Need help with recessed lighting layout

8 years ago

We are about to have to decide where to put all the lights and I want to make sure I'm not making any mistakes or forgetting something important. Any suggestions would be appreciated! I think we will stick with the 4 inch cans.

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rantontoo

8 years ago

I agonized over this and had no local lighting designer to go to. This is a posting I made that might be helpful: https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/4723058/help-can-location-garden-web-versus-electrician?n=94

I basically used the design palimpsest posted. I do not have a working kitchen yet (major cab door issues....very big sigh), but so far light throw seems to be fine. I have two slight hot spots on the fridge upper cab and oven cab, but I am ok with that since they “match” and look planned.

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Comments (8)

AvatarWalt
8 years ago
Will you have under cabinet lighting and pendants, or just ceiling cans?
cherylbirth
Original Author
8 years ago
We are planning on having under cabinet lighting, and pendants over the peninsula.
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AvatarWalt
8 years ago
I think if you do some searches on here, you'll find threads recommending the correct distance between cans and uppers, as well as spacing so you don't get shadows. For example, I recall the advice to have a light/can on each side of the sink rather than directly over it because when you lean over the sink you'll block some of the light. I'm no expert though, and I was partly hoping that bumping your question would get a useful answer or two. Also check the lighting forum, though that's much less active.
cherylbirth
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you!
AvatarWalt
8 years ago
No problem, and as I think about it I'm remembering that when I was at the "lighting obsession" point of our kitchen remodel, I contacted a big local lighting store and paid for an hour of a designer's time. That was very helpful in understanding various kinds of lights, angles of bulbs, etc., and confirming that my layout was reasonable (when sifted through my reading here and elsewhere). Good luck!
salex
8 years ago
I recently faced this dilemma and ended up with most of my 4" cans centered on the edge of the countertop. In your case, I would put the cans on the window wall closer to the wall because you won't have undercabinet lights there. Also, I have a can directly over my sink and then one on either side (about 3' apart) and it is excellent work lighting.

This a more aesthetic consideration, but I would consider whether you could do a combo of pendants over the peninsula and then flush- or semi-flush mount on the window wall, 12" off the wall. Or maybe all pendants if they're not too long.
cherylbirth
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks, everyone! These are the kinds of details I never thought of when I was dreaming of my new kitchen. I think we've finally got it - we're going to do three lights on each side of the kitchen, the one on the window side will be directly over the sink, and two in the middle, spaced halfway between the outer lights. Then the pendant lights over the peninsula and the light fixture over the table, which you can't see in the picture.