Will I have enough light if I don't want recessed cans???

16 years ago

We have an 1810 house and are doing a kitchen addition. It will have a tongue and groove ceiling. In my last kitchen in the old (even older 1745) house I messed up the lighting.

We had a ring of recessed fixtures and then a chandelier over the island. I never had enough light working on the perimeter of the kitchen -- maybe why I hated it. I never had enough light working at the sink - no task lighting.

This time I don't want to make that mistake again (although this room in general is much brighter - we will have a lot of dark surfaces absorbing light). But I really don't want the recessed ceiling lights. They just feel wrong for this period house. Can I get around it? How many ceiling mounted schoolhouse fixtures would I need if that is a good option - will it end up looking ridiculous (ie too many fixtures needed to get enough light)

Below is the floor plan. I am thinking chandelier over island and table. I want sconces mounted between windows on window wall (I've seen a pic and like it) and then where and how many ceiling fixtures? HELP

We have an 1810 house and are doing a kitchen addition. It will have a tongue and groove ceiling. In my last kitchen in the old (even older 1745) house I messed up the lighting.

We had a ring of recessed fixtures and then a chandelier over the island. I never had enough light working on the perimeter of the kitchen -- maybe why I hated it. I never had enough light working at the sink - no task lighting.

And finally -- do I "need" undercabinet lighting? I didn't have it in old house. I have very few uppers and I am a huge keep stuff out on counter person -- do they add enough light to be worth it? Are there any kinds that do not get hot?

Comments (3)

texasredhead
16 years ago
Recessed cans are a fairly recent phenomenon. Your 1810 home didn't have electricity originally let alone recessed cans. So, the choice is yours' as to whether you want to keep the original flavor of the home. On the other hand, is the kitchen in keeping with the 1810 architecture? If you have produced a modern kitchen then the gloves are off relative to lighting.
abejadulce_z9b
15 years ago
How high is the ceiling?

How are you going to use the space?

If it will be a showcase light it that way. If you cook there every day, light it for how you cook.

If you are an active cook, think about how you use the different surfaces. Where do you want the light?

Forget about fixtures and think about light. What do you need and where do you need it? once you answer those questions you will be able to pick fixtures that meet your needs.
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lagomarsino
15 years ago
Tongue and groove ceiling is beautiful and good for you for not ruining it with canned lighting. My family's house was built in the late 1800's (about 4000 sq. ft. including additions over the years). Lots of natural light. NO recessed lighting was ever added in order to preserve the beautiful, pre-war architecture. The house is well lit with lamps, chandeliers, and old hanging fixtures. (ceilings are 9'6"). Undercabinet lighting was added in the kitchen. Obviously, you don't see it, but provides enough light for a large kitchen, PERFECT.

We are currently building a fairly large, custom home. I told my architect several months ago that I wanted NO recessed lighting in the house, ANYWHERE. To help with lighting, i've added extra windows, hanging fixtures where necessary, sconces and undercabinet lighting in the kitchen for "task lighting". However, i am adding a lot of tongue and groove paneling (including ceiling) and i think recessed lighting is very distracting (even including recessed lighting in high end homes). Well placed fixtures and lamps where necessary seem to be enough lighting for me.