Help - Over Cabinet Lighting Situation!

16 years ago

My contractor just informed (and showed) me that I will not be able to get my over-the-countertop lighting at the desired countertop edge on one wall of cabinets. Basically there is a joist exactly at the spot where one would desire to put the recessed can. Closer is not going to work due to to the joist position and the edge of the crown molding so only further away - roughly 28" will work. This will put the light at about 4 inches "behind" the edge of the countertop. So I have two questions:

1) will this likely create shadows if someone is standing in front of the countertop?

2) should I have all of the lights over the countertops placed at this distance to keep things uniform or should I put the ones that I can at the edge of the countertop in two other areas with uppers/lowers?

I should point out that I will have under cabinet lighting in the task areas so that should help with any shadowing. My contractor is looking for an answer ASAP so any help would be greatly appreciated!

-Ray

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Comment (1)

donka
16 years ago
My recessed cans are roughly 4-6" away from the counter edge. I haven't found there to be any problems with shadows. I mean, there are shadows, but because there's plenty of light in the whole kitchen it hasn't been a problem for me. My cans are placed 4 feet apart so there's light coming from the left and right no matter where you stand and shadows are dispersed, if that makes sense.

I wanted symmetry with the cans, so their layout was all based on where they could go, where they would line up properly to my eye etc. Without seeing your plan it's hard to say if you should move them closer or further in different sections. I found the most useful thing was to draw it out on the overhead layout of my plan, then to go stand in the kitchen and sort of pretend where everything would be to see if it made sense. Not the most definitive answer, sorry, but hope that helps a little!
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