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Lighting Design Dilemma Kitchens

Need Help for Placement of Kitchen Lighting

5 years ago

Where should I put recessed lighting for my remodeled kitchen?

Here is the floor plan for my new kitchen. I don't think I want pendant lights over the sink or peninsulas since they would block the sight lines of the focal point areas (dining room, stove wall, and family room), but I am open to your thoughts. There is no wall to the dining room, but there is a shallow beam overhead to divide the kitchen from the dining room. (If the kitchen is all recessed lights, then I'll do a "stunning" chandelier in the dining room.) The shaded areas in the picture are my countertops. The kitchen is open to the family room from the sink to the right wall, but there is a shallow beam overhead. The electrician has picked out 6" LED lights, but I have not seen them yet. The ceiling are 10' high. Can you suggest where the lights should go?

(No need to change my floor plan since the cabinets are already being made.) Thanks for your ideas!

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Comments (4)

SirJohn
5 years ago
I'm not a lighting designer but I can give you a couple of general guidelines I've found in research. No need to go 6" for the recessed LED, so see if you can go smaller (which is considered more contemporary). In general, recessed lights should go about 24" from the wall above the perimeter of the cabinets so they can help illuminate the countertops. You can put a couple above the peninsula area. If you want to have any lights provide a decorative element without blocking sightlines, you can always consider a couple semi-flush lights, but the recessed lights will provide your primary ambient source. Use undercabinet lights to provide task lighting.
Barbara thanked SirJohn
Barbara
Original Author
5 years ago
I do plan to have under cabinet lighting with outlets. (I want to avoid outlets in my backsplash.) I'll take a look at the semi-flush lights. That might be an option.
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PRO
Build Beautiful
5 years ago
Hello Barbara Everett ,

Heres' a link to some general guidelines regarding lighting - it's for a master bathroom, but the same principles apply. Pendant lighting in general is for decorative purposes. If you're looking for more functional lighting that doesn't take away from the gorgeous cabinetry & finishes you have, place them close to surfaces you touch. What Sir John says about the smaller fixtures is correct, and I believe also covered in the link below.

https://www.buildbeautifulhomes.com/home-inspiration/2019/3/4/bathroom-lighting-tips-houzz-question-of-the-week

If you'd like to discuss the lighting in more specifics, or decided you'd like an actual lighting & switching plan, I give every project a free 15 min. strategy session - hit me up!

Thanks,

-frank
Barbara thanked Build Beautiful
Barbara
Original Author
4 years ago
My ceiling lights are in. My contractor did a great job of placing them. As far as I can tell, I don't have a dark spot. I look forward to see what they look like when the kitchen cabinets are in.

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