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recessed lighting opinons - install going on now

13 years ago

Help please. :)

We're replaced the outdated recessed lighting with some new trims. The old ones were harsh hot spots. Plus there were some bright brass art lights that didn't work for us either.

The electrician brought some various ones out for us to see and I was looking at them with the lights on, and this silvery one (I can't remember what's it's called) really gives nice light.

However - after he put five of them in today I started to freak out. (There are ten more to go in the living room/dining room.) In fact, I'm pretty sure I hate them. We took out the brass and replaced it with silver. I don't see the silver when the lights are on but the lights are off more than they are on. And to me, the silver looks modern which is not what we are doing at all.

Here's what we've got.

The light on the far left is the old one we're replacing. The black one was just a sample he had brought out. We're not using that. And then the silver.

Opinions? Any pictures of your own to share? Thanks in advance.

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Comments (7)

jan_in_wisconsin
13 years ago
Hi, we have a long, narrow great room similar to yours with recessed lighting, and while I'm not a big fan of recessed lighting, it is very functional in the right places. I think you're idea of not drawing attention to the lights is good. Our recessed lighting is the same color as the ceiling, so it blends well. Can you find something in white to match your ceiling?
susanwrites
Original Author
13 years ago
Jan, yeah, I'm not a fan of the recessed much either but it was here with the house. We're just trying to move it out of the 70s/80s. Sigh.

I hate this pick something, try it, hate it, have to pick something else. This part of decorating isn't fun for me.
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JDS I totally get where you are coming from about HD. When I bought my current lights from them, I only did so because they were made by Cree and there were many users who posted here that they were a quality product and dimmed well with the Cree suggested dimmers. I actually wanted to use Cree again but just realized that HD no longer carries that brand. they use commercial electric and many reviews say they hum when dimmed. that's partly why I posted here asking for product recommendations. I can still get Cree elsewhere at a price similar to what HD lights cost. do you have any specific recommendations? with regard to the sink light, I guess it depends on how far you lean over and what lighting you have coming from the sides. I will have good under cabinet lights set towards the front. And I will make sure the recessed ceiling lights are on either side too, and not directly behind me. I'm not sure if there is enough space for 2 pendants in a style that will fit my space. I have about 46 Inches between the cabinets I think. Was thinking about a schoolhouse light.
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juddgirl2
13 years ago
We just replaced the inadequate (and ugly) 80's recessed lighting in our kitchen and installed new recessed lighting throughout the rest of the house. I was opposed at first but now I love them.

All of the lights are on a dimmer switch, which makes it so easy to adjust the light according to need. I especially like the ones directly in front of the fireplace and the entertainment wall.

Of the lights you have shown, I prefer the silver, but I also wouldn't want to call attention to it. We sampled a black one (which was more expensive) and 2 different white ones. I chose the more expensive white one because it looked better than the other one - less shiny, etc.

When the lights are off, I barely notice them because they blend in with our off-white ceiling.
larke
13 years ago
I think you have a conflict - on one hand you're replacing what you call "outdated" lighting (which I thought was actually less obtrusive than the cold metal cans) but then you don't like the new metal ones because they don't go with your apparently desired older look!
artlover13060
13 years ago
I happen to like recessed lights and love them on a dimmer. I think the silver looks too modern and industrial in your LR. I'd go with white with narrow flat trim.
susanwrites
Original Author
13 years ago
larke - yes, conflict indeed. That's what I realized after the electrician left last night. It seemed like I was making it worse! I think the narrow trim is the updated look that would work but the white can.

juddgirl2 & artlover13060 I love the way the recessed lighting works. I have no problem with that. And yes, everything is on dimmers and now in a nice, clean, four-switch box. Previous owners had 7 switches to turn on all the lights! It was crazy.

Thanks, all.
susanwrites
Original Author
13 years ago
so the electrician put in some white inserts but with thin trim and I'm much happier. Thanks for listening (and supporting) my freakout.

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