You didn't mention what type of fixtures. Will they be line voltage or low voltage; R or PAR; incandescent, CFL or LED?

I like to light walls and work surfaces before adding lights that only light the floor.

I would avoid using 6" recessed light fixtures in living areas; they are the first things to get tossed when renovating a home built or remodeled in the last century.

Hi Renovator8. Good to hear your input on this topic -- lighting design is complicated. The OP mentioned the can lights were to use LED lamps (bulbs). In another thread he wrote about using using LED bulbs in retro fit cans.

Carol

LED is good but they cast an unusually sharp shadow and to avoid an unpleasant coldness you will need the color temperature to be between 2,700K (warmer) and 3,000K (cooler).

IDK about the lighting, but "coiffured ceilings" will cost a fortune in annual hairspray expenditures, and should be re-thought IMO.
Casey :)

Casey - I cannot stop laughing at your comment, thank you!!

Andrew,

Have you worked out your furniture placement? That can really help to decide upon potential locations for hanging fixtures. For example, we have 8 foot ceilings, but plan on a hanging orb light over the coffee table (so obviously need to know the exact location of the coffee table). Also, planning sconces takes very careful thought on furniture placement, and even key art display walls. Deciding on lamp placement helps firm up floor plugs and knowing the paths used for circulation paths will provide guidance on switch location. Finally, even something as simple as knowing if you will have curtains or blinds on windows can help. For example, we need to move over one of our switches as it is too close to the french door and will be too close to the curtain panels (wish we had thought this through more before commencing the electrical rough in).

Are you going to have any shelf lights or rough in for any future ones?

You could consider posting a layout of your great room on the home decorating forum for guidance on furniture layout to help guide your lighting decisions.

Carol

This post was edited by OntarioMom on Sat, Feb 7, 15 at 12:56

Sorry guys & girls - was away for a few days and just now catching up. Renovator8 - the lighting will be 4" recessed cans with the newest model of Feit retrofit kits (My research confirmed this new model has surpassed the CREE CR4's I was originally planned on using).

94+ CRI, 2700K light color - and CostCo rebranded a ton of them and is currently offering them at 1/2 price of what they sell for in Home Depot. (Identical model # and everything)

Casey - Thanks for the comment as the coiffured ceilings were one of "my things" I had to have. I get my coiffured ceilings in the living/library and she gets her Victoria + Albert freestanding soaking tub with chandelier in the marble bathroom so I think it was a fair trade...

Regardless, a lot of this wouldn't have been done if I wasn't in the real estate industry and was paying "retail prices" as a buyer with no control over the build process. (It's amazing some of the markups).

Carol - we do have an "idea" of a layout for the Great Room and that's a good idea, i'll figure out a way to post it and see what feedback I get. Great suggestions on the curtains as well. Thanks - I hope these threads are helping you as much as they are me as we both go through this process!

Andrew

I would be careful about a 4" LED retrofit kit being too tall for a 4" fixture and possibly too diffused. For downlight or wall-washer accent fixtures, I have used an LED lamp that is the same size as a standard PAR20 halogen lamp. In places where an LED might cast a hard edge or sharp shadows I use a 50w PAR 20 halogen lamp with a frosted face.