OK, well, as an update, the problem has now gotten even worse. For a few years after 2012, I have been able to get around the DC boys' ban on bright BR40 incandescent bulbs by choosing high wattage and bright halogen bulbs, which have worked well. Fast forward to last week, and, upon trying to order some more of them, I am told that now even the higher wattage halogen BR40s have been discontinued. So, it now appears that the only way to get decent lumens out of my recessed lights, which I have a lot of, is to fork over the big money for LED bulbs, some of which do not even dim properly. My 85 year old mom, who has enough trouble seeing already, is also having the same problem. Thanks a lot, DC.

Thanks. I should have included in my original message that I have done a Google search but couldn't find the lumens I wanted. Good to know what color temperature to look for, too. I had no idea which way to turn on that. gw, I've had incandescent candelabra base bulbs before that were 60w. I was hoping I could find the equivalent in LEDs. I found a company called Sexy LEDs. They have a 430 lumens candelabra base bulb, but it is sold out. They also have a 400 lumens. Doesn't sound like much difference to me, but I know nothing about lumens. Is 400 lumens substantially less than 430 lumens? I am a little hesitant to give $60 (price of 2 bulbs) to something called Sexy LEDs. Anyone know anything about the company? Are they legit?

Thanks for posting this. I'm having the same problem and am hoping davidtay (or any other knowledgeable lighting person) can help me out. I'm thinking he won't tell me what I'm hoping and that is that these lights will work. I searched high and low for the most wattage I could get from a flush (without being a boob light) or a semi-flush, as DH doesn't not want to use fluorescent tubes again and recessed are out of the equation. I had settled upon Kichler 3620 and 3627 which take two and three 100-watt incandescent bulbs. I was all set to order until the Kichler customer service lady told me they could take up to two and three 9-13 watt CFLs only and not the 26-watt CFL 100-watt equivalent. Is that really true?She said that's what it said in their catalogue, so I couldn't use the 26-watt CFL's. Why not? I thought they were interchangeable?? I calculated my footage and lumens as illustrated earlier in this post. My galley is 8.5 x 17.6, although 8.5 x 5.7 of that is the laundry at the end of the galley kitchen. We were going to put the two 100-watt bulb fixture in the laundry end and the three 100-watt bulb fixture in the center of the kitchen area. I came up with needed lumens/lumens from fixture with 13-watt CFLS to be: total area, 5,236/4000; 3,570/2,400 for kitchen only; or 1,996/1,600 for laundry area. We will have fluorescent UCL and a 100-watt pendant over the sink. The pendant, for some reason, will take a 100-watt or a 26-watt CFL. I really don't want to have to turn everything on all at once everytime to be able to see. Am I stuck with this problem unless I go back to the ugly fluorescent tubes? Or do I need to stock up on a lifetime supply of incandescents if I can find them? Ugh, this is driving me crazy.

diymadness, it's a beautiful light and with four 100 watt bulbs in use you'd normally have plenty of light. But I fear, as you do, that the globe will not allow the light to fall on the table. Personally, I'd keep looking. Sorry. Do you have pictures of your kitchen table area to share and let us know what feel you want to your room? If so there are many ladies and a few gents here that will be happy to help you find what you are looking for. ~Becky