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Lighting Design Dilemma

recessed lighting in vaulted ceiling

jessica federspill

2 years ago

The recessed lights I fell in love with, that look more contemporary (thin canless & no eyeballs) only have about a 10° angle of rotation. The light I like best is top right in the picture. My ceilings measure closer to 12 to 12.5° angle. Would it make that much difference of less a 2° angle and not being completely perpendicular or the light shining completely straight down?

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Comments (8)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
IMO pot lights in vaulted ceiling are close to useless. Those are integrated fixtures which mean they cannot have bulb changed if it burns out so you will need to make sure you buy extras. I like cable lighting for vaulted rooms you can get it with more traditional heads .That style of lighting gets the light to a level where irt actually provides lighting. I use Tech for my clients. IMO lighting is not the place to scrimp on budget .
wdccruise
2 years ago
I'd prefer a more directional, adjustable, and IMO much-better-looking fixture such as one of these WAC Lotus fixtures. I'd also go with a 4" model unless the brightness was unsatisfactory.
- R4ERAR-W930-WT (4")
- R4ERAR-W9CS-WT (4")
- R6ERAR-W930-WT
- R6ERAR-W9CS-WT
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I would think about putting any recessed lighting in the center of any room. My problem is that it cuts the ceiling and takes away from the area. I usually place the recessed lighting around the perimeter, especially if the person is going to use other lighting (i.e., lamps and fixtures). If you weren't going to use sconces by the fireplace, I would probably go straight across that area with recessed. What we sometimes forget is that there is "backlighting" from those recessed lights aimed at walls. If I were to turn on my recessed lighting in any given room, I have more than enough lighting to illuminate it. I have table lamps to read by in the family room and in the dining area I have a fixture. The same applies for the dining area. It is really hard to read the measurements on the picture. If you can blow this up, I would suggest doing so in order for us to get a better idea of size and scope. Hope this helps.
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PRO
HALLETT & Co.
2 years ago

Lafayette · More Info

Do you have the option to have real recessed lights or has it been roughed in for faux cans? Real recessed lights allow the bulb to be angled up in the housing so nothing sticks below the ceiling plane
jessica federspill
Original Author
2 years ago
Yes but with the 12- 14 degree slope of ceiling I prefer an angle of light slope to be adjusted more down. I like the modern look of the original picture top right as I don’t like a wide rim. It looks dated to me. The one I like tilts 10 degrees. I’m just asking if a difference of 2-4 degrees will hugely affect the light not shining straight down?
wdccruise
2 years ago
"I don’t like a wide rim. It looks dated to me."

Six-inch recessed lights are dated.
jessica federspill
Original Author
2 years ago
I’m doing 4 inch in the kitchen. 6 inch are for family room/ dining area. (The other half of the vault) If 6 inch is dated- what is not dated?
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
2 years ago
4" is fine for an 8ft ceiling. Once your ceiling is taller the can should be larger so that the light spread is wider or your ceiling will look like Swiss Cheese.

I remember ceiling downlight with minimal rings, but I think they were specifically designed to be used on plaster ceilings.

https://www.build.com/elco-el971ica/s1440130?uid=3390106&searchId=8U2nmIMYpo
wdccruise
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
@BeverlyFLADeziner: "Once your ceiling is taller the can should be larger so that the light spread is wider or your ceiling will look like Swiss Cheese."

All the 4" and 6" WAC Lotus fixtures linked above have an identical 45" beam spread.

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