lighting over surface mounted medicine cabinet
gardnr
12 years ago
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jreed22
12 years agogardnr
12 years agoRelated Discussions
lighting over wall mounted medicine cabinet
Comments (10)Canofworms - I have to run & will reply this aft or tomorrow, but for now will post something I copied... in case it helps another newbie like me: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,403815,00.html (A Lesson in Bathroom Lighting); excerpts: "Task Lighting Vanity lighting gets top consideration because these fixtures work the hardest to illuminate the head and face for grooming. The most common mistake people make is putting recessed ceiling fixtures directly over the mirror. These cast shadows on the face, making daily grooming rituals more difficult. Vertical fixtures or sconces mounted on either side of the mirror are best for casting an even light across the face. But given the size and positioning of some vanity mirrors, sidelights can be impractical (mounting them directly to the mirror is always an option, but at greater planning and cost). Only then do I suggest a fixture for over the mirror. It should be placed 75 to 80 inches above the floor and, like all vanity lighting, contain at least 150 watts ÂEideally spread over a fixture that's at least 24 inches long so that the light will wash evenly over the hair and face. The shower is a secondary area of task lighting. In smaller bathrooms, if the stall has a clear glass door, a dedicated fixture may not be necessary. Otherwise, I recommend a recessed light with a glass lens (plastic will yellow). Similar recessed fixtures work well over a freestanding tub or the toilet. " "Lighting the Vanity Right To eliminate shadows under the chin, eyes, and cheeks, fixtures should be mounted on either side of the vanity mirror (or on the mirror's surface, if it's large), 36 to 40 inches apart. The center of each fixture should be roughly at eye level, or about 66 inches above the floor. This will guarantee even illumination across the face for grooming...." "Choosing Bulbs A crisp white light tends to render skin tones most accurately. Halogen bulbs set the gold standard...." "Think Dimmers These are a lighting designer's best friend because they grant absolute control over the lighting, and thus the mood, of the room. In a very small space like a powder room, dimming the vanity fixtures might even provide all-in-one task, ambient, and accent lighting. Plus, dimmers conserve energy...." Here is a link that might be useful: A Lesson in Lighting - This Old House...See MoreLighting for surface mount medicine cabinet
Comments (0)I forgot to spec a recessed cabinet for the guest bath. I will put one of those surface mounted cabs from RH or similar in there. So now, I am looking for a light fixture that extends beyond the trim on top of the cab (5-6"). (No room for fixtures on the sides, unfortunately.) I don't want something overly stylized because the faucets are very plain. And I know I can get something from RH or a custom-depth fixture made by Rejuvenation, but I would rather pay less than 175 if I can. Any clever ideas? Thx!...See Morelighting over surface mount medicine cabinet
Comments (5)I have the same issue. The problem with the over the cabinet lights (two or three) is they are not designed to protrude enough from the wall to provide direct light, in fact the cabinet will likely cause a shadow line. Our cabinets come out 4 - 4 1/2 inches. I have a three bulb light I like and am thinking of having someone make a box that will match the cabinets. The box would be the same depth, surface mount, wood, stain and design as the cabinets... Has anyone seen lights that are designed for a surface mount medicine cabinet that do not look like the cheap exposed bulb or florescent variety?...See MoreCan we talk about Surface Mounted Medicine Cabinets?
Comments (7)I think, even though it is a weight bearing wall it can be recessed so long as wiring doesn't interfere. You need to frame it in with a header, much like a window in an outer wall. And depending on the wiring situation, if it isn't right across the centre, it maybe could be moved above or below the mirror opening. Just a thought. We are just re-doing our bathroom and had a surface mounted 36 inch medicine cabinet until now. We are gutted to the studs and found the vanity wall to be a 6 inch wall because the stack is in that wall. So our contractor just cut into the 2 x 6's part way (about 4 inches) and framed it In with a 2 x 4 header and frame. We just bought a 40 inch Kohler tri view cabinet. It has soft close doors and seems like a very nice one but it was not cheap. We didn't find many 40 inch tri view ones so chose to pay for the Kohler brand. It does have mirror inside and out and a sliding magnifying mirror inside the centre door, which might come in handy since the mirror will be farther away now with being inset....See Morejreed22
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