Do you happen to have a floor plan showing your ideas on can placement (or even just a floor plan showing the cab/appliance placement)? I would want the pendants over the prep area and not over the heads of people sitting (down light is not flattering when it is over a head as it casts unflattering shadows). I also wonder why you are placing your cans 30 inches out from the back splash wall. That seems too far away from the back splash. I have seen experts advise either over the counter edge or fully over the counter (approx 10 inches away from backsplash. If they are 30 inches out, that will put them over your head and your head will shadow the light (plus light over a head is unflattering). You don't have to follow a grid placement. Place the ones over the islands how you want and need them (and how they fit within the i-joists). Why are you limited to "36" from the start of the cooktop". Perhaps if I see a floor plan, I will understand your dilemma with the cans over the island.

I do think a room lit only with downlights (cans and downward pendants) yields a flat lighting result. To layer lighting properly you want to balance the lighting directions and use both direct and indirect lighting. In the kitchen this is tough because down light is necessary for task lighting. Ways to add up light or ambient light (light from all directions not just downwards) can be done via cove lighting over the cabs, a pair of sconces near seating, and/or an ambient ceiling fixture over the aisle. We are able to use 2 of those last 3 ideas, but our kitchen under construction is large. It is also nice to do inside cab lighting if you are planning glass on any of your cab doors.

Carol

Both designer put an X on our drawing to place the lights 36 away from the wall, which seems way too far away from the counter top. Doesn't make sense to us. How do I post a floor plan?

How do I post a floor plan? Start posting a comment, click on the Photo icon, select the file from your computer and submit you comment.

Dek

You would need to scan the plan and then save it to your computer. Then click the link(attachment icon) looks like a paper clip and find where you saved the pic and select it. Or, take picture of it and load the pic to your camera area on your computer or IPad and then click the camera icon on the post and add it.

A ceiling mounted cooker hood with built in lights would provide better lighting than ceiling height cans.

A downdraft hood doesn't work efficiently (put mildly) when significant amounts of oil are used when frying / cooking with a wok.

30" from the wall would work if you use relatively diffuse lamps eg. - Cree CR6.

In some situations, it would be impossible to locate can lights closer than 30" from the wall. For example

1. clearance above the ceiling board especially if the roof is directly above and the slope of the roof constrains the vertical height available.

2. cabinets and trim getting in the way.

Work around for 1. - use disc lights which only need a small junction box.

Fix for 2. - use UCL.