Open plan kitchen recess lighting

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

We are finishing our recess lighting plan and would like to hear your suggestions. We have a kitchen, living room, and dining room in an open floor-plan. We are considering having pendant lights above the countertop and either a pendant light or chandelier above the dining room table. We might have some lamps in the living room too but depends on how much light the recess lights will produce. Based on the attached plan all of the corner lights are spaced three feet from the walls (except hallway walls) with no more than four feet in between. We are considering having dimmable LED's but not sure yet of the luminosity or light output, including the size of the light. The only natural light coming into this space will be from the window in living room that is on the south-east side of the house. The size of the window is 105'' x 44'', and the ceiling is 8 feet high. The square grid represents 6" or a half foot in case that info is needed.

Would appreciate your input on how to make this the most efficient lighting setup.

Thank you.

Featured Answer

zorroslw1

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Our open floor plan is very similar in size and layout as yours. We have a total of 10 LED recessed lights with pendants over the island and a large hanging pendant over the dining table. We have 6 in the living area and 4 in the kitchen. I believe they are PR 30. Don't ask me what that means, that's what DH told me. I am clueless on that. LOL. We have 2 small eyeball lights that highlight our fireplace area. We had a hard time determining how many to use and the spacing in between. We went to the Internet and found several sights that help with determining recessed lighting. We drew out our floor plan ( to scale) example 1 sq = 1 ft , then spaced the lights occording to instructions. Hope this helps, I know it was stressful for us, but it turned out perfect.

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Comments (10)

Milly Rey
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Can't you make the double doors French doors? I would die like a light starved plant with so little natural light.
bemonkey Zone 7 South New Jersey thanked Milly Rey
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cpartist
8 years ago
Is this a reno or a new build? Have you thought of vetting your kitchen plan on this forum because you're bringing laundry right through your kitchen work zone. Plus anyone coming from the garage has to go right through the kitchen.
bemonkey Zone 7 South New Jersey thanked cpartist
bemonkey Zone 7 South New Jersey
Original Author
8 years ago
@zorroslw1 How far did you end up spacing your lights? Did you go with 5" or 6" cans?

@Milly Rey Yes those are French doors, and there is some light that comes through the door too.

@cpartist this is a renovation project and yes I know what you mean :) we are partially used to it, and there are way too many obstacles in place to make it a worthwhile to change.
User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Complete airport runway overkill with traditional 60 watt 6” cans in a 8’ ceiling. You’re going to need sunglasses. With a 12’ ceiling and 4” LED, it looks about right when you add in the accent lighting.

You haven’t shared enough information. Lighting is not a one size fits all solution. Rigid adherence to a grid pattern that doesn’t match intended use is going to result in very poor lighting. Not using under cabinet lighting is going to lead to shadows on your work surface from your head being in front of the lighting source. Let me guess, you’re an engineer.

Hire a lighting designer.
bemonkey Zone 7 South New Jersey thanked User
Janie Gibbs-BRING SOPHIE BACK
8 years ago
HI Bemonkey,

I wish I could redo our electrical plan, as Ms. Wheeler put it, we're guilty of the "runway overkill", but with the dimmer it's fine. It's just something of an eyesore at times, and our ceiling is 9 foot.

Does any of your upper kitchen cabinets have a glass door with in cabinet lighting?
bemonkey Zone 7 South New Jersey thanked Janie Gibbs-BRING SOPHIE BACK
bemonkey Zone 7 South New Jersey
Original Author
8 years ago
Sophie Wheeler, I appreciate your feedback I just wish it was communicated in a nicer tone. We are no experts in this matter, nor do we claim to be. That is why I came here to seek opinion of people that are experts or can speak from an experience. Please understand that not everybody has money to hire all sorts of experts that might be needed for a project.

If you know how and want to help please let me know what additional information you might need and I will share.

You were right about that "engineer". :)

Regards,
bemonkey Zone 7 South New Jersey
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Janie Gibbs, thank you for sharing your experience. We will have under cabinets but none of our cabinets will have glass. It looks like we have more than what might be needed. Our thoughts were to use recessed lights to try to compensate for lack of natural light.

The house is fairly small and the open space plan with galley kitchen was our attempt to give an impression of more space.

Regards,
D
8 years ago
bemonkey-if you see this-how did you end up doing your lighting? And how did your project turn out? My jaw dropped when I saw your post because our living space is almost a twin of yours! We have to decide on the lighting...recessed? in floor outlets for lamps? etc.
bemonkey Zone 7 South New Jersey
Original Author
8 years ago
D, we are not done yet with the kitchen but we know now that we will reduce the amount of lights considerably from our posted plan. :) Once we are finished I will post some pictures but that might take few more months. If you finished earlier please do share your experience.

Kind regards,