Need some help/advice for kitchen lighting with beams

7 years ago

Hi all! I've been working since April, mainly on my own, in a full kitchen remodel, everything will be new down to and including the wall studs and floor joists. I am just about ready in my kitchen remodel to start the lighting/electrical, and cannot end up deciding on the final layout for the overhead recessed lights. My plan is to incorporate faux wood beams into my ceiling design, so the placement of the beams goes hand in hand with my overhead lighting. My question to those with more experience than I, what are your thoughts on my attached lighting layout as it stands? This must be the 5th iteration I've gone through on paper! Some additional details not included in the drawing:

- there is a soffit that goes around the
kitchen area, minus the location where the hood will be. I am removing the soffit there to make way for a pyramid style hood.

- recessed lighting will be 4" LEDs

- recessed lighting (3 of them) for the kitchen sink counters will be the same 4" LEDs but installed into the soffit overhead, rather than the 8' ceiling.

Thanks all! I am also including some drawings of the kitchen from different angles for an idea of the final look. All drawings done in CAD, I don't know how to use any of the 3D software unfortunately =(.

Featured Answer

sheloveslayouts

7 years ago

I'm not a designer, just a homeowner who went through this 2.5 years ago. My notes on lighting say...

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

Recessed lights should approximately 1/2 the ceiling height apart from each other. (3-4 feet apart in an 8' high ceiling.)

***

I probably wouldn't do the recessed lights flanking the range washing down the front of the cabinets. You'll probably have UCL and exhaust hood lighting there for task lighting, so I'd just move the recessed light for general lighting more toward the edge of the base cabinets.

Instead of recessed lights above the sink, have you considered sconces between the windows?

Can you tell I'm not a big fan of recessed lights? :-)

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Comments (9)

catinthehat
Original Author
7 years ago
More photos because I couldn't upload them all in my first post?

Photo below of the island, looking at the fridge side of the kitchen:
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catinthehat
Original Author
7 years ago
Hi benjesbride,

Thanks a bunch for the advice/insight from your experience. I thought about it last evening and revised my plan based on some of your suggestions. More spacing between lights, removed the one close to the range hood, and was able to eliminate several based on the revised spacing. I will brainstorm something else for getting the corners of the pyramid hood lit, maybe some simple accent lighting. I think this new plan is 10x better!
salex
7 years ago
I think you're wise to center them between beams, but have you considered putting them closer to the countertops/walls? There are varied opinions on that placement, but some people prefer them to be closer to the countertop surfaces where you will be working (particularly if these are your main task lights).

I agree with the previous suggestion to eliminate the one in front of the range - IF you have hood lights. If you don't anticipate using the countertops next to the range as prep space, you could also eliminate those - but in my kitchen I decided to illuminate the spaces flanking the range because they are primary prep spaces.
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catinthehat thanked salex
PRO
Debbi Washburn
7 years ago
A couple of things..... Is there a particular reason you are keeping the soffits?

I would do pretty fixtures by the sink area instead of recessed - either nice wall sconces or decorative flush mounts. The recessed everywhere else is fine although a lot - move them in closer to the cabinets - that way when you open the pantry cabinet you can see what is inside. You don't need the one in front of the range and I would definitely invest in undercabinet lighting - that will be much more valuable than the recessed. Just make sure to plan the location by adding the cabinet depth AND the crown molding projection , then at least 2-3" of space to the edge of the trim...

Good luck!!
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catinthehat thanked Debbi Washburn
dan1888
7 years ago
I feel your plan as is seems a good one. But I'm a fan of recessed lights and would also eliminate the soffit if possible.
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catinthehat
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks for the feedback! I've been going in circles with these concepts for a month now...

Regarding the soffits, there's no particular reason we were keeping them, we didn't want our wall cabinets going up to the full 8' though. I believe having cabinets that don't reach all the way to the ceiling isn't the trend anymore either? Over the kitchen, there really isn't any good reason to have the soffit. My main concern with any sort of hanging lights over the sink counters is making the ceiling too busy since we already have 3 pendants over the island. This is my first time tackling this kind of project, and although I do have a basic design/architectural background, it's difficult to visualize things sometimes...
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PRO
Debbi Washburn
7 years ago
You can look for families of lights...

You will have pendants, flush mounts and wall lights all coordinated....

And you can keep the soffits if they style nicely like these:

Or tear them out and put lighting on top of them if you don't want the taller cabinets to go to the ceiling with crown:

Are you working with a kitchen designer? They should be able to put the plans into their design program so you can see the space 3 D. This is important - there are a few changes I would make to the plan... I would strongly urge you to get a full 36" lazy susan in the corner. I have seen the 33" ones and they are not great. Most garbage units are 21" wide ( there are a few 24s) - you don't need t balance the lower cabinets when you turn a corner on each side of the stove - just balance the uppers - the island blocks that visual anyway. Your wall cabinet all the way left of the hood and the pantry right of the ref. will need to have a filler next to them or an odd overlay on the door or extended style - the contractor needs some forgiveness to install level. Even though you are doing a counter depth ref. you should do panels on each side. or the pantries need to be 27" deep....

Just some suggestions!

Good luck! Looks great so far!
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catinthehat thanked Debbi Washburn
catinthehat
Original Author
7 years ago
Wow thanks Debbi those photos were fantastic! Really appreciate your input. I am not working with a kitchen designer unfortunately, this is a DIY project that I have been wanting to do for many many years. I am a licensed civil engineer which helps with the planning and permitting portion side thankfully. That being said, aside from the massive amount of labor involved for one person, I would say I've spent far more time just researching how things are done and why. To be honest I don't think anyone really give good kitchen designer's the credit they deserve...there is just SO much you need to know on top of having experience with what makes an appealing and functional design. I've read and learned many things from your posts on these forums, thanks again for the ideas. I'll be sure to post back again.
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