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Budget Lighting Help/Replacement for Fluorescent Light Box

6 years ago

I would like to remove our 1999 fluorescent light box and add a couple of pendants over our island. Unfortunately, it is the only light in our kitchen other than the flush mount light over the sink (there is a fan with lights in the eat in area). Would two pendants produce enough light? If not, are there affordable options other than adding can lights? Would a couple of pendants with some battery operated led under cabinet lights be sufficient?

As far as natural light, there is a window over the sink and two large windows in the adjacent eat in kitchen area.

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Comments (4)

Donna E
6 years ago
We just removed a similar light box in our kitchen! The drywall under it was in good shape except for a few holes, like where the wires came from the attic. We have a rancher, so it wasn't too hard for an electrician to put in half a dozen insulated, LED can lights. I know we got a bargain, but our (licensed) electrician charged us about $700, including removing and disposing of the light box, buying and installing the can lights and dimmer switch, and he also installed an outside spot light and replaced an under cabinet lighting.

I love the change in our kitchen! I just finished patching and painting the ceiling. We didn't go with any pendants over the island. I love the bright, wide open look, and the lights are energy efficient, cool, and dimmable.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
6 years ago
We went with a long bendable track led light fixture that allows me to focus the various lights exactly where I need them. With the led bulbs in the daylight white I have a wonderful bright kitchen. I got mine at Lowe's for a reasonable price. Some come with halogen bulbs but can be replaced with led in a same type of base.
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I very likely did have a lot of static electricity - it's been dry here, vinyl flooring in kitchen and rubber soled shoes... I have a voltmeter but didn't know about using it to test the housing vs a known ground, that makes sense. I have only ever used it in the past to test wires but it stands to reason that if there was a charge in the housing (due to say a loose wire inside touching it?) it can detect that too. However, this job seems beyond my comfort and knowledge zone at this time, I'll probably wait a bit and consider hiring the electrician.
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You need more than a single light in the middle if a kitchen. I need to know if you want to now mess with the ceiling again . IMO since you have already done that I would get a nice LED track light and change all the pot lights to LED bulbs and make all the bulbs 4000K that will give you the feeling of bright sunlight and the track will allow you to move the lighting to where you need it, As for the DR i need a bit more info about your style so maybe post a pic of your LR. It looks like you have an eat in kitchen too is that right? If so then you would need 2 more light fixtures that work with your style.
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ravencajun Zone 8b TX
6 years ago
https://m.lowes.com/pl/Flexible-track-lighting-kits-Track-lighting-Lighting-ceiling-fans/4294410359
kezia213
6 years ago
You may be able to remove it and put some can lights in its place.....

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