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Lighting Design Dilemma Kitchens

Placement of recessed lights with two height ceiling

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

So, I am at the point of my project where I have to plan the layout of the recessed lights. But because we have two different heights of ceiling, I am not sure if my planning is correct.

We will probably be using these 4 inch canless LEDs, with a dimmer https://www.homedepot.com/p/Commercial-Electric-Ultra-Slim-4-in-Color-Selectable-New-Construction-and-Remodel-Canless-Recessed-Integrated-LED-Kit-4-Pack-91470/310114084

I have drawn my initial placement, placing them every 30 inches, lining them up over the edge of the counter. It seems like too many lights. Not sure if i need to do something different here.... Should i remove the two in the center of the kitchen?

Also, not sure if i will end up with shadows just because of the drop to the lower ceiling zone pretty close to the lights, or is that ok because the light beam at the source is still narrow anyway?

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Comments (9)

Julia Garcia
Original Author
3 years ago
or would this be sufficient (42 inches apart along the horizontal direction of this drawing, and 30 inches apart along the vertical). But this places light 30 inches away from the pantry (bottom right corner). Would that be not enough light for seeing the pantry ?
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Debbi Washburn
3 years ago
This is a lot of fixtures. I also have my doubts to their capability of lighting your counters. That should be done with undercabinet lighting. To light counters with recessed lights, they would need to be about 6" or so from the front of your cabinet door to the edge of the trim - this way the light shines straight down on the counter and not behind you when you are standing there.

Take a little more time to think this through.

Plus you will get some more answers from some talented and knowledgeable folks on here!
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Sammy
3 years ago
At what point do the light beams overlap? That’s how you figure out if you’ve got enough light, i.e., no dead spots. The ceiling height and the manufacturer specs will determine this.
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Julia Garcia
Original Author
3 years ago
@Debbi Washburn do you think I have too many even on the second layout? Do i need them in the middle of the ceiling at all? How about my issue with lighting the pantry area on version 2 ?

You suggested placement of 6" from the front of the cabinet, but everywhere i read seems to suggest 12" (to line up with the edge of the counter). I am not sure which is correct. And, yes, we are also planning to add some under the cabinet lighting.

@Sammy assuming the angle of light dispersion is 90%, they will overlap at the counter height when placed 46 inches apart.
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lucky998877
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Julia, I also have 2 ceiling heights in my kitchen due to a tray ceiling (9' and 10'). I did cans in the lower tray area for my countertop lights and separate ones in the 10' area for my island. My 4" led cans give plenty of bright light, but if they were coming down just to the edge of my counter, I would block some of it with my head when prepping food. Mine come down more to the center/front 1/3 of my counter and I have no weird shadows on my walls, or on my upper cabinets.
Julia Garcia
Original Author
3 years ago
@lucky998877 So, yours are not lined up with the edge of the counter, but are closer to the wall cabinets?
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lucky998877
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I don't have more than 1 true wall cabinet...my kitchen is mostly windows...but yes, my can lights are more over the counter area, a few inches in. It looks a little exaggerated in this picture.
Julia Garcia
Original Author
3 years ago
thank you @lucky998877 for the pictures. Beautiful kitchen!!! Did you put your recessed lights only on the perimeter ?
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lucky998877
3 years ago
Thank you! I have 8 on the perimeter, and another 7 inside the tray where my island is. My husband used to complain in our old kitchen of not enough light...all the time...now we could do surgery in the kitchen, ha! My kitchen is pretty good size, the lights are a few feet apart and don't look busy.

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