Browse Forums Kitchen Corner 1 Jan 18, 2009 5:50 pm Hello kitchen enthusiasts,
We're thinking of putting fluorescent tubes/bulbs with some stylish cover in the space between the cooktop and island bench. We also want to put pendant lights over the island but it might not look nice with the fluoro behind it. We initially wanted downlights in the kitchen but decided to use fluoros because we wanted the area to be bright. Any suggestions or ideas? We basically want to find alternatives to downlights in the kitchen. Our kitchen layout: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Cheers, reaver Re: Suggestions for kitchen lights 2Jan 18, 2009 6:07 pm I'm not a fan of fluoros, as I think the light is really ugly.... but that's me.
Pendants over your bench should throw plenty of light onto your work area - we have three with 60w globes in them and that's heaps of light for our quite long bench. There are lots of pendants to choose from, with all kinds of globes, so look around and see what you like. As for the lights for behind the bench, if you're going to have pendants as a focus, you're probably best to keep the ceiling lights as unobtrusive as possible. We have three downlights and they're very bright. Sorry, I don't have any other suggestions, but look around lighting stores and see what's available. Having the central lights and the pendants switched separately gives you lots of lighting options too - and can save on electricity. I suggest you think about putting a light in your pantry, if it's not standard - we have a single globe in ours and it makes finding things much easier. We're going to install a movement sensor, so it turns on and off automatically (pinched that idea from a display home ) Are you having overhead cupboards above the cooktop bench area? If so, you may want some lighting under those. Or the rangehood light might be adequate....hard to say. The bench looks quite long.[/img] Re: Suggestions for kitchen lights 3Jan 18, 2009 6:19 pm Just a few pics for inspiration:
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ This is funky: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Maybe something like this might suit you for your central light(s): Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ There are lots of kitchen lights here to browse through: http://www.onlinelighting.com.au/index.php?cPath=67_74 Re: Suggestions for kitchen lights 4Jan 18, 2009 6:22 pm I agree with kek, our pendants are quite bright and we often don't need the 3 downlights behind them on.
An oyster might suffice? (like the last one kek put up) Or some energy efficient downlights, if it is the energy consumption of regular downlights that you don't like? Re: Suggestions for kitchen lights 5Jan 18, 2009 6:34 pm thanks for the suggestions kek! We have cupboards over the kitchen bench but don't want lights under them. We might go with downlights and have pendant lights over the island. I'm already starting to get ideas from that website you posted.
donuts: yeah we're a bit concerned with running downlights in the kitchen so I was looking for alternatives Re: Suggestions for kitchen lights 6Jan 18, 2009 6:36 pm reaver We're thinking of putting fluorescent tubes/bulbs with some stylish cover in the space between the cooktop and island bench. We have a fairly similar layout to yours except the sink is next to the pantry as well. All the important lighting should be over the benches where you eat or prepare the meals. There is no real point in having a light in the centre of the kitchen. Your body will cast a shadow over the prep areas. We are having pendants over the island. A track light over the sink and under-cab fluors next to the cooktop. Don't forget to a have motion sensor pantry light as well. Re: Suggestions for kitchen lights 7Jan 18, 2009 8:45 pm In our old kitchen, we did away with the central light and had downlights over the breakfast bar, sink and in front of the wall oven and pantry. That took care of 3 sides of a square room- the rangehood covered the 4th.
In the current kitchen, we do need central lights though, as it's quite big and kind of odd-shaped. And there's no window. Maybe have a look at some displays with galley kitchens and pendants over the island bench to see what they've done and how well it works. The PD website has lots - if it's actually working, which it doesn't seem to be very often lately. Re: Suggestions for kitchen lights 8Jan 18, 2009 9:04 pm I agree with Kek, ugly fluros.
