If you are looking for answers on this post, apparently no one has advice on it so after many hours of diligence, I came across a solution.

This is not a very common installation according to electricians and you need to have the right kind of countertop to get this to work. For LED strips ...

Armacost Lighting, Darryl Lee 410-354-6000 ext. 139.

They sell their LED lights through major retailers. Darryl works at Arma in tech and sales support.

He just spent almost an hour on the phone with me. I explained everything about the lighting I wanted (under cabinet lighting and countertop backlighting as shown in the picture), configurations, the way I wanted it all connected, wire, switches, etc and he was incredible. A great listener with mastery of this subject. He emailed me the materials list for the LED under cabinet and solutions I needed for power, dimming etc. Also, he explained it so I can understand it and was so patient as I struggled my way through explaining as I have zero electrical knowledge.

You can order over the phone with him or he said to use his materials list that he emails me to shop for better prices, either way he said, he's happy the company gets the order. .http://www.armacostlighting.com/store/

Thanks, Beverly. How does the acrylic panel affix to the inside of the lower cabinet? Or, I believe it requires an acrylic panel to lay as a substrate? I'm not doing that kind of install. This is for the 12" deep counter vs a 25 1/2 so I think the issue will be minimal.

This is a job for a lighting designer, and a good one. i would not seek out advice here, you need to go to a good old fashion light store, not lamps plus but a real lighting store, where you can have someone invest some solutions that wont fail. Find a good LED score and then find the sales rep.

Thanks RL as you will see I did find a good LED source and rep. They walked through everything and it's all ordered.

I'd love to see how your turned out..pics? I'm getting ready to do mine, and I need some ideas of what would be best. Thanks!

Wow! Backlit translucent counters! Perfect for a ghost party!

Is the effect visible also when the light is on?

This is how you backlight countertops.

What did you end up using to backlight your countertops? Currently in the same situation and trying to find the best way to do it without spending a fortune.

Acrylic panels are the best because they dissipate the light evenly without shadows which is important for a standard counter depth. I used LED perimeter because it was a shallow shelf but can still cast a shadow. No one seems to notice but me because they rave about the beauty of the result.

Can you post photos of the final result?

Hi There- which LED panels did you select or recommend? I want to backlight a crystallo quartzite counter/fireplace surround and kitchen backsplash. Any recommendations for the best LED panels would be very helpful? Thanks!

I did LED tape along the upper inside edge of the cabinet b4 installing the cristallo. this is not the same depth as a standard countertop but if it were I would use a panel vs a strip

AMIT: I"ve already told you which panels are best, 6 posts up.

Lighttape.

looking for the easiest way to add backlighting or uplighting under your countertop before installation, you’ve got a couple of great options!

Best Backlighting Option for Your Project
1. Frameless LED Light Panels – These provide perfectly even illumination with no hotspots or dark spots. They’re ultra-thin (1/4” or 5/16” thick) and sit directly on a plywood or MDF sub-top, with the countertop placed right on top. They can also be dimmable when paired with the right driver.
2. LED Strip Lights – These are more budget-friendly, but since they have individual LED diodes, you may see hotspots unless you use a diffuser sheet (like Plexiglass 7328). Strips are typically mounted along the cabinet tops and fed through small holes between the cabinets.

How to Install
• If you go with LED panels, just lay them on a plywood sub-top, and the stone sits directly on top. Simple, clean, and seamless.
• If you choose LED strips, you’ll want to install aluminum channels with diffusers to soften the lighting and prevent visible dots.

Dimming & Controls
• Wall Dimmer (Recommended) – Works like a regular light switch but controls brightness. You’d need a Lutron-compatible dimmable power supply for this.
• Remote Dimmer – If wiring a wall switch isn’t an option, a remote-controlled dimming setup is a good alternative.

Final Thoughts

If your countertop is translucent, a light panel is hands down the best option for even, smooth illumination. If you’re just looking for a soft glow underneath, LED strips with a diffuser can work. Either way, it’s important to make sure the light is evenly spread so you don’t get harsh bright spots or shadows.

Hope this helps! Let me know if you need specific recommendations or any help figuring out what works best for your space.