skip to main content

Should I put a 'puck' light in this cabinet?

14 years ago

In my entire kitchen this is the only cabinet with a glass door- all the rest are solid. That being said it is the corner cabinet and VERY dark. With all the lights on you can't see anything inside the cabinet so I have yet to put anything worthy of showcasing in it. do you think I should put some sort of puck light in it? I don't really understand the different kind of lights- didn't do much research in this area- I am not sure what it would entail to add a light connected to the electricity- we do have a switch available as we are moving the trash disposal switch. Or should I just get some kind of battery operated light?

Below is a picture of the cab w/o the glass installed.

TIA for your help!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

Buehl
14 years ago
I have two "puck" lights in each of my two glass doored cabinets. One thing, to take advantage of the light you need glass shelves.

I don't have pictures of my cabinets w/the glass shelves as I just got them for Christmas, all I have is pics w/the wood shelves. I will say, though, it made a big difference in lighting the cabinet when we put the glass shelves in!

I don't know what to tell you about hardwired vs battery...do you have access to the back so you could hardwire? If not, you might be able to run the cord along the inside of the cabinet (maybe behind the frame or in one of the far left/right corners).

(No, no glass in the door itself...and still none!)
teresa518
14 years ago
I agree with Buehl above. The puck lights will make a difference but also recommend glass shelves. I have wood shelves in mine and the light doesn't pass through them to the lower part of the cabinet.

As for wiring, it will depend on what you have available and can get to now that your cabinets are up. You will need to ask your electrician. But I might say that battery operated may make sense. I don't use the lights in my glass cabs unless company comes over.... It is not like task lighting that you need all the time.
Related Discussions
Under cabinet lighting -- rope? puck? LED? Incandescent?
Q
Comments (9)
I still haven't found lighting that I'm satisfied with. I tried the rope lighting, but I hate the multiple (several sections of cabinet) heavy cords snaking down to the outlets. Originally, I had chosen rope lighting to avoid the pools of light from puck lights reflecting off the granite that Evilbunnie mentioned. But since the rope lighting didn't work out, I picked up a couple of battery-powered, LED puck lights and tried them, but the light is bluish and doesn't look very good. Then I got some of those cheap, battery-operated *moon* lights (pop lights, push lights, whatever varied names they go by) to try. They also don't give off much light. If they gave off more light, they would work fine for me. I guess I'm spoiled by the flourescent bars that my mom has in her kitchen -- but hers are installed behind a front piece that hides them from view (too late for me to do that, plus I have long, 42-inch cabs and wouldn't want to lose the counter clearance). The heat factor on the xenon lights does worry me a bit. It may not be a realistic worry, but it would make me nervous about it possibly causing a fire. Yes, my backsplash is already installed. In fact, at this point, I'm going to have to live with what I have for a while. But what I'd really LOVE to find is rope lighting that's battery-operated and gives off plenty of warm, yellow glowing light. Sigh. A fantasy, I know. Doesn't exist. Oh well, I can dream.... ;P But now that I'm fantasizing...one of the salesmen in Lowe's mentioned that he has xmas lights in his kitchen instead of rope lighting. Think that would work? It would probably be much easier to hide the cord. (The rope lighting has THICK white cords, xmas lights generally have thin, dark green wiring.) Would it be *safe*?
...See More
Puck Under Cabinet Lights?
Q
Comments (1)
We got the strip LED lights and it was under 1000 for about 18 feet on upper cabs and two glass cabs on top- this included the labor. My GC found a great sale and jumped on it. I also installed AFTER the cabs were in and it was a more complicated install than you are facing. I don't know much about the puck lights but do know anything but LED lights do get hot.
...See More
LED cabinet lighting - need strips AND pucks
Q
Comments (4)
We have different brand under cabinet lights and pucks and you can't tell. We have them hard wired too (separately for the pucks and for the under cabinet). I can ask my husband later what brands they are. I do know they are LED
...See More
How can you put puck lights on popcorn ceilings?
Q
Comments (1)
Puck lights are for use under cabinets, not on ceilings. Use "canless" recessed fixtures instead -- which require only cutting holes in the ceiling for the fixture and popping the fixture into the hole. Here are inexpensive Commercial Electric 91468 fixtures designed to fit in even shallow ceilings. Of course, popcorn ceilings aren't flat so you'll want to scrape away the popcorn that's covered by the trim so it can sit flush against the ceiling. See this article. Controls the lights with a dimmer, not a simple switch.
...See More
gillylily
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for the recommendations.. i will certainly look into glass lighting. I don't know if you read any of my earlier posts, but my house is new construction and the kitchen was semi custom. I picked out all of the materials, the layout and a few specifics i wanted, but the cabinet maker pretty much did everything else. I didn't know he was installing a glass door although I do have to say it adds a nice touch to the room. I will talk to him about adding glass shelves.. Thanks again for your help!!
Buehl
14 years ago
I would consider getting the glass shelves yourself. Our KD told us upfront that ordering glass for shelves & doors from her would be a lot more expensive than going elsewhere...by an order of at least 10. That seems to be the general rule. While I don't know your situation, I recommend looking around to compare what your cabinetmaker tells you vs what you can get elsewhere.

Related Stories

COLLECTIONS Put Your Collection on Show

By Debbie Snider

Curate Your Own Rotating Exhibit on Wall, Tabletop, Cabinet or Floor

KITCHEN DESIGN Put Your Kitchen in a Good Light With a Window Backsplash

By The Inman Company

Get a view or just more sunshine while you're prepping and cooking, with a glass backsplash front and center

HOME TECH Design Dilemma: Where to Put the Flat-Screen TV?

TV Placement: How to Get the Focus Off Your Technology and Back On Design

KITCHEN DESIGN Glued to the Tube: 14 Ways to Put a TV in the Kitchen

By KitchenLab Interiors

If you must, here's how to work a flat screen into your kitchen design

KITCHEN DESIGN Double Islands Put Pep in Kitchen Prep

By Lisa Frederick

With all that extra space for slicing and dicing, dual islands make even unsavory kitchen tasks palatable

MORE ROOMS Tech in Design: Where to Put Your Flat-Screen TV

By Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR

Popcorn, please: Enjoy all the new shows with a TV in the best place for viewing

FUN HOUZZ In Honor of Portlandia, Put a Bird on It!

By Becky Harris

Season 2 of the Portland-centric sketch comedy show premieres on IFC tonight

BATHROOM MAKEOVERS Wasted Space Put to Better Use in a Large Contemporary Bath

By Becky Harris

Bad remodels had managed to leave this couple cramped in an expansive bath. A redesign gave the room a luxe hotel feel

ARCHITECTURE Design Workshop: 10 Reasons to Put Craft Into Modern Architecture

By Eric Reinholdt, Architect

Technology has led us to expect perfection, but handcrafted details can provide something even better

KITCHEN APPLIANCES 9 Places to Put the Microwave in Your Kitchen

By Toronto Interior Design Group

See the pros and cons of locating your microwave above, below and beyond the counter

Sponsored

More Discussions

Does anyone have Medallion cabinets in Maple Biscotti?

7

Nuage Quartzite - any water issues?

14

Matt tiles - quality issues out of the box

12

help with kitchen design!!

1

MSI Quartz Anyone?

1