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Lighting Design Dilemma Kitchens

Can you help me figure out my lighting for my kitchen?

4 years ago

I'm feeling so overwhelmed right now, trying to figure out all the details for our reno. Who knew there was so much to know??!

On the top of my list - our lighting. Specifically for our kitchen, though the kitchen is open to our family room which will have a simple semi-flush light in the middle of the room and floor/table lamps as necessary.

The plan is to have pot lights in the kitchen, with one or two sconces over the window. The hood will have a light. We are considering undercabinet lighting but I just can't imagine using it. It feels like a nuisance already to have three potential lighting sources, let alone four! But I know people love undercab... I don't want a pendant or similar over my kitchen table because the shape of it will change and it'll move about a bit, but I do want lighting for it so I guess a pot light?

Where would you put pot lights in this kitchen? Do I absolutely need undercab lighting?

Yes, I'll be talking to our GC and electrician about this but would like to learn from the wise ones of Houzz as well. :) Thanks so much!!

These plans haven't been completely finalized, but should give you a good idea:

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Comments (4)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
4 years ago
The person you need to talk to is your kitchen designer not your GC As for under cabinet lighting it is a nice addition for task lighting but certainly not essential. Pot lights need to be in front of all over head cabinets to light up the counter under the cabinets and for sure if you are not doing under cabinet lighting.
beckington thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
beckington
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks Patricia. No KC, I'm afraid.

Do you think one pot light to the left of the stove and one to the right works for that area? Not sure if that's enough light about the corner work area, which is the main work area, though it would also receive light from the window sconces if they are on. Two pot lights in that corner area seems too much? Then one in dishwasher/fridge area and one over table? Is it weird for pot lights to not be arranged symmetrically? Or do they just go where they are needed, never mind how the layout works?
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So the powder room opens onto the patio and into the back hallway? That location is probably the best for this function. I live in a city of very small footprints (Try 11 foot lot lines and some narrower) and a first floor powder room is often put where it fits which is often opening into the dining area or kitchen despite the less than optimal location, so I get the various tradeoffs. I feel like the master bath is problematic and it is a size that makes it awkward. It's kinda too big to be small and too small to be big. I usually start out with the plan of the old standard 5x7 or 6x7 bath template in the location I want it and then expand it from there. Is it likely that you will both be using it at the exact same time? Honestly if I had two bathrooms across from each other I would probably be using the powder room to brush my teeth and such rather than be in the same room at the same time. I think I would completely separate the clothes from the bathroom because of humidity and such.
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cpartist
4 years ago
You have a bigger problem than your lights. How will you open your fridge with it being in the corner like that?

And with such a small kitchen, I would not do a pantry like that on the stove side. I'd move the microwave to where the pantry is and make sure you have 3 additional drawers where the microwave is.

Then I'd put the microwave at counter height where the pantry is, make the lower cabinets into drawer and the uppers into pullouts.

I also would not put that narrow upper next to the fridge. If anything I'd move the fridge over closer so you have some room to open the door fully.
beckington thanked cpartist
beckington
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks cpartist. We've had no problems opening the fridge - already in that location - for the past 13 years. :) It's not counterdepth like it might look in the plans. And the wall it's against is just under 4 feet. Still, we've allowed a few inches for a filler to move the fridge out from the wall - it's shown on the plans. Because of this, the narrow cabinet that is now beside the fridge will be even narrower - we can't move the dishwasher over any further without moving the sink, and I want the sink centered on my window (and no I'm not changing my mind on that). And the dishwasher needs to stay where it is because it's the most sensible location for it. So we have a teeny tiny bookshelf there - because I want the distance from window to cabinetry to match on either side of the window.

The pantry is not full depth and is not deep enough to put a microwave or drawers there. (There's a chimney behind the wall behind the new pantry.)

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