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Lighting Design Dilemma Kitchens

Vanity light over kitchen sink?

5 years ago

I’m really stuck with what type of light fixture to use over our kitchen sink. Due to several issues, including structural limits, we can only mount one electrical box centred on the wall over the sink. I was thinking a good-sized farmhouse/industrial/rustic vanity light with three or four bulbs would give us plenty of light but in looking through pictures, I rarely see vanity lights used in kitchens. Only the single sconce look but I don’t think that will give us enough light.

This is our rustic cottage kitchen. There will be a centre pendant light hanging in the middle of the room but the kitchen sink light needs to provide a fair amount of illumination.

Any thoughts on bathroom vanity lights used in the kitchen? Any inspirational photos?

Featured Answer

Fori

5 years ago

You don't see sconces in kitchens much because pendants are so trendy. A lot of them will work. A lot will look wrong.

There are also multi-bulb kitchen sconces like this (which is customizable at Rejuvenation and might work better for you with clear shades...):

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Comments (11)

Kathy
5 years ago
Would an industrial style blend with your other fixtures? This is just one style of this type fixture.

[https://www.houzz.com/products/metal-filament-sconce-wall-lamp-prvw-vr~37647330[(https://www.houzz.com/products/metal-filament-sconce-wall-lamp-prvw-vr~37647330)
tatts
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
No. It will look stupid. That's the reason nobody does it and why you can't find any pictures of it.

The number of bulbs is immaterial. It's the lumens that count.

You could do a pair of small surface-mount low voltage LED lights up there with no problem. Or an LED strip light. Hide them with a trim strip (like a valance) connecting the cabinets on each side.
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I love houzz.com 3 lights [traditional bathroom design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-bathroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_712~s_2107) by grand rapids architect Visbeen Associates, Inc. [tropical bathroom [(https://www.houzz.com/photos/tropical-bathroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_712~s_2108) [I put in search box there after selecting Bathrooms the words double sink vanity mirror [(https://www.houzz.com/photos/tropical-bathroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_712~s_2108)[[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/tropical-bathroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_712~s_2108) [I have the 3 light set up over my single sink and it's only been one year since I renovated. Scrolling through Houzz I see the design trend is now sconces, some mirror mounted, or recessed lights above mirror. I only found these 2 photos above showing something with the light bar over the mirror.[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/tropical-bathroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_712~s_2108)[[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/tropical-bathroom-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_712~s_2108)
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We're in SLO county and you can put whatever light you want over your kitchen sink as long as you abide by the 50% wattage rules.
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It's a big deal if it will bug you, it's a pretty big deal to fix - risking a lot of broken tile.... A contractor "decided" ...... So. Where was the drawing of the vanity, showing all dimensions. Also question if these are ABOVE your sinks? The error was dumb. You simply line up with center sinks/ and their faucet plumbing. Was the plumbing in place before electrical? Probably. A contractor, an electrician....both are just technicians. You spec, since that puts all the design details on you, failing you have a designer who does that. You're the "decider". Take a pic of the current situation - upload it in a comment box PS..... Why tile before the concrete vanity..EVEN if it floats.....
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This is about the only other option, but people will always wonder why you just didnt move it https://www.homedepot.com/p/Globe-Electric-Belmont-2-Light-Matte-Black-Swing-Arm-Wall-Sconce-51266/307924318#overlay
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Laura
Original Author
5 years ago
Kathy, thanks for your useful comment. The style will work but likely not provide enough light.

Tatts, probably the most unfriendly response I’ve ever received on Houzz. Looking for helpful suggestions, not to be made to feel stupid by a complete stranger.
Kathy
5 years ago
How much wattage do you estimate you will need?
Laura
Original Author
5 years ago
This is a complete estimate, but based on our bathroom fixtures at home, it would be nice to have the equivalent of three 75 w bulbs. Our bulbs say 800 lumens each and they pack a good punch.

The kitchen is L-shape. Short side has uppers and long side has sink and open counter. Walls and cabinets are all dark wood so I need enough light to counter that. in Under cabinet lights aren’t possible so I need this light to give me as much reach as possible.
Laura
Original Author
5 years ago
Tatts, my screen didn’t show the rest of your post. I thought it just said “that will look stupid” - hence my response. My apologies! I see the whole comment now.

I can’t picture what you’re describing. Do you have any photos?
apple_pie_order
5 years ago
People do use two or three bulb light fixtures over their kitchen sinks. Especially older people who need two or three times as much light to see as when they were 25. Pick out what you like. Some styles are like small versions of the "over the island" fixtures. Some fixtures use reflector bulbs (LED or incandescent) in a track-lighting style.
Cobera 3-Light Flush Mount Track Light, Chrome · More Info
Laura
Original Author
5 years ago
So something like this may work
ILoveRed
5 years ago
I’m using the exact fixture posted by Fori in my powder room since I only have room for one light but wanted a two light “look”. I have it in black with a white globe. Great looking fixture.

you could also consider pendants. I don’t have pictures right now but I have seen lots of pics here on Houzz of pendants over the sink. Nice look.
acm
5 years ago
Over a sink by a window it would be fine; over an island it would look silly because the fixtures are one-sided, so they wouldn't really light the space below correctly. In the absenco of photos or drawings, we all picture different things. Agree that several bulbs could look fine in your setting, if it works with the rest of the room.
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Another option is to do a shallow soffit over the sink and use a couple of small cans there to really focus some light on the sink area... a little like this:

house_99 · More Info

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