Today’s Homeowner appreciates the importance of the different types of lighting and lighting placement in kitchens. There are so many options available today that it can be mind boggling. One should not consider a kitchen remodel today without three different types of lighting: task, ambient, and accent.
First would be task lighting which includes under cabinet and pendant lighting. The typical under cabinet lighting has been fluorescent or halogen, but the trend is now xenon lighting, which has a warm light with out the heat that is given off by halogen lights, and lasts longer than halogen. The xenon lights are a more expensive than the fluorescent and halogen, but are well worth the extra few dollars.
Pendant lighting is used as a statement or as design flair. It is a hanging fixture that is strategically placed over an island or the kitchen sink. It can be a simple drop light or some thing very unique. The pendant lights are priced from very modest to very expensive depending on the budget and the statement that you want to make. When designing the kitchen, careful consideration is given to this light since your eye is drawn to this fixture before noticing the rest of the kitchen.
The ambient lights are the recessed ceiling cans or ceiling mounted light fixtures. The regular incandescent ceiling cans are used with a 100 watt bulb. With the new energy code in effect in the Houston area, the wattage on these ceiling cans should not exceed 75 watts per ceiling can, but check out the brand to see what the manufacturer recommends. These cans should be strategically placed at about 12” out from the upper cabinets in order to get the most use out of the light. Be careful placing the cans too close to ceiling fans so you do not get a strobe effect every time the blades are moving.
Ceiling mounted fixtures can be any thing from a flush mount ceiling fixture to fluorescent lights. These lights are used for general lighting and there are lots of options available. The most important thing to consider is getting enough light since we tend to need more lighting as we get older.
Low voltage recessed lighting is typically used as accent lighting such as inside cabinets. The low voltage lighting has more clarity and the cans are smaller. These lights are used with a transformer so there has to be decisions made on where to place the transformers. The lights can be used as ambient lights but since they do not give off as much light, more cans will have to be used. It can be expensive, and the lights bulbs are difficult to replace.
Dimmers are also a critical part of the kitchen lighting. Putting the pendant lights and ambient lights on dimmers allow for more opportunities in the lighting. When you are entertaining you can keep the lights low so the kitchen mess is not as noticeable. When using dimmers, be aware of the wattage load of the dimmers. There are many factors that can determine the dimmer size needed, such as what gang box the dimmer is going into, and how much wattage is on the dimmer. Talk to a licensed electrician or lighting specialist about your needs.
The lighting in the kitchen is as important as the cabinets and the appliances. You can set the mood with dimmers and pendant lighting. Without enough light it is difficult to show off your new project. Spend some time on the lighting before the project starts and talk to your remodeling contractor about the different opportunities. The lighting can finish off the project with flair.
Written by Leslie King, CGR, President of Greymark Construction Company.
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