Reccessed lights, size, location, etc

16 years ago

I am looking for information, on where to place the recessed light in the ceiling, from what I think and have read, I should try to line up the can so its directly above the front edge of the counter top is this correct?

I think I am going to go with 4" cans in my kitchen, about 5 feet apart from each other. does this sound about right?

what do you have in your kitchen, I think I really do not want 6" cans, they are just to large.

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Comments (5)

cookingrvc
16 years ago
Here's a pic of ours. There are 6 of them on two zones. kitchen. The island lights are on a separate zone as are the pendants by the windows.
tntwalter
16 years ago
we have 5" I think. They are above the front edge on the countertop.

Trish
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iceqween13
16 years ago
Yes, you're correct. Line them up so they are directly above the edge of your counter. Ours are 4" clear alzaks. I think 5 feet apart is too much. Ours are about 2.5 to 3 feet apart at most.

We have 14 recessed lights (which includes 2 over the sink and 2 over the peninsula and 4 around the pantry area all on seperate switches) and 6 around the counter L shape - 8' ceilings and an 8' x 10' kitchen. All are dimmable. With undercabinet lighting as well.

Good luck on your reno!
palimpsest
16 years ago
3 feet should be plenty in a residential setting: any closer than that and it will start to look like a commercial space and will heat up the kitchen. When a nearby luxury condo was having open houses, one of the comments that many people made walking into the over-lit kitchen, was "What is this, a surgical suite? Its actually Hot in here". I notice this stuff a lot but I was surprised how I heard it from practically everyone who walked in the day I was there.

Definitely go with dimmers.

If you have undercabinet lighting the positioning in the ceiling can be a bit "off" the ideal to compensate for joists or esthetics,

I would recommend starting with a design where you get a recessed can close to where you want it ideally: over range, over sink, in front of fridge, etc. and THEN create a grid pattern on the ceiling so that they are evenly spaced. (This will move some of the cans off center of their ideal locations).

An evenly placed grid creates a visual pattern that you look at and then filter it out. Unevenly spaced lighting all over the ceiling looks busier even with the same number of fixtures. You are not supposed to notice the lighting per se. Some people call the random placement of fixtures etc. on the ceiling "ceiling acne".
iceqween13
16 years ago
Someone suggested not putting lighting over the front of the fridge (especially SS) as the lights would reflect off it. We put it off to the sides. Also, I would suggest putting the lighting on either side of the range as usually there's lighting somewhere on the hood or OTR mico.

I wasn't suggesting over-kill on the lighting - but better more than less as you can always dim it. We live in a cold climate so heat from lights is a non-issue. 3' is good but I think 5' is too far apart.

I agree to put lighting in a grid as much as possible.

We gleaned a lot of info from lighting stores. They have some excellent people who can provide you with SO much information. At first it was too much - had to go back a couple of times for clarification but they knew their stuff. Mull it over a bit.