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Alternatives to can lights in kitchen? Pics?

17 years ago

Am I the only one who doesn't care for a bunch of holes in the kitchen ceiling? We have a long flourescent fixture in our current kitchen, with smaller ones over the sink and the passthrough. I don't care much for the particular fixture for the large one, but otherwise am quite happy with the lighting. We'll be enlarging a bit in our remodel and I'm trying to figure out the lighting, but can lights aren't my favorite. I've thought about building a frame out of molding strips to fit a diffuser and long fl tubes and painting it to match the ceiling if we can figure out how to make it open. Any suggestions for that or anything else? We'll also have undercabinet lights (probably led strips http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0112214816065.html). TIA for any thoughts and pictures.

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Comments (3)

hybrid8
17 years ago
You can buy surface mount or flush mount fluorescent fixtures. With surface mount you can pretty mcuh go any size you want. With flush the fixture will have to go parallel to your joists and fit between a pair of them. These fixtures all feature some type of swing panel access to replace bulbs. Surface mount ones are already available in various trim work or you can buy a plain one and trim it yourself.

Fluoresent tube lighting is more commercial in style, even though you can decorate around them to make them fit well with many kitchens.

Recessed "can" lights are more contemporary and look more "custom" as typically they'd be part of some reno or a custom option at build time. They can also be positioned as task-oriented lighting allowing some felxibility in how you light the whole room (multiple switches, dimmers, etc..)

Neither fixture/light type is a perfect fit for everyone. You can achieve quite a bit of variation with each as well, so don't get fixated on one particular installation you've seen.

Bruno
sombreuil_mongrel
17 years ago
Hi,
I used every type of fixture in my kitchen redo (exc. pendants B~ ) Cans are part of my lighting plan, as were the 4 halogens in the vent hood, a pair of sconces, a halogen in the ceiling fan, in-cabinet rope lights and under-cabinet xenons. And lots of dimmers. Each type adds something to the function, flexibility, and ambience. The 4 and 5-inch cans of today are less obtrusive than the 6-inch ones we are all accustomed to seeing in workplaces and homes back in the day. With the black Alzak reflector trims, you can't detect where exactly the light is coming from. If you experienced some "good" cans, you may change your opinion.
Casey
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Hmmm, I hadn't even thought of painting the ceiling the same color. I guess because its so textured I thought it would be too much of a pain to do. Our house was a foreclosure and all the lighting fixtures were replaced with cheap ones like you see over the kitchen table. I can't wait to have a nice hanging one there. I guess I should be thankful they replaced them with something instead of leaving them bare though. :) Thank you, nurse, for the compliment. Its getting there!
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Beautiful Kitchen it is exactly what I would like to do. Did you paint your cabinets? I have custom red oak cabinets from the 1980's. I know they are made very well all solid oak with the shelving that pulls out like drawers. I would like to have my cabinets professionally refinished in a painted white finish. Last week we brought one of the doors as a sample to a cabinetmaker/refinisher & he said you can not paint oak. He also said that the quality of the cabinets are so good that they could not be replicated now. He said he could either stain them another color or whitewash them. I am hoping he is wrong & I can find someone to do a great job refinishing them in a white paint finish. Laura
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thyron
17 years ago
ever thought about track lights

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