Kitchen lighting - floods vs downlights, fixture types, beam angles?
Gerald Oskoboiny
6 years ago
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Gerald Oskoboiny
6 years agoRelated Discussions
Lighting Mishegoss - 4 different types too many..?
Comments (24)I admit to being a little lost reading through all the comments, but in your first post, the thing that bothered me about your choices is that they were all so close in style, size, and hanging length, yet different. This sounds rougher than I mean, because it's an extreme example, but like you'd found them on sale, and there were only a few of each kind. Like Bmore, I'm concerned that even though there were a lot, maybe not enough actual light. (Solid shades don't allow the outward glow, either) You have cut down on those style concerns quite a bit, I think, but I still get a visual fight between the ones over the bar and the ones over the sink. I agree with Palimpsest that having 4 over the sink run would help because of the different rhythm. (I also think that if you stay with that fixture, you could add one back by the fridge.) I would like to see the ones over the bar have a different scale or length to separate them from the little guys over the sink run...without getting too big or long and then having a fight with the bigger pendant in the center. I wish I had something in mind to suggest... I was also against recessed lighting in our American Foursquare house...I wanted to keep more in line with the integrity of the era when the style was built...But DH persevered, thinking we needed the clean look but additional lighting the recessed provided, so I compromised and added them in crucial spots around the kitchen. I'm SO glad I did. They let the light fixtures I love stand out, but give me focused lighting when/where we need it without adding more 'noise' to the upper/airy part of the room....See MoreCompact fluorescents vs. halogen in ceiling? Spots or floods?
Comments (37)I have only had these lights for 5-6 months. They are spaced based on my cabinet run, one light exactly centered in front of each upper cabinet. They are placed close enough to the cabinets that they light counter in front of me when I am standing at the counter and I don't throw a shadow like I would if they were behind me. I also UC lights. There are no dark areas in the working part of my kitchen when all the lights are on, no shadows. I have a center light, recessed cans, UC lights, a sink pendant and one lighted cabinet in the corner. I was told I still have the option of adding more cans if I want. I may add one in front of the refrig. some day but don't currently want that area lit from above to highlight it. They are supposed to last 4 yrs if used 4 hrs per day. They do cast pretty even light, but they are adjustable and can be set higher up into the can which would "focus" the light more. So if you get good, adjustable cans, you can control that between the spacing and how low you set the bulbs in the cans. The smaller 4 inch cans I found had more of a spotlight effect and were less even. That probably could have been fixed by having twice as many, though. They are very expensive if bought at a lighting store (26.00 ea I was told, but this store is expensive!). Purchased through the electric company they were much less, about 8.00, I think. About 12-13.00 each at Walmart. By the way, they are now coming out with R30 LEDs! So I think they will be very versatile in the future. I don't want to have to redo all the ceiling lights if they come out with better stuff like this in the future. Sue Here is a link that might be useful: R30 LEDs...See MoreLighting advice needed - downlights? flush mount? beam angles?
Comments (9)I'd cross post this in the Kitchen forum for some ideas on layout. You have a lot of space to work with. A larger version of your plan with readable measurements or individual sections will help. 450 footcandles at the counter for work surfaces is good to shoot for. Under cabinet lights can help. You have a lot of pendants over that slim island. Those Liteline fixtures are used in RVs and boats where there isn't any space above the ceiling. But they do put out light at up to 600 lumens for 9w. If you want to see them in action visit an RV dealer. A 5th wheel like a Montana or Jayco Pinnacle will also give you a feel for a slim island. For ambient light you can use 6" recessed IC fixtures and regular A19 bulb configuration leds. These are maybe $4ea in dimmable at Costco. They use 15w and produce 1100 lumens in a flood pattern that lights up a large area....See MoreKitchen lighting - floods vs downlights, fixture types, beam angles?
Comments (4)Gerald- Please tell me how it worked out. The first paragraph of your post, I thought I wrote! My contractor wants to use those easy go anywhere canless lights also. But I read they don't provide enough task light and it's glaring. Thanks for sharing!...See MoreChisos
6 years agoGerald Oskoboiny
6 years agoMilly Rey
6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
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