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Lighting Design Dilemma Kitchens

Help with kitchen design lighting

4 years ago

We are doing a complete kitchen remodel, tearing down a wall and creating an island. My contractor has put in for 6 can lights, a pendant above sink, two pendants above island, and under cabinet lighting. Any advice on the placement of the can lights, type of can lights, or amount of lights? We have no recessed lights in the living room which will be open to kitchen so I’m considering redirecting one or two can lights to the living space in order to keep things more balanced as I think the ceiling in the kitchen will get pretty busy with so many lights. (Second photo isn’t latest kitchen cabinet layout, but gives general scope of living room/kitchen layout)

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Comments (3)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
4 years ago
IMO there can never be enough light in a kitchen , do 4” pots with LEDs in 4000K , no pendnat over the sink just another pot there should be no shadows with the pots placed properly and your contractor is not the one to do this. Your kitchen designer is the person who should be laying out the lighting. If you are concerned about the light being too much then put in dimmers, I have never used a dimmer in a kitchen I put the under cabinet lighting on one switch, the island pendants on another and all the pots on another IMO no dimmers required .Make sure the pendants over the island actually light the island not the ceiling. As for adding pots to the LR. do you need them I don’t usually like them in LRs if you have proper floor and table lamps .Maybe a nice chandelier in the LR depending on your style.
WestCoast Hopeful
4 years ago
100% agree with Patricia on this one. More lights are better and three switches mean you have options. We have exactly as she described for lighting and I love it.
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I would definitely get undercabinet lights. That will help a lot. Do you have a style of light you like? Lights on dimmers will be ideal. Maybe something over the island that is more track like so there will be multiple positionable lights? Then the one over the table can be more decorative. Hopefully some pros will chime in! Enjoy your new kitchen.
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Hello P, At Galilee Lighting we specialize in custom Pendant Glass Lighting Fixtures! Not only do we offer FREE DESIGN SERVICES but can pair you up with one of beautiful artisan glass pendant LED light styles. We would love to help bring art to light in your remodel. Place identical pendant light fixtures over your kitchen counter, spaced evenly across the counter. The number of inches between the lights will vary based on how long your counter is, but a standard rule is to allow 30 inches between each fixture. If your kitchen island is short, either reduce the inches or use fewer lights. Pendants are normally 36 inches above your counter top for best position. Come explore our collection or for Free design services you can reach us at sales@galileelighting.com / www.GalileeLighting.com
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“That mix of grease and dust was the worst cleaning job I've ever had. I would never design a gap between cabinets and ceiling, unless I felt positive I would always have the money to pay a cleaning service.” @mcarroll16 - it sounds like there was no proper hood exhaust in your parents’ kitchen. I have 9’ ceilings, and on one wall the cabinets meet the ceiling, and on another wall I have 42” upper cabinets, 3” crown and a gap to the ceiling. I place wax paper up there (it’s the perfect width) to collect any dust or grease that might float up there, and twice a year, when I change smoke alarm batteries, I pick up the wax paper and put down new. Many times I just leave the wax paper there because it is so clean it does not need to be changed. I have a good hood exhaust. With a good hood exhaust, you would not have had such a cleaning chore in your parents’ home. It is quite expensive to take cabinets to meet a 9’ or 10” ceiling. Many people would rather invest in a good hood and correct ductwork for it. Indoor air quality is more important than ever these days.
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lefty47
4 years ago
HI -- You could have those long built in boxes that are set along the joist up in the ceiling for L.E.D. lighting . Also be careful how much lighting is hanging down such as having pendents then a fixture over the eating area and so on ...it can be too cluttered looking . I think you need the help of a "lighting designer" from a good quality lighting store .Totally worth it !

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