Lighting in the kitchen - how important is ambient light?

12 years ago

We've come to the point in our kitchen remodel where we are wiring for lighting. We have a good number of LED recess lights placed (roughly one per cabinet), plus more going around the perimeter of the wall with no cabinets (there is a fireplace there, and we'll put a small table). There will be three pendants over the island.

My concern is the ambient light. I am used to having something light up the ceiling (either a chandelier-type or a semi-flush fixture). I think it makes the room brighter. I haven't really been in rooms where it's just recess and accent lighting, and am worried that despite many lights, it'll look dim.

I am debating either placing an additional semi-flush fixture somewhere - but the question is where? Another option would be to forgo pendants and put something like a large over-the-island fixture that lights up. I personally love the look of pendants and it's not ideal to me, but I also don't want a dim kitchen.

Does Houzz mind have any suggestions? Am I worried over nothing? Is there a better way to light this kitchen? Here is a kitchen plan:

New Home Remodel · More Info

Thank you Houzzers!

Featured Answer

PRO

Clear Lighting and Electrical Design

12 years ago

Thanks for including a drawing! If your "good number" of fixtures is five (5) then you may be going in the right direction. You mentioned "LED recess lights" so what is the Lumen level of each fixture? What is the ceiling height in your kitchen?

"Placed (roughly one per cabinet)" is generally not how placement is determined. Have the center of the recessed fixture placed directly over the outer edge of the counter top in the center of the lateral space. Maybe place a fixture over the Kitchen entry on the bottom of the drawing.

What is the remainder of the space used for on plan left? You may wish to have some general illumination in this area. This could be recessed or a surface mounted decorative fixture.

We do not select finishes and colors of decorative fixtures. We do evaluate decorative fixtures as to their illumination qualities. Shades and light sources need to be considered as form follows function... or is that just an old saying?

Have you considered under cabinet counter top illumination? Keep in mind the light colour of the fixtures you select. Don't forget dimmers!

If you send me your drawing in a jpeg I would do a lighting plan for you to review in exchange for your review here in the Houzz community. Enjoy Your Project !! gary@clearled.biz

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Comments (9)

PRO
Liza Jane Interiors
12 years ago
Hello. Can you tell me how large your island is? It depends on how much light output your pendant lights will emit.

Not sure of the style of the kitchen but I LOVE the attached light fixtures. Just put 2 of these into a kitchen remodel over an island.

Height: 20 1/2" Width: 24" Canopy: 6" Round
Shade: 20" x 24" x 15" Wattage: 3 - 60 Watt Type A
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Sonya N
Original Author
12 years ago
Thank you for your responses! Island is 63''x83''. Approximate number of recess lights is 12, emitting 400 lumens, spaced (almost) evenly around the room perimeter, plus whatever we end up doing over the island. Ceiling height is 8 feet - not very tall.

Remainder of the room has a sliding glass door to the back yard (near the sink), fireplace on the right wall near the china cabinet, and will have a small table with chairs in the lower right corner.

Style of the kitchen is contemporary, but not modern - something along these lines:
Kitchen · More Info

We are considering under-cabinet lighting, yes.
PRO
Clear Lighting and Electrical Design
12 years ago
Excellent, you have plenty of recessed fixture illumination at 400 lumens each! Now select decorative fixtures with ease since they are not needed for general lighting.
PRO
Linda Mayo
12 years ago
The amount of natural light will be a factor in how much illumination you need as well. Are you surrounded by trees or houses? Or do you get a lot of southern exposure? Consider those things as well.
User
12 years ago
I use roughly 300 lumens per linear foot of counter top. The old standard was about 1,000 lumens per recessed can at 3'-4' apart. 12 recessed spaced evenly around the room is only 3 per wall. That may be fine if they were 1,000 lumens each. I am not a big fan of relying on the under cabinet lights for a large percentage of the light needed for a task. It feels like you are preparing dinner in front of your car's headlights. Do your cabinets go all the way to the ceiling? How many lumens will the pendants put out?
Sonya N
Original Author
12 years ago
Yes, the cabinets go all the way up to the ceiling (except where the hood is - it's a free-standing hood. I haven't selected the pendants yet, mostly because I am hesitating between getting pendants (I would love something like this:
Kitchens · More Info

or like this:
Dining Room · More Info

However, if that's not enough light (or light only points down), I would consider getting something like this: http://www.kichler.com/media/41359/Grand_Bank_696x400.jpg
or like this:
http://www.kichler.com/media/42971/Leeds_696x400.jpg
But I like these less, I prefer the look of pendants.
bostonstyle
12 years ago
I love the look of my mini crystal chandeliers! They are on dimmers for a variety of lighting options.
PRO
Cabinets 4U, Inc.
11 years ago
As a kitchen designer, I I feel that lighting is s crucial part of any remodel. I wrote an article for my clients that you might find helpful: http://bit.ly/1pgE1Pv