What did you ask for/specify?

We didnt specify but thought surely he would think they dont look good and change?

Black or brass surrounds? I think they put white lights in the wood ceiling of my daughter's back porch. I believe they ended up painting the bezels black.

I'd get recessed lights with as narrow a bezel as possible that sits flush with the beam instead on top of the beam. I'd look into metal bezels that can be powder coated to a color that matches the wood.

Did the builder choose to put these beams in too? They make zero sense in this room, with the fireplace, and with that molding and trim. It is a bit insane. I'd remove the beams and get recessed lights in the ceiling if that is at all an option.

These are really not great and would bother me a lot.

I cannot think of anything that would scream fake hollow beams more loudly than to see that light housings had been shoved into them. I would have the lights removed and the electrical for them safely disconnected, cover the length of the bottom with solid wood to cover up the holes, and then explore different ways to illuminate the room.

Could put lights on top of the beams.

Up lights is DHs suggestion too but at this point ya have to start over as the holes will not ever be hidden. I second the screaming hollow beam comment. As far as what to do for lights after you redo all the beams...floor lamps? Interesting design choice, blah grayed out color washing below the wood beams.

Oh goodness. You're building a home so take no chances letting the builder decide what you're getting..... with anything. You should be involved with so many of the selections and decisions.

First mistake trusting the builder to make decisions. Now I thnk GYR has the right answer those look ridiculous and nothing short of removal and covering the fake beam bottom will work. Probably on your dime but has to be done .

Wow! That is just crazy that your builder thought that was a good idea.

Did you discuss any of the electrical with him?

Didn't your architect do an Electrical & Reflected Ceiling Plan?

Did you ask for lights in the beams?

Usually there would be recessed lights in the sloped ceiling or there are some suspended cable systems that can house spot lights.

Having recessed lights in a floating beam is just bad design.

Not the best idea to have the lights in the beam but they should at least be flush. If you keep them, try different finishes to see which one is best colour with your wood to make them less obvious.

As suggested by someone above lights on top of the beam.

Those are also builder grade wafer lights. For recessed lights you want the light source to be recessed up into the housing so you don't see the light source unless you are looking up into the light housing. The wafer lights will produce a lot of glare.

I would remove the beams since they serve no function. Then I would rethink the lighting altogether.

This is a spec house that we are buying and we came in at the end so we don't have much say. Just frustrating when things like this happen!

What type lites and or bezel are in the model? Does the draings show or spec anything? Me personally I would leave them until you close and then get rid of the beams and the lights, at the very least the lights, patch the holes and paint the beams. As mentioned above, nothing scream fake beams then lights installed.

Find a pendant or downlight with a cap to cover the hole and to attach a fixture. Just trying to think outside the box.

Then you could have any style fixture. I'm not saying use these but to show concept. It would appear they must have drilled through real wood.

In this last photo, you can see how they must have drilled through a solid wood recycled beam from above here, maybe give the same effect?

"it would appear as if they drilled through a solid beam to attach a fixture."

tracefloyd, are you sure? I ask because it would appear to me as though they ran wires through a hollow, non-structural beam. Which of course is what they would be doing. IMO, the sheer illogic of this "design" (not your idea, trace; I mean the builder's "design") is glaringly apparent. I wouldn't put a penny more into trying to make those beams make visual sense. I'd save up to have them taken down and properly designed lighting put in. If possible I'd have them taken down now, and deal with lighting later if I have to.

Jaclyn, it looks like the room gets daylight. In the evenings you can do a lot with floor and table lamps till you're sure how, or even if, you want to address overhead lighting.

Wow, builders can be weird.

Those appear to be surface mounted fixtures meant to mimic recessed lights. Probably the builder even bought them at Home Depot here.

The beams cannot be hollow or they would sag. Doesn't mean the 2x's inside are structural to the roof framing, but there has to be something inside, which probably prevented actual recessed fixtures from being installed.

Removal would leave a hole as they should have an electrical box behind each one, but I suspect they were not installed correctly. Once electrical is removed, you could add a thin (1/8") wood cover or just replace the bottom piece, which at the same time can make the box look like a single member (like the web chords) rather than a built-up box.

• If lighting must remain in each beam, maximum 2" recessed fixtures with black or gold trim would fit better, and only at each end with none in the middle of the beam.
• Uplighting placed on top of each beam might not work here as the web chords would cause too many strange shadows, defeating the purpose of uplighting.
• Uplighting placed at the roof/wall cove might work better, especially for that unfortunate area between the "truss" and fireplace.
• Uplighting/downlighting attached along the side of each "truss" sells the idea that they are not faux. Fireplace accent lighting, which would be a positive addition here, would have to be done this way as there isn't another good choice.
• Recessed fixtures in the ceiling are probably the better lighting choice, but not in a general ambient room grid. They would work in concert with lamps and fireplace accent lighting.

Show us th whole space not this one area so we can at least see what is going on

More pics for reference

Since it is not yours but will be a spec home, go with it.

Not everyone is as savvy as people here. Some people want the choice a brighter lit home. You can always not use them.
There isn't anywhere to put lighting up there, This room calls for lamps only.

Why? Perfect solution to light the beams and the area below. Just put on a dimmer.

I would be more concerned with the over done built-ins. Why? The beams are the highlight and the cabinets/trim are not a good choice for the room. Actually, the cabinets ruin the architectual look of the room.

" Since it is not yours but will be a spec home, go with it "

eld6161 I read it as they have purchased the spec home but after all the decisions were made and thus they could not change things.

The "cheap" fix would be to paint the beams white to make them disappear, which will also make the lights "disappear" a bit more, specially if you change them out for better quality lights.

Get some nice upholstery with some color and pattern to make the sitting area the focal point in the space.