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Lighting Design Dilemma Kitchens

Lighting above 8 ft long kitchen counter, 8 ft ceiling

5 years ago

I have an 8 ft long granite counter in my kitchen, not technically an island but basically. It’s attached to one wall, but there are no cupboards above it, and separates the kitchen and dining room. Lighting is very poor in the kitchen which attaches to the dining room. There is only One window and the back patio door leading from the dining room. Not a lot of natural light, and ceilings are only 8-9 ft high. We have 2 small flush mount LED fixtures in the kitchen and one chandelier type light over the dining table. I’d like to place lighting above the counter since that is where I prep meals and we also eat some meals at the counter. What type of lighting would work best? I’d like something that’s not going to obstruct my view to the dining room. Thank you,

Featured Answer

iamtiramisu

5 years ago

Install flush mount LED pucks/cans. You can do at least 3 above an 8’ bar/island and they will throw a lot of light without blocking line of sight

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Comments (13)

PRO
JAN MOYER
5 years ago
Post a phot. Good idea above, but sounds as though the addition of under cabinet lighting is also necessary.
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Thought I would update the thread I started when I was trying to figure out what type of light to get for above the island with an 8 foot ceiling. Well here are some pics. We chose a pendant light we found (Juno onyx) at Design Expo. With our GC's help we got a flat ceiling mount/transformer (the one at the store was more conical) We wanted something with a low profile, because of the 8 ft ceiling. We love it. Thanks to all of you for your invaluable help. Here are some close up pics of the lights.
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We're glad you asked! We have advice about this very subject. Pendant size is determined by taking the width (not length) of your island in inches and subtracting 12. The number you get is a good maximum size for a pendant light. We recommend spacing pendants about 2 feet apart, so with your 8 foot island you could definitely go for 3 pendants. If you do choose 3, choose ones that are a bit smaller than the maximum size per pendant as mentioned above. If you go for 2, you could pick out larger pendants (which is a popular look these days), more towards that maximum size per pendant. Please let me know if you have any questions or want me to pick out some item recommendations for you!
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What kind of light fixture over kitchen island with 8 ft ceilings?
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Comments (11)
You have good lighting now so I would be picky on this. that being said I would just remove that dome light in favor of another can. and yes they are everywhere. seems something was done out of order or after something else was changed. Can you post a picture looking at the length of the island or toward the window.
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PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
You could do something like this it is an 8' peninsula with 3 drop lights
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
For some reason we did not want even visually divide kitchen and dining room with pendants. We ended up with

IKEA NYMÅNE ceiling lights.
ladybreck
5 years ago
I would go with some recessed LED cans for the lighting over the peninsula. They look clean and there would be no obstruction on your sight lines.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
Its funny but those pendants I show are actually a nice look and in no way hamper the sight lines.
sierra400
Original Author
5 years ago
Patricia, those pendants are gorgeous and would totally work in the space. Where are they from do you know?
suezbell
5 years ago
Perhaps, in lieu of pendants, something like this:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Kenroy-Home-Corbis-4-Light-Bronze-Island-Light-93595ORB/300513035?cm_mmc=Shopping%7CG%7CBase%7CD27L%7CMulti%7CNA%7CPLA%7CInteriorLighting%7c71700000038836110%7c58700004241533705%7c92700035280099904&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIy96Bk8Dw3gIVjf_jBx0DyAHHEAQYBCABEgLtmfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
acm
5 years ago
Another option would be smallish semi-flush lights, which would have some visual presence while staying close to the ceiling and out of your view.

Andante Industrial Semi Flushmount Ceiling Lamp, Brushed Nickel · More Info

1-Light Semi-Flush Mount, Brushed Nickel · More Info

Baxter 1-Light Semi-Flush, Burnished Bronze · More Info

George Kovacs Lighting P854-084 One Light Flush Mount · More Info
PRO
Anglophilia
5 years ago
I prefer pot lights.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
I know I love them too but no longer available and we knew that when I got them for that client.
PRO
Lantern & Scroll
5 years ago
Hi, we have several modern and traditional pendant lights that would look wonderful in your home! All of our fixtures are handmade in the US with high quality copper. Check out our website lanternandscroll.com we would be happy to help you!
suzyq53
5 years ago
I'd go for the cans but space them so you could change to pendants in the existing locations if desired in the future.

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