Downlites & pendants look nice & provide good lite for teh area. Will you have a range hood & lite? Re: Suggestions for kitchen lights 9Jan 18, 2009 10:22 pm Reaver, I'm also trying to work out what lighting will be best for our kitchen. Decisions decisions! lol
Just want to give you something to consider. Currently our utensil drawers are right next to the corner Pantry and l've lost count as to how many times DH or kids are looking in it whilst l'm needing to grab utensils whilst l'm cooking. I can't open the drawers fully without hitting the pantry door and vice versa. It's a real pain in the a**. So depending if there will still be adequate room (l don't know the dimensions of your Panty) l would remove the door closest to the oven bench as I imagine you will have cupboards there which will cause the same frustrations l'm having. Perhaps making your Pantry deeper if you have the space? Ok back to the lighting....after reading the thread, l'm gonna go the pendants on the island bench. Kek, how long is yours? Am wondering if 3 pendants will suffice or will l need four perhaps? I was leaning towards downlights in the centre, but the shadow l wil cast when l'm at the stove will bug me (as it does now). l can mainly see myself cooking on the island bench anyway, so am thinking the Rangehood light should cast enough light? I think l'll go downlights in the centre and between the fridge and island bench, with the latter one on a seperate switch. This is my kitchen btw: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Total length is 5.7m, oven bench is 3.8m island bench is 3.55m. Anyone got something similar in size? l'd love to know what lighting you've got and how effective it is. Oh! and the motion sensor light for the WIP is a brilliant idea!! one of a dozen or so l've picked up here....God l love this forum! ...am going to one in the WIL as well Re: Suggestions for kitchen lights 10Jan 19, 2009 6:43 am What do you call those light at the back of those ornamental glassware? They're lovely! Re: Suggestions for kitchen lights 11Jan 19, 2009 8:09 am My breakfast bar is about 3.5m long, plus there's a bit that goes into the corner at the end, probably another 600mm or so. We didn't add any extra light in the corner, but don't seem to need it there. Overall the room is about 4.0 x 4.4 or thereabouts, and with overheads and pendants on, it's nice and bright without overdoing things.
The rangehood gives plenty of light for our stove, and most modern rangehoods are well designed in terms of lighting. The bench either side seems to get enough light. Re: Suggestions for kitchen lights 12Jan 19, 2009 8:11 am DeirdrePink, the lights in the cabinets are feature lights - probably halogens, or maybe fluouros. You can have them built into a bulkhead at the top of a cabinet, or a in a false bottom, depending on which direction you want the light to shine. Re: Suggestions for kitchen lights 13Jan 19, 2009 9:07 am I worry about pendants over a work area - I always have visions of smashing them accidentally with a tenderizer !
As for fluoro light looking harsh or cold - that's just a function of what "colour spectrum" they output. Have a look on the packet. In areas where the internal light is near a window, or there's a lot of natural light, I put in "daylight spectrum" tubes/bulbs which are around 6500K. That way the light mixes together. The old incandescent bulbs operate at about 3000K which is a profoundly "yellow" colour of light. That's what makes it seem "warm". Have a look at the chart on the right of this article which shows the frequency (in Kelvin) of various light sources. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_temperature If you go to a shop with a big range of bulbs you can usually zero in on the exact temperature to suit the area. Even fluoros can appear as warm as the old incandescent bulbs. Do the hard jobs first. The easy jobs will take care of themselves. - Dale Carnegie Re: Suggestions for kitchen lights 14Jan 19, 2009 11:57 am I'm too scared to try any new fluouros.... the ugly green light ruining my photos years ago has obviously scarred me. Besides, there's still the issue of the outright ****** told about the output. 15w = 75w, my ar$e!
Back to the subject of pendants - I've had two near misses with ours, when I've lifted a small appliance up, aiming to clear the sink/floor or whatever with the power cord. Or waved a pot around while doing dishes. Missed it by that much! The moral is, I should drink less when in the kitchen.... Or perhaps have hung the lights a little higher. Re: Suggestions for kitchen lights 15Jan 21, 2009 6:14 am kek DeirdrePink, the lights in the cabinets are feature lights - probably halogens, or maybe fluouros. You can have them built into a bulkhead at the top of a cabinet, or a in a false bottom, depending on which direction you want the light to shine. Amazing! I'm also planning to use these lights in my hallway. Thanks for this info. Re: Suggestions for kitchen lights 16Feb 11, 2009 9:51 am We saw a fluorescent pendant that we liked, decked out with metal and perspex that both my DW and I thought would work very well over the kitchen island and the dining table.
They were in Beacon Lighting, but I can't find them on their website, sorry. If I pop in again, I'll memorise the model name and try to find a picture to put here. We visited a number of their outlets and all had them, including a variant that stands upright on a heavy base. Not cheap, though, around $350 or so. I looked at them and decided that I could modify a standard fluorescent fitting along the same lines. Yes, light output colour has to be chosen carefully, but that can be done. I agree with you DiedrePink about the claims for equivalent wattage. The compact flourescents that we have in our rented house are not the ones that you can buy in Coles and Woolworths, but in Bunnings. We also had trouble with a number blowing within hours of first use, but they are all working well at the moment. Try getting a refund on a CF that blows within a few hours of first use, and you won't be buying them for the supposed cost benefits! So I'm just reading up on this ecosystem of lights. I'm planning on putting deck lights along the outside edge of a large deck. Will need about 3 packs (18 lights) plus… 0 23023 Hi, Looking to add an ensuite to one of the bedrooms and make it a Master BR. Please see the attached current floorplan. Need suggestions on what's the best way to do… 0 7341 Suggestions please for acrylic rendering Color to match austral brick urban one pepper. Pic for reference. Thanks 0 5071 |