Surface Lights

  • Lighting Your Kitchen Like a Pro

    (Updated January 2016)

    Whether one is doing a kitchen remodel or starting from scratch, the lighting design is frequently the last thing considered and often the first thing to get cut from the budget. Lighting design and planning should be phase 1 of a kitchen project whether you are starting from scratch or remodeling. If you want your lighting to look like it was done by a pro, choosing the right light and the right placement of the light will make all the difference in the world. To avoid headaches, hassles and driving your project cost up unnecessarily, the lighting decisions need to occur in the initial stage of the project and not as a 'hindsight is 20-20' kind of thing.

    What are the aspects that need to be considered in making these decisions? Lighting designers say that using three types of lighting functions is paramount to good lighting design-whether it is in your kitchen or elsewhere. It is a 'layering' technique:

    1. General or ambient light source: this is the primary and central source of lighting that provides overall illumination. Think of this as the general lighting that allows you to move about in the space safely and allows you to perform general tasks.
      - Best choices for general lighting: ceiling and wall mounted fixtures, recessed lights.
    1. Task lighting: lighting that allows you to perform specific tasks such as, food preparation, reading, cooking, etc. Effective task lighting should not have distracting glare and shadows and make sure that it is bright enough to avoid eyestrain.
      - Best choices for task lighting: recessed, pendant lights, under the cabinet lighting, floor and table lamps.
    1. Drama/accent/focal lighting: lighting that is used to introduce elements of drama or accent by bringing the viewer’s attention to something in particular-such as artwork, plants a wall, etc. How to make focal lighting work effectively? Make sure the light on the focal point (object) is three times brighter than your general lighting source around it.
      - Best choices for focal lighting: recessed lights, track lights.

    Some Thoughts on Dimming Systems

     

    Some designers like to incorporate dimming systems in their lighting design. Our designer recommends that dimming systems be avoided in most cases-with the exception of dining rooms and media rooms. Here are some reasons why a dimming system should be avoided: 1) color temperature shifts (if you are not using a LED lamp) 2) bulb does not dim in the full range and will drop out around 15-20% (common with LED lamps) 3) flickering. Halogen bulbs experience color temperature shifts when being dimmed-not to mention that they require more energy to run and create unwanted heat. Fluorescent bulbs do not have a filament-which translates to it not being conducive to being dimmed-they drop out at 15-20%-which in turn, does not give you the full range. Fluorescent bulbs will also flicker when being dimmed. LEDs do not have a filament either, and suffer from the same things that fluorescent bulbs do; dropping out at 15-20% and flickering. Flickering is a bigger deal than one would initially think: it can cause neurological disturbances, headaches, fatigue, eye strain, affects your perception of motion and is a distraction, to name a few of the problems. As technology changes, the LED are becoming more easily dimmed, but we like to reserve dimming for where dimming is actually needed. Hopefully, we've succeeded in talking you out of using a dimming system.

    You can achieve a more pleasing effect by using the layering technique-not to mention that it looks professional. You can also keep your lighting costs down by using fixtures that can perform multiple functions.

    General Light Source

     

    6" recessed cans are a great choice for the general lights-and will give you the most choice by way of lamps/bulbs that fit into the fixture. When I did a kitchen remodel in my own home in 2008, LED lights for 6" recessed had just been introduced to the market. Yes, initially, LED bulbs cost more than their counterparts, but now with the changes in LED technology, prices have dropped down to where they are more than affordable. The new LED bulbs provide up to 60,000 of continuous light that is cool burning and instant on. No other bulb can do that! LED is also the most 'green' choice you can make in keeping your carbon footprint minimized. Initially, we tried out LED bulbs that had a color temperature of 27K. We found these to look too 'yellow' and ended up going with a brighter, slightly cooler color temperature of 30K. Much better! You can go up to as high as 4100K. We found that the 5000K and above is just to white of a light for use in a home-to the point where your eyes see it as blue.

    LED 6" recessed kitchen lights

    Here is an example in my kitchen with just some of the recessed lights on-this is my 'everyday' lighting choice. The lights are LED bulbs in 6" recessed cans (my camera did yield some unwanted lens flare from pointing up in to the lights-those reflections are not really there on the ceiling).

     

    LED 6" and 4" CFL recessed kitchen lightsIn this example of my kitchen lighting, I have all of the recessed lights on. All decisions for the lighting source and placement were intentional. We looked for a light that had a broad, white, diffused, bright, even light-one that did not have 'edges' to the beam spread. This reduces the shadows on the work surfaces and the amount of glare. The LED lights we chose met that criteria. Track lighting was not a good choice because it is harsh, directional and creates lots of shadows. It wasn't appropriate for our application (you might have call for a directional light in your kitchen layout, however).

    My lighting designer wanted all my work surfaces to be evenly lit. Notice the distance of the recessed lights in relation to the cabinets. They are place 18" out from the cabinets so that it would light the cabinets and allow the light to light the inside of the cabinet when opened. This distance also minimized shadows cast in the area of the work space when standing at the counter. The space between each recessed light is about 2 feet-allowing for a well lit room. Notice too, that one is placed over the doorway.

    Look carefully at the bank of recessed lights above the table (far top right of image). These are 4" LED Modules just like we used in the 6” housing. Using the 4" housing and module also breaks things up and adds interest-we didn't need as much light over the table area.

    With the 6"recessed cans, our lighting designer put them on two switches so that you could just have some on and at other times, have them all on when you want it to be brighter. That provided two levels of general lighting.

    Task Lighting

     

    The next layer of lighting in my kitchen is task lighting. Right above my kitchen sink is a light to provide me with an additional layer of light-by way of a LED under cabinet fixture.
    kitchen sink task lightAn additional LED under cabinet light fixture over the kitchen sink for additional task lighting (I turned the general lighting off so that you can see this light source better - we have a full video on the new LED under cabinet fixture at this link)

    stovetop task lighting Task lighting over the stove top area achieve by way of halogen MR-16s

    Accent Lighting (for added drama)

     

    Accent lighting in my kitchen was achieved by way of additional fixtures under the cabinets The LED under the cabinet fixture is a great choice over a fluorescent since it lasts longer, is more energy efficient AND has a lower profile. Not to mention that the color rendering is much better. The LED under the cabinet is a specular light source-it gives an added dimension that a fluorescent bulb cannot. Think of it as adding more 'bling'.

    under cabinet lighting Under cabinet lighting
    cabinet lighting specials LED under cabinet & cabinet lights

    Pictured here are the LED under the cabinet lights and LED cabinet lights in the upper cabinets.

    Of course, it goes without saying, that if you have natural light to work with, by all means incorporate that in to your lighting design. Natural light always makes a home more appealing. When trying to achieve natural lighting with lighting fixtures, be sure to use bulbs that are described as 'daylight' instead of those described as warm-that way the color temperature is more closely matched.

    Hopefully, by sharing what went in to the decision making process for lighting choices in my kitchen remodel, you will have at least a better starting point. Avoid using a dimming system and avoid trying to light the entire room with just one light source such as a ceiling mounted fixture.  Please feel free to contact us for solutions to your lighting challenges-we are here to help!

    If you found this article to be helpful, please send us your before and after photos and a brief description of your experience-we'd love to share your success story!

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    Tags: Energy Saving, led, LED under cabinet lighitng, 6" recessed lighting, LED recessed lighting, kitchen lighting, Under Cabinet Lighting

  • LED Home Lighting Make Over Video

    LED 14" ceiling light LED-JR002BRZ LED-JR002BRZ dimmable ceiling light at only 20watts, 1800 lumens

    We decided to bless a family with a LED lighting make over that not only will reduce their energy use but also looks and feels amazing increasing not only the value of the home but also their quality of life!

    In this LED make over we installed five of our LED 14" two ring bronze ceiling lights in 3000K that flush mounts to almost any junction box throughout the hallways. We also installed five Green Watt LED 6" white reflector retrofit trim in 4100K in the kitchen. Both lights are dimmable. We explain more of why we chose a 3000K in the living spaces and 4100K in the kitchen in the video.

    LED 6" white reflector trim recessed lighting G-DL6D LED 6" white reflector trim 4100K dimmable at only 15watts, 950 lumens

    Watch as we take old power hungry boring incandescent lights and easily swap them out with designer bronze LED ceiling lights that will last thousands and thousands of hours reducing the home owner's maintenance costs and energy consumption.

    You will see how an understanding and creative use of color temperature can take standard track home recessed lighting in a dimply lit kitchen from ordinary to amazing with a few simple steps!

    In the middle of the LED make over we discovered that the master bedroom closet was poorly lit with a flickering fluorescent cloud fixture. We couldn't let the home owner continue living in this monstrosity. So we swamped that out too!

    So sit back, pull up a snack or two and watch as we transform the mundane into the extraordinary and perhaps along the way you may learn something new :)

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    Tags: installation, 6" recessed lighting, going green with led recessed lighting, kitchen lighting, video, Surface Lights, Ceiling Lights

  • New LED Ceiling Surface Lights

    LED ceiling surface lightsOur dimmable LED ceiling surface lights come in a variety of styles, sizes and color temperatures and are perfect for bedrooms, bathrooms, hallways, closets, laundry rooms, offices and much more! Made with a soft but strong diffuser, metal design components and metal base, our ceiling lights can be easily surface mounted in a multitude of locations such as ceilings and walls.

    Available in a bright 3000K warm white or 4000K cool white LED package, you will find the right light tone for your space.

    Need to bring light to a utility room? Your master bathroom too dark? Kitchen a bit dim? With a variety of sizes to choose from we have the size to fit virtually any room or office you need to illuminate.

    Concerned about energy use? Not to worry, our LED surface lights offer great energy savings and amazing light output. You can find the watts and lumens an every detail page of our ceiling LED lights to help you match the perfect light too your lighting requirements.

    • 10", 11" & 12-1/2" at 14watts produces 1200 lumens
    • 14" & 14-1/2" at 20watts produces 1800 lumens
    • 19" & 19-1/2" at 35watts produces 2900 lumens
    • 32" at 70watts produces 5800 lumens

    Watch our LED ceiling surface light videos!

    Come visit our growing list of LED ceiling surface lights and discover the LED difference!

     

    Posted in:

    Tags: Line Voltage, Energy Saving, Green, led, kitchen lighting, video, Surface Lights, Ceiling Lights

  • LED Cloud Ceiling Surface Lights Overview & Video

    LED cloud ceiling surface lights

    Our cloud LED ceiling lights are perfect for almost any surface mount locations such as laundry rooms, bathrooms, closets, hallways, kitchens, meeting rooms or office spaces. Elegant outside, smart inside with little to no maintenance required unlike those old fluorescent or incandescent fixtures. The soft but strong diffuser helps keep it from breaking while the all metal sturdy base allows for quick and easy installation.

    Available in three styles: mushroom cloud, cylinder cloud or square cloud, our LED ceiling lights bring bright diffused light in either a 3000K warm white or a 4000K cool white dimmable LED package.

    Need to bring light to a utility room? Your master bathroom too dark? How about that walk in closet? With six sizes to choose from: 11", 12-1/2", 14", 14-1/2", 19" and 19-1/2", we have the size to fit virtually any room or office you need to illuminate.

    Concerned about energy use? Not to worry, our LED surface lights offer great energy savings and amazing light output. Just see the watts versus lumens list below.

    • 11" & 12-1/2" at 14watts produces 1200 lumens
    • 14" & 14-1/2" at 20watts produces 1800 lumens
    • 19" & 19-1/2" at 35watts produces 2900 lumens

    Watch our cloud LED ceiling surface light videos!

    Our LED ceiling surface lights are affordable, quality made and are available in the size, finish and light output you need. Come check out our growing selection of LED surface lights today!

    Posted in:

    Tags: Line Voltage, Energy Saving, Green, led, kitchen lighting, video, Surface Lights, Ceiling Lights

  • LED Satin Nickel Two Ring Ceiling Surface Lights Overview & Video

    LED two ring ceiling surface lights

    Our LED two ring ceiling lights are perfect for almost any surface mount locations such as laundry rooms, bathrooms, closets, hallways, kitchens, meeting rooms or office spaces. Elegant outside, smart inside with little to no maintenance required unlike those old fluorescent or incandescent fixtures. The soft but strong diffuser helps keep it from breaking while the all metal sturdy base allows for quick and easy installation.

    Available in two beautiful finishes: bronze or satin nickel, our LED ceiling lights bring bright diffused light in either a 3000K warm white or a 4000K cool white dimmable LED package.

    Need to bring light to a utility room? Your master bathroom too dark? How about that walk in closet? With four sizes to choose from: 10", 14", 17" or an oval 32", we have the size to fit virtually any room or office you need to illuminate.

    Concerned about energy use? Not to worry, our LED surface lights offer great energy savings and amazing light output. Just see the watts versus lumens list below.

    • 10" at 14watts produces 1200 lumens
    • 14" at 20watts produces 1800 lumens
    • 17" at 35watts produces 2900 lumens
    • 32" oval at 70watts produces 5800 lumens

    Watch our LED two ring ceiling surface light videos!

    Our LED ceiling surface lights are affordable, quality made and are available in the size, finish and light output you need. Come check out our growing selection of LED surface lights today!

    Posted in:

    Tags: Line Voltage, Energy Saving, Green, led, kitchen lighting, video, Surface Lights, Ceiling Lights

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