progress pic showing kitchen before stain, new appliances, etc.

As much as I am not a huge fan of lots of cans, you would be better off using them in the kitchen. Put them on a dimmer.

With two of those pendants in center, one can over the sink, and UCL, I think you should be fine. Will you also have a lighted exhaust hood over the stove?

In a kitchen, I think you really want some cans, so you can control light precisely for tasks.

I say this though I dislike them and contemplated going can-free in our home.

Also, the whole world should be on a dimmer.

I meant to mention we'd have them put on a dimmer.

I think I'm also scared of placement and how many. I find I sometimes learn about things later and then the thing that wasn't correct bugs me. There doesn't seem to be a lot of clear info out there about this. Just a lot of repeated vague info about 'you need layered light. Pendants are great for islands'.

Pal when you say I'd be better off using them do you mean in general because of the kitchen (lack of) lighting and layout or because of the lanterns?

Errant - We'll be putting a OTR microwave back over the stove.

The electrician suggested he'd put one above the range area, one in the corner area - more above the cabinets to the right of it, and one more to the right of the refrigerator. What you're not seeing in the above photo is I have a set of cabinets and counter to the right of the refrigerator. I think three seems like enough - four at the most. We're talking 6" cans.

I know he's not a lighting designer and I'm not sure where to find one where I live or if it's even necessary.

This post was edited by sheesharee on Tue, Jan 13, 15 at 22:39

In a kitchen I think one needs to consider FUNCTION as the most important factor. Stand at your work areas--what is the light like, do you need more light? Does a center fixture's light get blocked by your back as you stand at the counter to work? Will cans fix that? A center fixture is a design statement..but some are only good for lighting the room for entering and exiting. When working or cleaning the room is the light what you NEED? We went with under cupboard lighting. The older I get the more I realize one can never have too much light in work areas!

Shee, I like the lights you've chosen for your island, but agree you probably will need more lighting......possibly not now, but certainly when you hit your mid 40's and find yourself trying to turn up lights that are already at full power :-)

Here's the thing, though--- can lights for remodels (called cut in lights) are easily installed at any time. If you wait, you might change your mind on the placement or type of ceiling lighting needed. And there is always the chance that a new type of ceiling light will be available once you make up your mind. I don't see any downside to waiting if you're unsure.

I can't tell from your pic about the natural light. Is there another window we can't see in the pic? I get a good bit of natural light in my kitchen. I personally do not like can lights and we do not have them in our home. Natural light (daytime of course), under-cabinet lighting and fixtures, we have enough lighting. I would go with what you like for now and take kswl's advice, you can add the can lights later if you decide you need them.

I think the lanterns will not provide even enough general-task lighting without the recessed lighting. It will be relatively lower, behind you and refracted though uneven glass. The lantern lighting will have highlights and cast shadows. It makes for interesting light in an ornamental sense but you need something more even for general task lighting in a kitchen.

The world really should come with dimmers. Here's a link with a bit of information on can light placement.

Here is a link that might be useful: House Logic piece on lighting plan

Arcy - That's what I'm saying, for the way I function in the kitchen, I feel I'm not going to need them. I love our under cabinet lighting and can't imagine not having it. I would take that any day over cans.

Kswl - I'm curious about this need more light with age thing I keep hearing (not just from here). :) Good point about always can add them later.

Tina - We have patio doors to the left and there's another side entrance door with a large window that lights up the area as you come into the kitchen from the other side.

Pal - Good point about the refracted light.

Crl - Thanks for the link. I remember reading about placing the cans every 4-6 feet. I still feel it's a little tricky by my refrigerator area since I'd like to correct it's location someday.

I don't have any tattoos because I could never decide on what I wanted, placement, and I don't believe I would like them long term. I just realized I kind of view can lights (for my house) as I do tattoos.

Even though the cabinets are now dark, to my surprise, I don't feel like I'm in a cave. I think the ss appliances will blend much better, but I actually am not really bothered by the white appliances. My trim, flooring, and counters have white and the backsplash being white helps break up all the jarring spots. That or maybe I'm just used to seeing it now. I think once the stainless appliances are in the backsplash color would be better as something not quite as stark.

Having just finished a kitchen remodel, I can say that I didn't need undercounter lighting, or canned lights, and my kitchen works just beautifully. I think the trend is toward too much lighting, consequently there is a need for dimmers.

I do, however, agree that the light you get from the two lights you like may not be the best for working in the kitchen. Since you don't like canned lights, why not look for some other pendent style that would work well in a kitchen?
Diane

Those lanterns, though attractive, are going to be a housekeeping nightmare in the kitchen, Steam on the lanterns will bake on the dust, and they will appear as if they need a cleaning all the time. I have never seen them installed on an 8' ceiling.

I think your lighting would be sufficient with the lanterns, one can over the sink and your under shelf lights.
At the same time I think there is no harm in having extra can lights. Unless it is done to save the money for a different project, I say get the extra cans. If you worry about the one near to your refrigartor, then don't add that one.

The thing about the need for bright light as we age is so true.
You will also understand why some people keep a flash light in every room in the house.

I am with KSWL. Honestly as you age you need more (and brighter) task lighting. Before I renovated the kitchen I hated cleaning up because it was so difficult to see. I had under cabinet lighting and a few can lights. With the reno I added a pendant over the sink, one over the island and I believe I have a total of six or eight can lights. Now clean up isn't an issue because I can see what I'm doing. I still usually turn my chandy in the breakfast area on too for the added light.

Powermuffin - Well....it's not necessarily that I don't like can lights, I just don't know that I need them. I feel I might later regret having a bunch of holes in the ceiling. Unfortunately I don't really care for pendants. Even the ones I find attractive, I feel the urge to snap them off and use them as a club (nonviolent, of course). Just one of those weird things!

Beverly - I don't usually get too excited about lighting in general, but I've truly loved that style of lanterns for years. I've already considered the cleaning aspect of those lights and I'm willing to deal with it on a regular basis.
" I have never seen them installed on an 8' ceiling."
That doesn't mean that it's never been done and I don't see why it should be a no no. I've seen it and think it looks nice.

I like recessed lights on dimmers, a lot. You don't have to use them when they're not needed. I believe the ones I had put in the 'new' house are 4?" Leds - why not use the newer smaller size? I did not add any to the living room, btw, but that room is not very open to the kitchen and DR.

Peegee - "Leds - why not use the newer smaller size?"
I didn't realize there was really a difference. I knew there were 4" lights, but thought if I wanted more light I should go with the 6" since it's larger. ? I'm off to check this out.

I love the look of that lantern.

Our other (old) house's kitchen had one ceiling fixture and one light over the sink.
In this house, we put cans, pendant over sink, fixture over island, and under-cabinet lighting.
Hallelujah! I can See!
When we need light, it's wonderful to be able to instantly have it.
One of the joys of this house is light.