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Lighting Kitchens Design Dilemma

kitchen lighting ideas

last year

I am needing suggestions to install lighting in my kitchen ceiling. It’s only 10x12. We tore out the drop ceiling and would love to leave it exposed, see pic on left. Ceilings are 12’. Im meeting my electrician today and want to be able to show him some photos. I like industrial and maybe a small track lighting?? Im open to recessed lights too, just not sure what product I could find since it is not drywall.

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Comments (8)

kandrewspa
last year
I don't see a picture of your ceiling. Why do you say it isn't drywall? The lighting you're showing is appropriate in a modern interior. What is the style of your kitchen?
Melissa D
Original Author
last year
This is a picture of my current exposed ceiling. The lighting I’m showing is just an example of what I like.
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Are you planning to keep the 189's farmhouse look in the kitchen? Or is it a more up to date kitchen design? If the former.. I would stick with more general room lighting appropriate for the design of the home versus fill the kitchen with recessed lights. If you do go recessed I would keep them very small and focused on specific task areas to add just a bit extra light the general lighting cant provide. Mike
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Get rid of the soffit and have the contractor do a flush beam in the attic with the ceiling flush. Lose the pony wall and wing wall corner cabinet and just go straight across the wall with cabinets and take them to the counter as a hutch. Use cabinet paneling on the back of the peninsula cabinets, not drywall. Lose the dated open shelving by the window and get a real hood instead of an OTR. HD contractors can't handle that level of construction, so you need to interview real contractors. They'll be less than half of what HD charges as well. For lighting, three fluorescent mini pendants over the peninsula with a dimmer and two semi flush fluorescent pendants over the sink with a dimmer.Make sure you select fluorescents that can operate on a dimmer and the correct dimmer. Under cabinet LED lighting on a dimmer. 8-10 recessed LED lights on a dimmer depending on where the fridge is in this layout. You need someone experienced in cabinet installs to go over the plan on site in person before you order to double check measurements. HD cabinet people aren't noted for their experience or accuracy.
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I'd also be appreciative if anyone can point me to anything to read about best kitchen lighting practices.
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How permanent is your island? It looks freestanding, and I wouldn't do pendants if there were any chance at all of ever moving it. Pendants also aren't going to cut it for ambient light. They'd light the island, but that's it, and I don't see any other light sources in the kitchen. Most people seem to mix recessed cans with pendants, and I think that would work well in your kitchen. It's more electrical work, though, as you'd probably want 6 or more downlights, rather than just wiring a new fixture to the one existing junction box. If you want to just replace the central fixture, you could look for a flushmount or semi-flushmount that offers good light distribution in all directions. Or you could look at track lighting, which would give you the opportunity to place track heads around the kitchen where you need light. Some people pooh-pooh track lighting, but it can be a good and affordable option in a situation like yours. ETA: I was typing my response when you added your comment about the four pot lights. Where are they? I don't see them in the photo?
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ffpalms
last year
Here’s an interesting idea from apartmenttherapy.com.
ffpalms
last year
This is from burkedecor.com.
PRO
RL Relocation LLC
12 months ago
run your romex through conduit and stub out several spots for single directional lighting.
Krista Deng
12 months ago
Great to hear that you're planning to install some new lighting in your kitchen! With an exposed ceiling like yours, there are a few different options that could work well.

One option could be to install some pendant lights over your kitchen island or countertop area. Pendant lights can add a lot of visual interest and style to a space, and they can also provide focused task lighting where you need it most.

Another option could be to install some track lighting, as you mentioned. There are plenty of industrial-style track lighting options available that could work well with your exposed ceiling. Track lighting can be a good choice if you want to be able to adjust the position of your lights over time, or if you want to create a more dynamic lighting scheme that can be adjusted to suit different moods or activities in your kitchen.

If you prefer a more subtle look, you could consider installing some recessed lights in your ceiling. While it can be a bit more challenging to install recessed lights in an exposed ceiling like yours, it's certainly not impossible! You can look for recessed lighting fixtures that are specifically designed for exposed ceilings, or you can work with a skilled electrician to create a custom installation that meets your needs.

Ultimately, the best lighting solution for your kitchen will depend on your personal style preferences, as well as your specific lighting needs. I would recommend looking at some different lighting options online or in stores to get a better sense of what's available, and then working with your electrician to create a plan that fits your space and your budget. Good luck with your project!
PRO
Ashley_C
11 months ago
It sounds like a great project. Industrial style lighting is a great idea, especially considering the ceiling height. For recessed lighting, you may want to look into LED fixtures that are suitable for exposed ceilings. They have a slim profile and provide a modern design. You could also look into track lighting or pendants. Depending on the space, they can be a great way to bring light to a specific area.

How to choose the right kitchen lighting

For details, you can check this article, I hope it can help you.
3onthetree
11 months ago
Funny, 2 quotes from a ChatGPT user and their associated spam account:

"You can look for recessed lighting fixtures that are specifically designed for exposed ceilings"

"For recessed lighting, you may want to look into LED fixtures that are suitable for exposed ceilings"

From a recessed lumenaire's viewpoint, all ceilings are exposed.

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