we have 7 recessed cans. 5 are on one switch with a dimmer toggle that can accomodate 600 watts. The other 2 operate on their own switch. Our bulbs are 65 watts/each. Our ceilings are 8 feet and my kitchen is approx 12 x 12 not counting the pantry/entrance hallway. Our original plan called for 11 lights and I said that would be WAY too much. Glad we went with 7. I think the one bulb over my sink is pretty bright and I may end up putting that on a dimmer, also. The one in the hallway is almost not bright enough for the pantry closet and I should have had a light installed inside the closet..... live & learn, I guess. The 5 on the dimmer are perfect and depending on what we need are enough for the whole kitchen on high and dims to almost completely off when we want low lights. HTH!

Katiee511,
Thank you very much for your reply. I have a similar kitchen, 8 ft ceiling, similar size. So I am interested in what you did and will use your experience as a guide.
I was planning on 100watts , half would be dimmable (note:actually flourescents 23watt=100watts (1800 lumens)). But my 100watt idea sounds like a big mistake, if your experience says 65 watt dimmables are the way to go. Incidentally the 100 watt concept requires a special ballast.
If you want more light in that pantry area and it is on the non-dimmer switch look at the GE Genura bulb. Expensive ($32), non-dimmable but initial lumens are 1100. Fits in a recessed can since it is r25. Or if you have 2700k lights you could try Slyvania for $16:
23 Watt 120 Volt BR30 E26 Medium Base 2700K Dulux EL Reflector Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) with Integral 120V Ballast (non-dimmable). 1100 lumen. These are industrial extra long life bulbs (15000 hours).
Thanks again,
Bob

Our kitchen is 13x14 with a vaulted ceiling. 5 recessed lights 75w each, non-dimmable. One hanging 75w (fluorescent equivalent CFL) pendant over center island for casual non-task lighting.

Don't forget to count in any lights in your range hood - my current one has two 50w halogens, dimmable.

They now sell 67w flood bulbs that give off light equivalent to a 75w bulb, so as the old ones burn out I'm slowly replacing them with the smaller wattage. Ours last almost forever because they're hardly ever on - we have big picture windows across the entire back of the house so daylight floods in 12 hrs a day, every day.

Bob, figuring out the best lighting for our kitchen was one of the harder decisions I faced. In retrospect I wish I'd put in more cans, and spaced them more closely for more even light. The amount of light from each bulb is plenty (75 watts) but there isn't enough overlap.

Our ceiling is 8' 7" high, and the room is 13.5' x 19'. We put in nine 6" recessed fixtures, one small, lower wattage recessed accent light, and two pendants over the island (I haven't yet figured out the best bulbs for these yet.) Eight of the recessed lights have 75 watt halogen bulbs, and one has a rather dim CF in it. The accent bulb doesn't add that much general light. I don't have any of them on a dimmer because there's barely enough light as it is.

Above the sink area (a 12' long run of cabinets) there are 4 in a row, about 2.5' to 3' apart. This is the only part of the kitchen that is very well lit. In the rest of the room I only put one above each cabinet. This gives enough light to see into the cabinets and work at the counters. But even when all the lights are on, the general room lighting is a little annoying to me. This is because it's so directional (focused down) and there isn't enough ambient light. It's a little hard on my eyes. It would be better if there were more fixtures, closer together. That way the cones of light overlap and you don't get the dark patches between them. An ambient fixture that lit up the whole room might also work.

I'd say follow the guidelines to make sure the cones of light overlap. Someone told me not to listen to lighting store people or electricians b/c they'd over-recommend the number of fixtures needed. That was a mistake, I should have gone with more lights, and not try to save money by installing a minimal number.

Good luck!

I'm not a lighting expert, so I can't give you advice. I can, though show you our lighting design. Our kitchen is 10-1/2' wide by 15' long in the main part + another 6' past that (where the ovens & pantry are) on one side (the basement door is across from the pantry & the doorway to the Foyer is across from the ovens).

The design shows the size of the cans & their placements relative to the cabinets, etc. One thing, the 5" cans were all replaced w/4" cans as the 5" cans did not fit in our ceiling. Despite the change to the smaller cans, we have plenty of light in our kitchen! Usually, they're dimmed to 75%, but I've used them at full several times.

