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Install tubular skylights in kitchen?

6 years ago

Since I've had my windows replaced, my kitchen is darker than I like. I'm considering having Solatubes or Velux light tunnels installed. I have a couple in the house already and love them. I'm having a hard time with this application for some reason. The other ones are in a hallway and bathroom; so big impact in a small room. The kitchen is good sized.
I would be replacing the center two can lights with 10" round Solatubes. What do you think? If it's a good idea to install in the first place, should I go with round or square? Thanks for any help!!
Oh, by the way, I never turn the can lights on at any time. I use the under and over cabinet lights.

Featured Answer

619laura760
Original Author

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Since I like it when people post follow-ups, here's my kitchen. Talking it out helped, as well as seeing the new tubes in action at the showroom and taking my budget into consideration. This after photo was taken at six o'clock. The before photo was 3:30. Thanks again!

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Comments (9)

tmcorkum
6 years ago
I think 2 would look great in there and prefer round myself.. We did 2 22" velux tunnels in a room and love them. We did a 11" in the bathroom and wish we had done larger. We purchased the optional light insert but haven't installed them yet. That's an option you may want to look at.
PRO
Annette Gafner Interiors
6 years ago
Like you, I am a huge fan of solar tubes. They add so much to an environment by supplying direct lighting; makes for a much happier environment. If it were my kitchen, I would not remove your can lights as you may regret that during the cloudy days and at night. As well, might be more of a hassle and expense with the electrical wiring. In regard to the square or round, I have installed both......round in residential and square in a commercial space. As far as location, of the lights, it may depend what's above the sheetrock but I'd place two in the center between your existing rows of recessed lights or one dead center.
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Joan, Cove lighting is the best route to eliminate glare as the light is reflected off a matte surface (e.g. - ceiling). It would work well if the skylight shade is closed when the cove lights mounted on the perimeter are on or if there is a substantial amount of ceiling space around the skylight and you have cove lighting on the perimeter of the room instead. Or you have cove lighting on the perimeters of the room and skylight washing the ceiling and sides of the skylight. In either case, there will be work to build an alcove to hide the light elements from direct view below. Other alternatives - 1. Track lighting pointing downwards 2. Having a bulb illuminating the skylight is another option that might have already been suggested. Hope this helps
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We have a Solatube in our downstairs bath. It has a light inside it. It gives off plenty of light at night with the light on. At first I had an incandescent lamp in there, but I switched to a florescent and I still like the look of it and the light it puts out. With the sola tube, you can chose from several diffent lenses, and we got the fancy one that kinda throws light in every direction, so choosing the lens as well as the bulb type, I would think it would be plenty of light at night. Have had the Sola tube for probably 5 years or so, absolutely luv it. Bathroom is nice and cheerful, day or night and I'm amazed at how low the Sun gets and yet still an adequate amount of light. HTH's Gary
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Joseph Corlett, LLC
6 years ago
This is a picture of a customer's ceiling. I love it.
jhmarie
6 years ago
The Solatubes may work out nicely, but only during the day. It looks to me that you like color, but you might want to consider lighter paint on walls and backsplash area and using decor to bring in color.

I have similar cabinetry, a smaller window and a much brighter kitchen.
619laura760
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you all for the input! I appreciate it. I'm fortunate to live near the solatube headquarters and I'll go over there today. Their office is their showroom, so I'll get to see the newer options. My Solatubes are quite old.
Yes, it would be better to paint the back splash. When I painted the kitchen /dining room, I got so burnt out, I said forget it to the back splash and vowed never to paint another kitchen! :)
PRO
Annette Gafner Interiors
6 years ago
Bravo!!! :)
tmcorkum
6 years ago
love it
PRO
Ryan Olivieri, Inc.
6 years ago
As long as they are installing them correctly in the roof. I've seen a few botched solar tube installations.

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