Regular versus fluorescent lights?

17 years ago

Hello,

We're remodeling a condo to sell. I'm trying to guess what others might like. I know what I like, but its usually not what others like!!

the kitchen is fairly dark and has only a ceiling light and the stove hood light. I'd prefer a regular light, but do you think the majority of people would choose a fluorescent light?

Thanks!

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Comments (5)

plllog
17 years ago
More important for sales is how attractive the fixture is!

For task lighting, that is for cooking, ambient, dispersed light is better. Fluorescent light is great for that. It's also energy efficient. And you can use it for undercabinet lighting as well. Adding those could bump up the attractiveness to buyers. Fluorescent is also brighter for the same output than incandescent (regular).

I personally hate the color temperature of fluorescents, but wouldn't decline to buy if they were well placed for good lighting in a kitchen. Do buy the color adjusted bulbs, however, if you put fluorescents in, so that they make the kitchen look pretty.
tetrazzini
17 years ago
Compact fluorescent bulbs are interchangeable with incandescent in most fixtures, but not all. Make sure if you buy a new lamp it's one that could take either kind of bulb. This is a question of the bulb fitting: they all screw in the same way, but fluorescents tend to be a little bigger.

CFs save a lot of energy, but I've come to hate them. I've dropped and broken them a few times, and since they contain mercury they make me nervous.
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catherinet
Original Author
17 years ago
I suppose a good way to go would be the lights that you can make either incandescent or fluorescent. I think I'll do that.
I had planned on changing all my bulbs to the compact fluorescent, but I do worry about the mercury. Supposedly, we're not supposed to worry about it, but I'm fairly convinced that in about 20 years, we'll realize we shouldn't have used them and then thrown them in the garbage!
oruboris
17 years ago
Actually, we are supposed to take burnt out CFLs to an approved hazardous waste recycler. Ditto batteries, and not just big ol' car batteries, either.

Call your garbage collection service, if you have one.

Otherwise, go to
http://earth911.com/
And use the 'search' function at the top of the page to find a recycler in your area.

Many Home Depots recycle them for free.
mustbnuts zone 9 sunset 9
17 years ago
If you can, I would do both! Keep the incandescent in the ceiling. If they will fit, put some small fluorescent lights (T-2's, T-3's) mounted under the cabs. They help to illuminate the counters. I love mine on at night--makes the kitchen very sexy and they are great for rolling out pie dough--no heat. I do use the color adjusted bulbs. Costly but worth it since replacing them will be once in a blue moon.

If you can see the fluorescent lights under the cabs, (don't know if you are replacing them or not) you can add the same trim underneith the bottom of the cab to hide the bulb. If you are getting new cabs, then you can order them with the trim or like I did, get them with a slightly longer face to hide the bulbs. Let me see if I can find a picture...

Here is the light under the cab. I had to bend down to take a picture so you can see the plug mold and the light.

Here it is looking straight on--can't see the plug mold nor the light under the cab.