The bulbs used depends very much on what the designer of the fixture had in mind. Those intended primarily for decorative lighting will/ could utilize lower wattage incandescent bulbs. Low voltage mr16 lights could also be used in other cases to provide small bright spots. If the requirement is for task lighting, the items that matter the most are 1. Amount of light output - lumens, candela, ... 2. Spread of light. 3. Light temperature 2700k for warm yellowish light 4. Color rendition. The choice of bulbs is affected by factors such as 1. the base of the bulb for example e26 base, bi pin, etc. 2. Low or line voltage 3. Dimming controls- most cfls are automatically ruled out by default. 4. Form dictated by the fixture. 5. Local energy efficiency mandates. The most common base is the e26 and will continue for quite a while.

Hello I agree that the soffit should come down, just keep in mind that there will be a bit of drywall repair to consider. The unit probably has 4-40W fl tubes in there, so there will be a noticable loss of overall light as compared to anything else that will go in its place, but the updated look will be worth it and you will still have the lighting that is required for the area. Two relatively inexpensive things that you could do that will have a large and noticable impact is replace all of the bulbs in the recessed with halogen PAR30 (typicaly used) and replace the black trim kits with white ones, this is going to make a huuuge difference, guranteed. You have to replace them with the same manuf that made the fixture you have in the ceiling. Pull down the old trim and find the sticker in the can housing that should state the brand (Halo, Juno?) Inas far as the replacement fixture over the island, recessed of course is a natural option, but as i stated before, give a look at pendants, there are many that are very affordable and there is bound to be a style that you take a liking to. If you stay recessed a pair of 5 or 6" cans over this island will suffice. Uncercab lighting is another option that will make the kitchen look like a million bucks, they light up the backsplash and countertop and reflect the light, making the area look much larger and inviting, if someone uses granite the light actually penetrates the stones surface and makes it look 3 dimesional, very interesting effect. In terms of the light itself, you want to try to stay with a brand that is known for their quality, inexpensive undercab lighting systems will fail much quicker, and when i say fail I mean that the transformers have a poor life span and the bulb sockets deteriorate because of the high concentration of heat which is inherint to xenon or halogen light bulbs. Which one do I prefer?, Zenon systems burn a little cooler but they are more expemsive to replace (bulbs) and sometimes they are harder to find than the halogen bulbs. The brand of fixtures that you are refering to in your post is a good brand and should do the job well. Just stay clear of the small round hockey puck sized fixtures that you find in the mass merchants, these are just plain junk and will stop functioning in a short period of time. Go ahead and price a few systems out there, but keep in mind that you get what you pay for. I will help peope justify what they spend in the kitchen by reminding them that it is the kitchen that everyone in the household spends the most time in on a daily basis and not that $3000 couch that they wont let the kids sit on, am I right?. I hope this has helped you in your decision making processes and good luck on the project. ken

The sink is an old double bowl farmhouse sink. The faucets will be wall mounted on the 8" backsplash. The counter space on either side are the same height. The 1st and 3rd window are full sized and the middle window is shorter on the bottom to allow for the 8" backsplash. Initially, my designer wanted to leave that as wall but I really want as much light as possible and can't see standing at the sink and seeing only wall or cabinet so I pushed for the shorter window. On the outside I will build a flowerbox to mask the different length of window. It will look something like the link below (same sink, same faucet, maple counter), only less expensive ;) I can't comment on the structural questions. It isn't my forte. But, the three windows are replacing an old picture window that leaks like a sieve so there will actually be more support in the new frames than is currently there now. Angie, thanks for the comment on bulbs. I will get a selection of different kinds to try them out. To confirm, as long as I stay below the full wattage (40W) I will be safe. The output will vary by type of bulb. Do I have that right? Here is a link that might be useful: [My south wall inspiration[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/repurposing-a-salvaged-sink-traditional-kitchen-burlington-phvw-vp~382928)

I love your countertop slabs, they are stunning. Based on all the criticism I looked at your layout and I see a lot of positives. You have a sink for cleanup near the dishwasher drawers and stove, and a second sink for prep work. That sink is not far from the fridge, so you can grab an armload of produce and get right to work ... and as you work the kids who just want a drink or snack from the fridge can get it without coming into the work L. This isn't a studio apartment, it is meant to work for a large family and so yeah, you may need to take 2-3 more steps to get around but that is somewhat unavoidable. For lights ... maybe something like this if you want something bold that isn't adding a lot of color: Huddardton Forge Erlenmeyer Flask Pendant Just a thought. Congrats on the new house. Don't worry about the people here who enjoy shooting arrows of doubt and dismay without offering to help identify ways to improve things. Some people naturally look for flaws and love to point them out (instead of asking why something was designed this way vs that way). It can't be a fun way to live life.