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Quick lighting question - electrician coming this morning

16 years ago

Here's the last-minute jitters!

I just realized I'll have 6 separate light switches, for 6 separate light areas, in the kitchen. This seems like waaaay too much.

Should I have the light over the sink tied into the general room lighting?

Over the island, there will be lighting over the bar and a task light for the prep area. Should the task light be tied into the bar switch, the general room lighting, or a switch of its own? (The last option seems annoying to me.)

Thanks for the last-minute help. I'm not posting this to the lighting forum. It's lower traffic, and I think this is more of a kitchen design question, anyway.

Cate

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Comments (5)

jessie21
16 years ago
i think the sink light should have it's own switch. it's such a specific area and sometimes that's all the light we want.

over the island....not as sure about this but i would say if you don't want it alone, tie it to the bar.

good luck, cate.
User
16 years ago
Hard to answer this without more info but...

we have what they call the "walk around lights" all on one switch; basically the lights that light the path of travel

I would keep your sink light seperate also

our bar lights are seperate, too

as far as the prep area it would depend on its location...you may not want to leave it on with the bar lights, maybe to eliminate its own switch you put it with the sink light? it really does depend on where it is at in your layout
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kec01
16 years ago
You can have multiple individual switches under 1 plate. Our kitchen/family room/back entry has a total of 8 switches under 2 plates. It sure has made the walls much cleaner. Yes, we have to remember which is which, but after about 1 week of use, that became a no-brainer.
cate1337
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you for the quick responses. Managed to get an opinion from DH (!), and he agrees with you that the sink light should be a separate switch. The prep light is in-between the bar lights and walk-around lights and not at all close to the sink. I'm thinking that, if I want to do mood lighting with the bar, having the prep light tied in would ruin the effect. Bet the electricians will have their own preferences for what's easiest, too...
cate1337
Original Author
16 years ago
Kec - missed your post while I was typing. It's good to know you get used to the multiple switches. I was thinking I'd spend the whole day turning lights on rather than cooking!

.............

Message to Kec didn't post bc of same subject. Electricians are here now, and I think we've worked it out. Thank you all so much for your help!

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