Ask the Builder: Illumine kitchen with layers of light

DEAR TIM: Now that we’re past Christmas, it’s full steam ahead on our kitchen remodel. One thing I’ve never liked about our kitchen is the drab lighting. All we have is an ancient surface-mounted center light that takes two 75-watt bulbs. There are shadows everywhere. What lighting ideas do you have that make my kitchen look like what I see in magazines? – Terri P., Erie, Pennsylvania

DEAR TERRI: Not only does lighting help you see what you’re doing when you work in the space, but it can also do a magnificent job of highlighting some of the cabinet, countertop and backsplash finishes that are part of the room.

The most striking kitchen lighting I’ve ever had the pleasure of installing were part of two similar jobs. One kitchen had a small vaulted ceiling, while the other one was a traditional flat ceiling. But in both cases, a false shallow soffit was installed above the cabinets that didn’t extend to the ceiling. It was more like a shelf. This detail was extended around the entire room and allowed me to install soft rope lighting that produced an indirect glow of light off the kitchen ceiling. That was the first layer of light in the room.

The next layer of light in both kitchens came from a number of recessed lights that were strategically placed around the room so there were no shadows or dull spots on any of the countertops, islands, sinks or other work areas. The spacing between lights was typically no more than 5 feet on center.

To give the homeowners flexibility, not all of the recessed lights were put on one switch circuit. They could turn on some or all of the lights depending on where they were working in the room. To ensure the effect would work and the lighting wouldn’t be too harsh or weak, we tested the illumination just after the recessed cans were installed and before the drywall was up in the space. We would do this at night to see what the lights would do when they’re needed most.

I recommend you do the same. You’ll get a great idea of how bright or dark the room will be during the rough construction phase. This is the time to ensure you have enough light in the room – not after the drywall is up, finished and painted.

I made sure there was always a recessed light centered over each major appliance and any large kitchen pantries. The center of the light fixture was no more than a foot from the front face of the cabinet or appliance. If you’re going to do this, be certain the recessed light fixture trim is clear of any crown molding or other trim being used in the kitchen. You really have to plan for this so there are no surprises at the final finishing stages of the job.

The third layer of light we used in both jobs came from gorgeous pendant lights that were placed over islands in the room. The bottom of the fixtures never hung lower than 6  1/2 feet from the floor so as not to block the view across the room as people would stand and talk.

If you decide to install a hanging fixture like this, pay close attention to it in the lighting showroom to ensure there’s no glare from the bulb. The fixture needs to just broadcast a cone of light down to the island surface, not horizontally so as to blind someone in the room.

The fourth layer of light in both kitchens was generated by under-cabinet lights (and in one of the jobs, over-cabinet lights). These were hidden in both cases by gorgeous molding that outlined the bottom of the cabinets and by crown molding that finished off the top of the cabinets.

Once again, this layer of lighting had its own switching system and was dimmable so you could use it as a very soft night light system to make the kitchen very romantic or just give it an ultra-soft feel.

In my opinion, the key to eye-popping kitchen lighting is to think about it in layers much like you might dress when it’s cold outside. You can turn on more lighting if the situation calls for it, or you just have on just enough lighting to satisfy your mood.

At my own home, we’ve done all four layers, and when we have family gatherings and the kitchen is the hub of activity, all lights are on. This makes the room come alive. Don’t forget that you can also mix and match bulb wattage to produce different effects.