Under Cabinet Lighting - can I/should I re-purpose, etc?

9 years ago

My generally high-end sister just redid her kitchen, and offered me her old UCL's. In my new kitchen, I'll have two 18", one 36" and one 39" uppers. My sister gave me two 29" and one 14" UCL. I'm already over-extended in terms of budget, and originally hadn't been planning on UCL at all - but you all are converting me.

Does it make sense to use what my sister gave me, and buy one more of these (can I basically match what I have? How would I do that?) for the extra 18" cabinet? Am I better off just buying new?

A local lighting store quoted me approx. $50/foot for LED UCLs - at that rate, I'd do without.

Here's what my sister gave me:

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Comments (8)

Mags438
9 years ago
If those are fluorescent lights, you may want to double check the lighting against your color selections (cab, wall, etc colors) since lighting can affect the color.
Carrie B
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Mags - How do I find out if they're flourescent? It's not noted anywhere on the lights, and I don't have the connectors to turn them on. Is clashing lighting worse than no lighting at all?
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If you have an L or continuous area between you sink and range, consider doing that area. My under cabinet lighting in this area is the best thing I did in my refresh. This is my before DIY set up - cost about $75: https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~48485162 Then the electrician wired it to a switch. I had asked for an outlet up by the cabinet like Oliviag has, but instead, he wired it to a switch. Here is the after. https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~81033766 The switch is not in the pic, but to the left of the paper towel holder. The cord from cabinet to cabinet is supposed to be tucked into a cut, but I keep forgetting to do that. I have to say - that if I could have only my under cabinet lighting or a new counter - I would take the lighting - the most functional thing I did. https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~110720042
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mabeldingeldine
9 years ago
At the very least I'd get the wiring done so you can add lighting later. I don't have it in my current kitchen and so wish I did. If you get outlets installed, you could always add aftermarket lighting, like IKEA Dioder, later.
Carrie B
Original Author
9 years ago
Good thought - mabeldingeldine!
PRO
The Kitchen Place
9 years ago
Those look like Halogen or Xenon strip lights to me. They put out a beautiful light but they can get hot. I had them in my last kitchen. For free? Put them in and do LED's when you can afford it.
Mags438
9 years ago
Halogens are hot, hot, hot! I like kitchen place's idea but double check something with electrical wiring/amps or something. I remember there being something that made it not so 'switchable' later to a diff lighting. Ditto Mabel's idea.
PRO
The Kitchen Place
9 years ago
You can switch out the fixtures fine down the road, especially if you get LED strip lights that don't require separate transformers. Mags, maybe that's what you are thinking about. Lowes carries a nice product: Utilitech LED Under-cabinet Light Bar that you can plug-in (and hardwire if you like) with no separate transformer that you need to tuck away for the install. They are easy to install and not very expensive. Here's a link to one of them but they come in other sizes too. http://www.lowes.com/pd_406106-57299-7613S-C35_0_?productId=4070745&Ntt=
Carrie B
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you, The Kitchen Place. If I do use my sister's lights, I'll still be short one, so would have to buy one for my second 18" cabinet. I'll check out Lowe's!

Thank you (as always) Mags. I can't wait until my decisions have NOTHING to do with kitchens!

Under Cabinet Lighting - can I/should I re-purpose, etc?

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