Help! Kitchen Lighting Placement/Plan/Recessed Lighting Advice

8 years ago

My kitchen designer placed the recessed lighting in the middle of walkways spaced out evenly, but I was reading in order not to have shadows and for more practical placement, I should center recessed lights at the counter edge. I drew new placements for cans in pencil that are all 48 inches apart (more or less) with more of a functional layout (centered at sink, closer to pantries ect. What plan do you think is better? Is it a good distance to place lights about 18 inches away from pantry walls or refrigerators? There are no uppers in my kitchen except for those labeled (wall with sink and range has a hood and windows only, and there will be open shelves on wall to left of sink next to peninsula). Any other suggestions? I'm not a designer so would love any advice! There are also 2 pendants over island, a light over window seat kitchen table, and sconces centered over the sink and in between the two uppers on the hutch-like wall (in current plan, wine rack in between two glass cabinets is removed, cabinets extend down to sit on counter, and wall in between them is plain for artwork ect.)

Also which kinds of lights do people like? I was thinking of 4 inch LEDs.

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Comments (3)

PRO
Brilliant! Lighting & Design
8 years ago
@Kimberly J,

You're on the right track.

While you've not given us a ceiling height nor details on materials/finishes (all affect lighting design) please consider the following:

• Depending on actual pendant choices, your island could handle 3 smaller pendants & your peninsula could handle 1-2 pendants. These might all be complimentary to the pendant style you choose to hang over the table.

• Lighting for sink wall & art wall could all be controlled together via dimmer.

• Lights for island & for peninsula should be controlled separately, dimmers. Maybe locate the island's pendants dimmer on the island itself.

• Before choosing actual recessed light size & final layout, think about the quantity & quality of the light it produces. The Lithonia Wafer LED comes 3", 4" or 6", and the Philips SlimSurface LED comes from 4" to 7". Each is available round or square, and in a few different color temperatures. I suggest using LEDs that are 2700k (a warmer white light like incandescent bulbs).

I suggest the attached image for a possible layout. Less recessed lighting than the original.

Please post pics when the project is completed.
Kimberly J
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for suggesting the temperature, I didn't even think about that yet! I've been having permit issues so just starting this project now but will post when it's done for sure. So you agree then with putting lights closer to counter? Do you do evenly spaced or more based on lining up with cabinetry plan (for example center in front of the closet or in front of the door to the bathroom ect. Thanks!
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PRO
Brilliant! Lighting & Design
8 years ago
Yes, recessed aligned closely with the edge of your counter (as shown in my plan), and spacing so light comes over each shoulder (not directly overhead) at the sink & range. On the pantry wall, the spacing is to allow light into both pantries, etc., and the one recessed in the open aligns with the small table pendant. All around similar spacings and some symmetry.