Help with recessed lights for kitchen and dining room

last year

last modified: last year

I need some help planning the recessed lights for my kitchen and dining room. The ceiling is 14' high and flat over most of the area (it slopes down towards the living room below the dashed line marked "Ceiling transition" in the drawing below). I already purchased the pendants, chandelier, and sconces. But I am not sure how many recessed lights I need or where to place them. My thinking is to use two smaller 4" recessed lights on either side of the sink, to avoid shadows from my head when working at the sink, and do the same in the prep area (to the right of the sink) and also around the range. There are no upper cabinets along the sink wall, so I think those recessed lights could be 18" from the wall (again to minimize shadows from my head). For the range wall, I would like to put the lights 25" from the wall, but they need to be a bit further to avoid the decorative beam (8" wide, 10" high, marked in green). Then the other recessed lights are 6" to provide general lighting, except in order to avoid the pendants over the island I put in two 4" lights there. And one extra 4" light over the small countertop on the left wall. I'll use dimmers on all the lights. What do you think-- is this too many lights or not enough? And are they in the right place? Do I need to get a certain type of flood light with a narrow dispersion angle? Thanks in advance!

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Comments (8)

chispa
last year
No plan/photo showing.
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Daniel
Original Author
last year
Thanks chispa-- I think I managed to get it to work now!
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chispa
last year
I think the number is fine, but just go with all recessed in the 4" size. Pay attention to the lumens, kelvins and CRI. You might need to go to a lighting showroom to get the better specifications. Big box stores don't have all the options.

Make sure to switch different sections separately for maximum flexibility and add dimmers to all the switches.
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Daniel
Original Author
last year
Thanks chispa -- good idea to make them all the same 4" size. My only concern was if that would give me enough lumens, since the 4" lights seem to max out at only 900 lumens.

Do you think it is better to place the lights along the sink wall at 18" or 12" from the wall?

And on the left of the dining room, should I move the two recessed lights near the pantry cabinets to be more centered on the cabinets, to help see inside the cabinets?
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Daniel
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Any thoughts on if the lights along the sink wall should be 18" or 12" from the wall? 12" would totally eliminate shadows from my head, but it will shine a lot of light out the window, and I wonder if the reflection of light from the window may be a problem.

And here is an updated layout taking into account chispa's suggestion of using all 4" recessed lights (I found 4" Halo LCR4 lights with 1200 lumens). I moved the two lights on the left of the dining room (at the top and bottom of the page) a little closer to the center of the pantry cabinets (moved the top light up a little, and the bottom light down a little) to see inside the cabinets better. I also more accurately placed the lights along the sink wall to be 18" from the wall.
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chispa
last year
last modified: last year
We used these and they can be ordered up to 1600 lumens. Bought through a mid/high end lighting showroom.

https://elcolighting.com/products/4-led-light-engine-baffle-trim

The lack of symmetry of the recessed lights in the dining area would drive me crazy!
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Daniel
Original Author
last year
Thanks Chispa-- that looks like a great light! As for the symmetry, here is an alternate lighting plan that my general contractor recommended-- what do you think of this one?

Also, I'm thinking of using square recessed light trim-- any thoughts on that? I like the modern look, and it goes with some of the square design elements, including square pulls and the rectangular look of the sconces (see the legend in the picture below). I realize they take extra time to align, but I figure that is only done once.

And does anyone have any recommendations for a good art light? On both the left and right walls I plan to have a large painting (maybe 7' wide and 3' tall) above the 9' cabinets (ceilings are 14'), and I want a light to highlight it. I could use a recessed light in the ceiling I suppose, or a light mounted behind the crown molding (hidden from view) that points up. I think strip lighting behind the crown molding would not spotlight the art-- I think I need more focused light than that. Any ideas?
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chispa
last year
We used some wall-washer recessed lights for art and they work/look ok. Again, a good mid/high end lighting showroom will have a display with art lights.

Yes, I prefer that symmetrical dining area layout for the lights!

Square vs round is a personal choice, so use what you like!
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