SPOTLIGHT ON IDEAL KITCHEN LIGHTING PART 1

Under-cabinet lighting is ideal for performing a variety of kitchen tasks, e.g. washing dishes or chopping while entertaining, as shown in this kitchen of the Piedmont model home.

One of the best benefits of building your dream home is the ability to make it yours; to design it around your family’s lifestyle. The most popular place in the home for families to congregate is the kitchen. Every morning kicks off in it as coffee brews and most evenings end with the final flick of the switch of the light above the kitchen sink or stove.
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Strategically placing lights in work vs. entertaining areas has a huge impact on a kitchen’s flow, feel and function. At Echelon Homes, we pride ourselves on supporting you as we construct the home of your dreams, so we decided to shine a light on kitchen lighting.

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What lighting is best for the kitchen?

First, focus on overhead lighting and add lower sources to illuminate work surfaces. Use pendant lights, under-cabinet lights or a small table lamp to illumine specific areas. Dimmers are advantageous because you can turn them up while cooking and then down to create ambiance while entertaining.

Which light styles should be considered?

• Flush Mount fixtures hug the ceiling and are very common in hallways and bedrooms. Their bright whole-room illumination is particularly useful in a kitchen, though elsewhere they can be harsh. You can tone down the brightness by swapping high-wattage bulbs for lower ones. Aim for a total wattage of about 60.
• Semiflush lights hang down approx. one foot from the ceiling. They tend to be more charming than a flush-mount because they have a bit of the glamour of pedants, but are short enough for ample head clearance.
• Pendant is any fixture suspended from a chain or cord, including chandeliers. They are ideal over tables, counters and islands. They also work well in rooms that have nine feet tall or higher ceilings. For ideal placement, simply calculate the length of the room in feet and use the same number in inches for the fixture’s diameter.
• Recessed Lights are embedded in the ceiling. They are inconspicuous and ideal for low ceilings. The smaller the light, the more chic the light will appear. Recessed lights are highly functional because they can be set to beam light toward a certain spot; perhaps where a favorite piece of pottery is displayed in your kitchen.

What size of light is just right?

Pendant lights should clear the head of the tallest family member and not obstruct views. Usually 36-38 inches from the top of the counter or island is best. A row of pendant lights should begin 12 to 15 inches from either end of the island or table and be spaced evenly within that span.

The dining room chandelier is often a focal point and should be one half to three-quarters the width of the table in size. Hang the chandelier three-four feet above the table. The lower the chandelier is hung, the greater the level of intimacy that will be created.

Article by: Jennifer Elkow