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brianphl

Countertop Switches for Overhead Lighting

6 years ago

Our new kitchen will have a massive island at 9’ x 5’. No walls or vertical surfaces nearby. I would like a physical switch to control the recessed light over the sink. I know we can mount switches inside the sink base cabinet for the light and garbage disposal. I have also found air actuated switches for the disposal that can be mounted in the countertop. The sink is dead center of the 9’ side. Any other non-remote control or “app” control ideas for the over sink light?

Comments (8)

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    I honestly just have the switch on the wall closest to where you enter the space . Switches inside cabinets are IMO useless and in some cases even against code. It is like having all the kitchen lighting on dimmers, why. I like the under cabinet lighting on its own switch and the rest no dimmer just good working lighting. If you have pendants thay can go on a switch that is separate. You need power to the island so as mentioned I guess somehow the switch could go there but makes no sense to me.

    Philly Scrapple thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
  • 6 years ago

    If you want one there I'd use Lutron Caseta with a Pico switch. We have them and love them.


    Philly Scrapple thanked clt3
  • 6 years ago

    Thanks everyone. Everything that we are doing is connected so we can always use our phone or tablet. We can even turn on the light before we enter the area. Was looking for something more at the spot, in this case, the sink. If I cannot find something suitable, I will just mount the switch in the cabinet underneath the sink.

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    So you've got chopped onion bits and juice on your fingers and you have to open a door, reach under for a switch you can't see, turn on the disposal, turn it off, and close the door? Gross.


    Air switch on the sink deck or countertop please. One finger; juice in the sink.

    Philly Scrapple thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC
  • 6 years ago

    I think that's what I am going to do for the disposal. I was looking for something to turn on the spot light above the sink.

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    I repeat what is wrong with a wall switch that controls only that light .

    Philly Scrapple thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
  • 6 years ago

    I repeat, I believe from a design perspective, it is too far. I will likely place the dedicated light switch under the sink. The entire lighting platform is smart lighting. In other words, I will be able to control it from scene keypads (four button switches) on two separate walls, smart phones, tablets, Alexa, and Google Home. However, in the moment that a guest needs to turn it on, and does not know about "Hey Google", "Alexa", or which specific switch or scene on the wall controls that specific spotlight, I think a switch should be in the location where it is used. That is the functional purpose... Turn on light over sink at the sink. I was hoping that in all of the kitchen innovations in the past 20 years or so, someone would have developed a water-resistant, counter or grommet mounted switch for something other than the garbage disposal outlet. The air actuated ones for garbage disposals will not work as they just plug in between the disposal and the outlet under the sink. Thanks anyhow.