Definitely not both. I’d opt for solatube as smaller hole in roof & less obtrusive in ceiling. Solatubes can have lighting in them & they come in different sizes. Think about a larger - maybe at least 12” diameter - over the table. It could be directly over table where light is & replace the light fixture. You’d still have LED lights in it for after dark & for gloomy days. Benefit of not adding a new hole in ceiling. There are different styles of tubes, some with more reflective interior tubing than others as well as different styles of covers that you see on the interior ceiling. Full disclosure - I have 5 in my home. One in kitchen, 2 in great room, 1 in laundry & 1 in stairwell which has a light in it & replaced the stairwell light. They have been a game changer for our light comfort in our home.

I like the idea of replacing the light fixtures. Perhaps replace the light over the table with a solatube and also replace the light fixtures over the little island. 🤔

Yeah, the dark floors were a poor design choice by previos owner

@itzelm I don’t know about the light fixtures over the island. It would be one larger solatube not 3 small ones I think. Replacing the light over the table with a tube will bring in much more daylight than you can imagine if you haven’t seen one in a home. Do lots of research first & maybe do the one over table first. The lights over island do provide a bit of task lighting that a solatube cannot. Beverly’s suggestions are great too but replacing a floor is a lot more $$. If you don’t have under cab lighting over counters, that’s a definite add.

Good idea to start with one over the table!

I’ve had the solatube guys come back in. 2021 but i did not like any of the suggestions. They did not where to put the tube so it would look the best. One idea was to put the solatube in between both lamps (kitchen and breakfast nook) as shown in photo.

solar tubes are awesome we had 2 in our old house and they lit up the entire living area all day... the sky light in the entry, cracked and needed much more militance.

but adding can lights could really help too.

From those pictures, the Solatube add almost no light to the room.

This light would end up looking the same way and would not involve an construction and would be much less expensive.

I would rather re-design the space. It looks like a porch was closed in and stole the light. A dinky island was installed that just look in the way and not useful. Dark floors also are stealing light. The whole space has gradually been made cluttered and dark. The compensatory add-ons of increasing light will only work on a sunny day. What light over the table will there be on a winter evening? None? You can't even turn on a light if you replace it as you propose.

I suggest you edit your post, add a floor plan of your entire home, and add the section of "design dilemma". I think your idea is creative but will not solve your problem. You risk the integrity of your roof to boot. In addition, it looks like you have a contemporary house with add-in choices that are more traditional. I would go contemporary as things need replacing.

I understand if you are uncomfortable with my comments and apologize in advance. Beverly can help you better if you let her.

I do not find those ideal for actual lighting since they only work in daylight. Get lots more pot lights try LED 4000K bulbs those mimic daylight cost very little to run and give you light always cloudy day or not .

Beverly has the best ideas for the space with the flush mount lights she has described. Solar tubes and skylights don’t provide additional light at night full stop. Under cabinet lighting and a lighter backsplash will also help if in the budget. Not judging, we are all busy, but there is some declutterring and better safety options for hanging electrical cords that should be addressed to allow light to bounce around the room.

If it were me, I would focus on editing/decluttering the space and would replace the black counter and dark backsplash (I would add back the upper cabinet doors)

I would replace the dark wood table with a round white one and light chairs that pop off the dark floor more - I would drop a warmer light w/mult bulbs that I loved over the table

if there is a wall that faces the porch, a mirror there could help bounce some of that light around

more $$ than a solartube but I think it would make the space way more inviting

Thanks! The kitchen redesign is not an option. The clutter- we are packing and moving out of the space.

Would advise you to have a general contractor come look at your house to tell you what is even possible. A large skylight is going to require modification of the existing room framing.

Thanks everyonw for the ideas. Beverly’s idea is the most effective and appropriate for the current situation. The redesign options are definitely on the table for the future.

If you're willing to spend the money, I'd put skylights over both the island and the breakfast area. You could still do pendant lights if you did something like this:

Kitchen with Skylight Detail · More Info

There's also a Bay Area builder whose name escapes me at the moment who has done sky lights with a framed/drywall surround and wired it with cable lighting across the skylight with hanging pendants. I can't find the photo, but it looks great and you have the best of both worlds.

Hey! I found the photos I was looking for. From Timeline Design and Build:

Open Concept Kitchen in White · More Info

Craftsman Style Kitchen · More Info

This is a great way to get both the skylight and pendant lighting in the same footprint.

