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kindchen14

Fabulous kitchen lighting

9 years ago

I'm in the middle of a budget kitchen renovation, but I want to splash out some on amazing lighting. We won't have recessed lights--they look too modern to me in my 1920s bungalow. We're installing ikea cabinets with shaker supermatte doors/drawers from semihandmade. There are three lights--two ceiling lights and one wall-mounted light over the sink. Any ideas of lights or places to shop?

Comments (11)

  • 9 years ago

    Lamps plus clearance, eBay, Amazon, Wayfair, Craigslist.

    Figure out the style you want and then use the Internet to search for it using photo. Prices will be all over the place.

  • 9 years ago

    I do want one larger sconce over the sink, and two flushmount ceiling fixtures. There is one ceiling light for each side of the kitchen, and it would look strange to have pendants. I'm thinking of maybe schoolhouse style fixtures. Budget isn't a huge priority. The other elements of the kitchen are simple/budget, so I'm willing to spend more on the lighting/drawer pulls/faucet to hopefully elevate the look of the room.

  • 9 years ago

    Thanks, that is really helpful, caligirl! I'm in TN, so we don't have a lot of restrictions and could rewire antique lights. I feel like my husband has ended up rewiring some of the brand new lights from big box stores anyway. But I'm kind of hoping to make one thing easy, since I'm also kind of low on DIY-mojo. We're putting in our whole kitchen ourselves, and if I have to figure out how to do one new thing, I might lose my mind! I love the lights you've used.

    How many lights total do you have in your kitchen? My husband is big on everything being really bright, and I'm wondering whether two of the schoolhouse fixtures and a largish wall light over the sink will be enough in a medium-sized (200 sq ft.) kitchen.

  • 9 years ago

    My kitchen is 12x17. I have 2 ceiling lights, 2 pendants over the bar, 2 sconces over the sink, 1 sconce at the kitchen entrance (it's a bit hallway-like), and undercabinet lighting. The ceiling lights and entry sconce are switched together, so usually I just have that switch on, then sometimes the range hood light or sink lights. Caveat that my new kitchen has tons of natural light and it's been summer since I've been working in it (still not 100% there yet), so I think the other lights will get more use when the days get shorter.

    Are you doing undercabinet lighting?

    I meant to have 1 light centered on the window, but there was a miscommunication and they did 1 light over the sink. Rather than move it, I decided to add the light on the right side too, since there's no other task lighting in that area. These are Pacific City from Rejuvenation...I like them but might go bigger if I were picking again.

    Here's the sconce over the hallway area. It's nice for seeing in the little broom closet on the left there. Normally this door is open (hiding mess for the pic!)


  • 9 years ago
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  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Brass Light Gallery. They take actual fixtures from the period, and duplicate them. Made to order mostly. Many finishes to choose from. They also have an antiques page if you want to buy the real thing. Their customer service is very helpful. It's expensive but you get what you pay for. I have several of their lights, and whenever I move from this house, I am taking them with me.

    https://brasslightgallery.com/shop/interior-lighting

  • 9 years ago

    If you do go with Rejuvenation or Schoolhouse Electric, or many of the other semi-custom shops, take advantage of what CA has forced and get the energy-saving options when available. They don't do it where it messes up the light's appearance or function.

  • 9 years ago

    Thank you all! Your kitchen is lovely, @caligirl5. We're not doing under cabinet lighting mostly because we'll only have upper cabinets in one corner. @writersblock That kitchen is charming, and I just painted mine a very similar color. We have a breakfast nook too, but it is in a little butler's pantry adjacent to the kitchen. I want to do a built-in booth like that one.

  • 9 years ago

    From my personal renovation notes...

    8' ceiling kitchen should be lit ~ 35 lumens per square foot from ceiling in addition to under cabinet lighting (UCL)

  • 9 years ago

    I put small recessed lights in the kitchen ceiling of my renovated 1924 craftsman bungalow and don't regret it - but I mostly use the lights that are either mounted under the upper cabinets or inside the 2 glass front upper cabinets. And I have a gorgeous pendant over the peninsula made by Hubbardton Forge. Check that website. I'm not a fan of the "schoolhouse" light style - but do have that sconce in caligirl5's picture in the landing of the stairs to the basement (and very similar sconces but with movable arms behind the beds in two of my bedrooms).