We also have 2 pendants over the longer peninsula (on the left in the plan) and 2 pendants in the bay window well where our sink is.

We also have under cabinet puck lights.

I'm pleased w/both the design & amount of light...it's such an improvement over our old kitchen that only had one ceiling light & a light over the sink (it was so dark at night!)

Wattage of our cans: 50

Side note: We turned all our lights on full one night and it was at least as bright as day in the kitchen! We don't often need it quite that bright, but it's nice that we have it if we need it!

On can lights , the closer the bulb is to the opening the more coverage you get .One rule had it at sq.ft floor space X 1.5 for lighting watts for the kitchen .

My kitchen is about 11' x 14' with 8' ceiling. I had 5 recessed cans installed in the ceiling on one switch with an additional 2 small ones installed over the sink on a separate switch. I also have a 3 light chandelier over my island on a separate switch. Then, several feet away from all that lighting toward the rear, I have another semi-flush 2 light fixture which is by my back door, which I only use at night if people are coming or going -- not necessary but a nice touch to have.

When the electrician first installed it all, he put 100 watts into the cans and I thought I'd need sunglasses! I quickly went out and bought 60 watt lights for all of the kitchen lighting instead and they are much, much better.

I usually have the 2 sink can lights and the island fixture turned on at the same time -- very nice ambient kitchen lighting plus good task lighting over the sink. I turn on the 5 ceiling cans when I am prepping/cooking, but then I turn them off when I'm done cooking. The 5 ceiling cans really make a nice bright working area for me but are not so needed for eating, drinking and entertaining.

Good luck! Lighting is a critical part of the design and overall look of the kitchen. I struggled with it -- but my electrician was very helpful!

Hi Bob
Like someone else said, the lighting is one of the hardest parts of the renovation. We have 7 1/2 ft. ceilings in a 12 x 18 room. We put in 6 (5'')recessed lights that take 65 watts each, then 6 Xenon undercabinet lights ranging from 12'' to 20'' in length. We also have a 100 dimmable pendant planned for over the sink. All recessed lights are on a dimmer. When we first turned them on, we felt like we were in Fenway Park -- but I loved it considering we only had 2 recessed lights in our old kitchen.
Maureen in MA

I just had my lighting installed. My kitchen size and lighting is almost like jkom51. I have a 12X14 kitchen and 8 ft ceiling with 6 recessed lights that have 75w each. (these will be on a dimmer).I have a mini pendant with 100W over the sink area (another matching one in the nook) I will have 2 glass cabinets with lighting and puck lighting under the cabinets. (puck lighting will also be on a dimmer). I will have a 72" X 40"
bar and I'm waiting to see if I really need anymore lighting there....I don't think so as I have a lot of natural light with 2 windows and and a glass pane door.

Oh, one more thought - not only is it important you take into consideration how much window light (natural daylight, direct or indirect) comes into your kitchen, you need to consider what color your cabinets, counters and floors are. Paint color can also come into consideration if you choose darker colors.

The darker these are - and it's the darker tones that are 'in fashion' right now - the more artificial lighting you will need. Dark cabinets and counters soak up light like dry towels absorbing water, LOL.

I had been dead set against recessed cans in my kitchen due to the heat they generate and the fact the cfl bulbs don't last long. My electrician just showed me the new LED fixtures from progress. I love them. They generate almost no heat and the light is white, not blue or yellow. They are more expensive than regular recessed fixtures, but the savings in bulbs alone might make it worth the initial cost. The bulbs are equvalant to 75 watt incandescent bulbs. They may be worth looking into....

I have just installed the Cree LR6 LED bulbs in HALO fixtures (thanks to Lissa711) and they are fabulous. The light is incredible without the heat. Mine are 12 watts with a 65 watt equivalent. My contractor, who likes lots of lights, installed 12 of them in my 12 x 22 foot room. We have them on three different dimming switches (kitchen area, dining area, and over the sink). My contractor thought we were nuts when we requested them (because of the cost -- they are somewhere around $90 a bulb) but is now recommending them to other clients because of the beautiful light they give off. I was skeptical of recessed lights and installed them to bring this old house up-to-date but I have to tell you, I am a convert.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cree Lighting