You are moving out ???? Do you mean just during the reno ? I am confused.

I can't say enuf positive about the benefit of a solartube. To my notion, it (or they) would accomplish exactly what the author's stated goal is: plenty of light where it's needed.

Doesn't look like there is any reason not to put a solartube in the kitchen and in the table area. Regardless of dark floor, those two tubes would radically change the amount of light, even on a cloudy day.

Perhaps you should make a distinct effort to find an experienced person who can advise size and placement of tubes, as that is the important component.

I suppose the OP has left, but if not…I loved the solatubes in our last house. The upstairs landing, which was about the size of a room at about 8x12', was windowless and dark, and the interior bathroom even more so. The upstairs landing light was on all day.

A solatube in each was like magic. In summer we didn't have to turn on the lights until 8 or 9 pm and not at all in the morning. In winter, even though the sun set by 5, there was still residual light. Eventually I added one over the stairs, just for more even lighting.

Installation was quick, no framing required. The bathroom one had an integrated fan, the hall ones had integrated light. Never any problem with leaks or hot/cold penetrating.

Thanks

I would try the lights Beverly suggested, and the dark backsplash needs to be lightened up. If a reno is in the future could you paint the backsplash as a temporary fix? I also would toss the rug, too small anyways and possibly reupholster the chairs to a lighter fabric? I distrust skylights and solar tubes, we live in snow country and would worry about leaks and when the snow slides off the roof.

Thanks. I live in Texas. It us extremely sunny and we hardly ever get snow

They look so cool when it snows. The light quality changes to a slight blue tinge until it blows off. We never had the snow leak, it was well-flashed.

Skylights ALWAYS leak and they affect resale of house in a negative way. I would not do it. Hard to see complete layout, but possibly enlarge windows near by? Or simple add a stronger light or one with more bulbs. Incandescent offers better lighting, but not everyone has a supply of them from before they stopped selling them. Also note, a more important thing to do to that kitchen is to get rid of the black plastic fake wood floor and put in real wood in a light color, or real linoleum tiles like Armstrong VCT - in a pattern or some sort like checkerboard of beige & white or black and white, or with borders - lots of ways to use multiple colors. Light is not reflecting and the dark floors are part of the problem besides being cheap looking.

@terrib962 Not true. Skylights DO NOT ALWAYS leak. We added a skylight to a bedroom over 30 years ago and it has never leaked. We added a skylight to the kitchen over 10 years ago and it has never leaked (probably will now lol). We haven't tried to sell the house so cannot speak to resale but have never had negative comments about always complementary comments on the design choice.

I agree with jck910. We have 4 large skylights in various areas. They have never leaked.We have one that is 45 years old. We enjoy how bright they make all the areas

@terrib965 the flooring is not fake wood. It is real wood.

Itzelm I think your kitchen floor is absolutely perfect. We want to install one like it. What colour is the wood?
TIA

I bought the house with the wood installed. Let me see if the extra pieces have the color on it.

I have both and I have to say I regret not getting skylights where I put solar tubes. Even if it cost more. Velux has opening ones with solar batteries. Had them 5 years with no issues. They even have solar blinds. It would be nice to have some in the kitchen so you could open them up to vent anything smelly/smoky. Skylights all the way.

I must be missing something... Here's what you said about the clutter: "we are packing and moving out of the space". Yet you're asking for advice on installing solar tubes?

Yes we are. Temporarily.

Also if considering skylights I would advise to get the ones that open. In warmer weather it takes a lot of the heat out of the house.
We have manual ones,that come with extension pull to open.

I live in Florida and installed multiple tubular skylights. When we moved here 12 years ago, I hated how dark the kitchen was and heard about tube skylights. Had them install a medium size in the kitchen. I love, love it! Frankly, I was so impressed with the skylight, I added a large one to our open living-dining rooms. I then added small one in a powder room which had no window. Then a medium size in the den and a small one in the laundry room.

These have never leaked and have been through multiple hurricanes. We had a new roof installed 6 yrs ago and they were no problem. I was afraid they would need to be removed. Not at all.

The amount of light these bring in is truly amazing. I've had regular skylights in our old home and they were good but did not bring in the amount of light that these small skylights do.

Anyway, you can tell I love them....

Jane