Fluorescent doesn't necessarily mean cool light. We got samples of xenon, fluorescent and LED undercounter lights and tried them out in our kithen before deciding. We chose the fluorescents with the warm (3000K) bulbs. It's all in the kind of bulbs you choose...

We found the fluorescents gave a lot more light and because they were in solid bars, the light was more consistant that with the puck lights the xenons we tested were.

I also went with fluorescent and had them install warm bulbs. My granite looks great.

Another vote for fluorescent with the warm/3000K bulbs. That's what our UC lights are (over soapstone) and the stone looks great and we like the light.

Thanks for the replies! I feel much better about the 3000K bulbs.

Has anyone tried the daylight/6400 bulbs?

Sophie,

I took a fairly large granite sample (over a sq ft)to the lighting store to try different lights on it. That sealed our decision to go with xenon for the UC lights and Halogen for the pendant/pot lights.

Can you do the same thing? It's all about what lighting you like best! :>)

I just got my under cabinet lights installed yesterday and the contractor used cool white bulbs. When you think of "fluorescent light" you are thinking of cool-white bulbs. If you get warm white (as ours will soon by replaced to be) it will look just like halogen or incandescent. Look for warm white on the package or anywhere between 2700-3000K (K stands for Kelvin which describes the "color" of the light). Your granite will look beautiful. You will save energy and money and you will not heat your kitchen with all that light in the summer.

Best of all, you don't have to take our word for it. Go buy a CFL (compact fluorescent) bulb that says warm white or (2700-3000K) and try it over your sample. Be sure to give the bulb a minute or so to warm up to see its true color. You can try a halogen bulb right next to it and you'll see. If you want to see the stark difference of "regular" fluorescent try a cool white CFL too.

- Jim

If you get warm white bulbs you'll have no color issues with the stone. Our granite color "pops" under our warm white fluorescent under-cabinet light bars. They give a continuous all-over light that is great for working.