Kitchen lighting suggestions?

[JES2727]

I'm interested to know people's preferences regarding kitchen lighting. I'm responsible for the lighting design in a 12' x 21' kitchen/dining, and I'd like it to be "state of the art", so to speak. Would you use 4" cans in a kitchen that large? Is anyone using LED recessed cans, and are you satisfied with them? Is anyone using Invisiled tape for the under-cabinet lighting? http://www.waclighting.com/USA/products/?categoryid=352
Any other suggestions?

We're also considering plug-mold under the cabinets instead of receps in the backsplash. Any pros & cons to that idea?

Thank you.

 

[John120/240]

Plug mold is nice & the recptacles are out of sight. Remember only one 12-2 NM

to each section of plug mold & put your GFCI's in the pantry. Just my .02 cents

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I would either use 5" minimum cans or usually 6" cans. Some members think that 6" can are ugly and everyone should move to the 5" cans. Under cabinet lights I use xenon or halogen-- preferably xenon.

 

[muskrat]

Cans suck...unless used for task light over peninsula/island.JMHO
Decorative fixture over sink/matching center of room or island/dining/etc?
T-8 strip on top of back of cabinets for indirect passage light?
Agree w/ previous post-xenon for task/under cabinet.
Alot depends on layout/HO taste etc
JMHO-but have done alot

 

[BullsnPyrs]

Go for the LED under cabinet lighting, the product line looks good. just remember to add a switched outlet for each power supply/LED Driver
I don't like cans except to highlight a specific feature.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

We can argue all day about the benefits of cans vs whatever. The fact is no one wants fluorescents or surface incandescents and I cannot think of a kitchen I have done in 20 years that doesn't use cans. Hanging lights over an island and LED under cabinet lights are real expensive and not cost effective in a home-- even the sales people will admit to that.

 

[G._S._Ohm]

The light spectrum should match 'daylight' so the food looks appetizing.

 

[sameguy]

MMMMM green eggs and ham

 

[weressl]

I'm interested to know people's preferences regarding kitchen lighting. I'm responsible for the lighting design in a 12' x 21' kitchen/dining, and I'd like it to be "state of the art", so to speak. Would you use 4" cans in a kitchen that large? Is anyone using LED recessed cans, and are you satisfied with them? Is anyone using Invisiled tape for the under-cabinet lighting? http://www.waclighting.com/USA/products/?categoryid=352
Any other suggestions?

We're also considering plug-mold under the cabinets instead of receps in the backsplash. Any pros & cons to that idea?

Thank you.

My dream lighting was always indirect lighting, embedded on the crown molding all around the perimeter. An LED strip, dimmable, giving a new life to this concept. I like to use the strips with much closer placed LED elements, like 1-1.5" apart for uniformity. Same for undercabinet for extra surface lighting, the fume hood - if any - and would even sneak some onto the overhead hanging pot-rack.

 

[marti smith]

The light spectrum should match 'daylight' so the food looks appetizing.

I need all the help I can get!

I never did like plugmold, although I do like UC lighting. As LED is all the rage, I find I am still bias toward the incandescents due to their warm color. Maybe because I can never seem to get dinner on the table while it's still warm-

 

[LarryFine]

I may be old-fashioned, but I like 6" cans, typically centered on cabinet door pairs and over the edge of the counter, I like fluorescent under-cabinet lights, typically out against the cabinet front, and I like Plugmold mounted on a 2x2 ripped on the 45 for easy plug access mounted against the cabinet back.


Added:

MMMMM green eggs and ham

Here ya' go, Sam-I-Am!

 

[OregonSE]

JUNO

http://www.junolightinggroup.com/

 

[normbac]

Wired a new house that had a large kitchen required plug mold on gfci cb. Small chando over center island pendants over outer breakfast island and 4 inch cans placed in entire ceiling area looked high end for sure

 

[JES2727]

Thanks for all the feedback.
I hadn't considered not installing recessed cans, but maybe I'll give that some more thought. I think I'll be putting 3 pendant lights above the sink/countertop area that faces a big window. Maybe I can find a ceiling fixture to match....
For the past several years I've been recommending Xenon u/c lights, and that's what I'll use here if I decide against the LED. I'll have to check the cost, although this is my own kitchen ( well, my wife's actually) so I don't have to pay any mark-up on the fixtures.
I like the idea of putting the plugmold on a 45.

Another challenge I'm dealing with is where to put the switch for the lights over the sink? If we're going with the plugmold to keep the backsplash clear then it should be 100% - no switches either. Any suggestions? The other switches will be at the entry to the kitchen and not in the backsplash, but the switch for the sink light should be near the sink. How do I keep it out of the backsplash and still convenient to use?

 

[normbac]

Thanks for all the feedback.
I hadn't considered not installing recessed cans, but maybe I'll give that some more thought. I think I'll be putting 3 pendant lights above the sink/countertop area that faces a big window. Maybe I can find a ceiling fixture to match....
For the past several years I've been recommending Xenon u/c lights, and that's what I'll use here if I decide against the LED. I'll have to check the cost, although this is my own kitchen ( well, my wife's actually) so I don't have to pay any mark-up on the fixtures.
I like the idea of putting the plugmold on a 45.

Another challenge I'm dealing with is where to put the switch for the lights over the sink? If we're going with the plugmold to keep the backsplash clear then it should be 100% - no switches either. Any suggestions? The other switches will be at the entry to the kitchen and not in the backsplash, but the switch for the sink light should be near the sink. How do I keep it out of the backsplash and still convenient to use?

Air switch for G/D switch light over sink where you enter kitchen

 

[G._S._Ohm]

I need all the help I can get!

Feeding them less often will make them hungry and this cancels out almost any food-related problem.

 

[cadpoint]

There's all sorts of free lighting calculation programs out on the I-net!

If personal preferences over-ride a clients desires, one is at a lost, JMO.
There are many things that can be said about how a kitchen functions or the desired functions in the kitchen!

There's still plenty of undercabinet flouresents that will fit undercabinet and will work all day...

U really need to think of a suspended flourecent which will give you flooded area covererage and as long as you don't put the down lights to close to the wall, a spot will not be just that a conacal of illumination as opposed to a spot of light.

 

[LarryFine]

There's all sorts of free lighting calculation programs out on the I-net!

If personal preferences over-ride a clients desires, one is at a lost, JMO.
There are many things that can be said about how a kitchen functions or the desired functions in the kitchen!

There's still plenty of undercabinet flouresents that will fit undercabinet and will work all day...

U really need to think of a suspended flourecent which will give you flooded area covererage and as long as you don't put the down lights to close to the wall, a spot will not be just that a conacal of illumination as opposed to a spot of light.

I love reading your posts on weekends.

 

[cadpoint]

Well thanks Larry... Honestly... Some times, I like to think that a thought counts!

How it's measured and how it comes across to the masses is always subjective!

WE need another DC Road Trip!

 

[LarryFine]

Well thanks Larry... Honestly... Some times, I like to think that a thought counts!

How it's measured and how it comes across to the masses is always subjective!

WE need another DC Road Trip!

Absolutely, on all three counts. :grin:

Hmm. Richmond is kinda central, isn't it? :roll: