Many homes that we enter for jobs often share a common deficiency before we get to work in that the kitchen is not properly illuminated for the tasks required of a kitchen. So how do you properly illuminate a kitchen? The answer to this question is multi-faceted because there are many ways to achieve this goal. In our design process, we focus on function first, so task lighting is of utmost importance to us. What is task lighting, you ask? Task lighting is lighting that illuminates the work surfaces on which you will be performing tasks. In a kitchen, the most common work surface is the countertop. When designing a space with upper cabinets, the easiest way to achieve task lighting is with LED strips mounted to the bottom of the cabinet. This position is also preferable to other options because the user will never block the light source like they could with a ceiling fixture. In designs without upper cabinets we will often utilize strategically placed cans, wall sconces, or ceiling pendants that focus their light as a downlight. Once task lighting is covered we focus on the ambient light in the room, which is often provided by a combination of ceiling fixtures including ceiling pendants, surface mount fixtures, and recessed cans. Ambient light provides general illumination to the entire room so that you can see the beautiful design you worked so hard on. Finally, we will focus on the accent fixtures. We view these as the jewelry of the kitchen, and they often come in the form of ceiling pendants, wall sconces, and other surface mounted fixtures. The goal of these lights is mostly to look pretty, but they will sometimes serve a decorative and functional purpose such as task or ambient light simultaneusly.
How to Achieve Optimal Lighting in Your Remodeled Kitchen
