recessed/pot lighting - yay or nay?
08-08-2005, 03:57 PM
#1
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recessed/pot lighting - yay or nay?
I'm definately going to do pot lighting (recessed lights) in the kitchen, but i'm tempted to do it in the family room and living room as well. Good idea or bad idea?
08-08-2005, 04:05 PM
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oh.. I had a feeling thats what you meant. Funny how the other canadian got it right away.
"pot" lighting =
, but invest on the baffle. A cheap baffle = 
"pot" lighting =
, but invest on the baffle. A cheap baffle =
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08-08-2005, 04:20 PM
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FDL, Home Depot has some neat new recessed fixtures that wire in AFTER the drywall. They slide up into a 4" hole & use mini-halogen lamps. Would be great for the living areas, not so much for task lighting though. Come with a nice baffle and a reflector to focus the beam, cost about $25-30 depending on whether you get plain white/black or the titanium finish(very, very nice). Just put in 4 in my neighbors theatre room...they look outstanding.
08-08-2005, 04:22 PM
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Originally Posted by chef chris
FDL, Home Depot has some neat new recessed fixtures that wire in AFTER the drywall. They slide up into a 4" hole & use mini-halogen lamps. Would be great for the living areas, not so much for task lighting though. Come with a nice baffle and a reflector to focus the beam, cost about $25-30 depending on whether you get plain white/black or the titanium finish(very, very nice). Just put in 4 in my neighbors theatre room...they look outstanding.
you wouldnt happen to have a link would you?
08-08-2005, 04:22 PM
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08-08-2005, 04:24 PM
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They don't show all the local selection online, but this looks to be the brand/style we used.
They are fairly small, but you can't tell from the picture. Very nice accent to any room, IMHO & very easy to install.
They are fairly small, but you can't tell from the picture. Very nice accent to any room, IMHO & very easy to install.
08-08-2005, 04:25 PM
#13
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Originally Posted by chef chris
That link takes me to standby generators
08-08-2005, 04:25 PM
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Originally Posted by eve
My parents have them in the kitchen and living-room. I think they look great.
I'll try to take pictures later.
I'll try to take pictures later.
That would be great, thanks.
08-08-2005, 04:35 PM
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Originally Posted by fdl
That link takes me to standby generators
http://imagex.homedepot.com/f/248/13...s/164384_3.jpg
08-08-2005, 04:36 PM
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Originally Posted by chef chris
seconds link works. Thanks.
08-08-2005, 10:35 PM
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Originally Posted by eve
There you go -
Looks very nice...I have the same layout of buckets in my kitchen/family room/basement. IMHO, more lights > less lights.
08-08-2005, 10:38 PM
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Originally Posted by fdl
What is that backsplash made of?
Cheap way to mimmick the granite look is use granite floor tile on the backsplash. Just find a place that sells 16/18" floor tiles & concentrate the focus in that one area. You could also use 12" tiles, but it detracts from the higher-end look.
I've seen it installed on countertops as well, over a substrate of Cement board. looks pretty good as long as you plan on using a cutting board...not too expensive that way either.
08-08-2005, 10:44 PM
#24
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Originally Posted by chef chris
Those look exactly like the white eyeball fixtures that Home Depot carries. They run about $25 vs. the nickel finish ones of $30.
Looks very nice...I have the same layout of buckets in my kitchen/family room/basement. IMHO, more lights > less lights.
Looks very nice...I have the same layout of buckets in my kitchen/family room/basement. IMHO, more lights > less lights.
do you use them to highlight something on the wall as well?
08-08-2005, 10:51 PM
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Originally Posted by fdl
do you use them to highlight something on the wall as well?
My neighbor has the eyeball lights in her new theater room...she uses them(on a dimmer) to illuminate some nice tapestries on the walls & for indirect lighting. The beam can be focused pretty well. Really can't get a nicer fixture than those for the money, IMHO.
08-09-2005, 12:34 AM
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"Can" lighting is something that is sort of going away in the new home industry. They were really popular for a while but people found out that you need a lot more lights and power for the same lumen (light power). It's because the can shape focuses all the light straight down and creates lots of shadows. So you have to have like 6-10 in a large kitchen to have sufficient lighting coverage so you don't get too much shadows.
The cheap and ugly but still most bright and efficient light is going with the new T2 florescent lights. Spot lighting and track lighting is also pretty popular and not that expensive.
The cheap and ugly but still most bright and efficient light is going with the new T2 florescent lights. Spot lighting and track lighting is also pretty popular and not that expensive.
08-09-2005, 08:20 AM
#27
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Now that I think about I'm not sure about pot lights in the kitchen. And I can't really recall seeing them in kitchens in several of the houses I've visited.
I think you should do more research on those lights in the kitchen fdl.
I think you should do more research on those lights in the kitchen fdl.
08-09-2005, 09:40 AM
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Originally Posted by dom
Now that I think about I'm not sure about pot lights in the kitchen. And I can't really recall seeing them in kitchens in several of the houses I've visited.
I think you should do more research on those lights in the kitchen fdl.
I think you should do more research on those lights in the kitchen fdl.
08-09-2005, 09:46 AM
#29
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SDC, track lighting went out of style a long time ago.
From what I have read on lighting, its good to have "layers". So pot/can lights, plus lamps, etc. In the kitchen I could have pot/can lights plus valence lights under the cabinets.
Dom, why dont you think it would work in the kitchen? You could have lights right over the counters.
From what I have read on lighting, its good to have "layers". So pot/can lights, plus lamps, etc. In the kitchen I could have pot/can lights plus valence lights under the cabinets.
Dom, why dont you think it would work in the kitchen? You could have lights right over the counters.
08-09-2005, 09:49 AM
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Originally Posted by fdl
Dom, why dont you think it would work in the kitchen? You could have lights right over the counters.
I don't think its a matter of proper lighting, I think its more a matter of style. But I really have no idea I'm just having a hard time remembering seeing pot lights in kitchens. There usual used in Family rooms and hallways.
But again, I may be waaaayyyy off. But I'd look into it.
08-09-2005, 09:55 AM
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Originally Posted by fdl
SDC, track lighting went out of style a long time ago.
From what I have read on lighting, its good to have "layers". So pot/can lights, plus lamps, etc. In the kitchen I could have pot/can lights plus valence lights under the cabinets.
Dom, why dont you think it would work in the kitchen? You could have lights right over the counters.
From what I have read on lighting, its good to have "layers". So pot/can lights, plus lamps, etc. In the kitchen I could have pot/can lights plus valence lights under the cabinets.
Dom, why dont you think it would work in the kitchen? You could have lights right over the counters.
In a kitchen, I would think layers were even more important. As long as they were high-quality pieces and not a bunch of $15 flourescents, etc. Can lights, eyeballs, under-cabinet mini halogens...all serve different purposes and make the look of the kitchen change for your needs.
08-09-2005, 10:51 AM
#32
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Originally Posted by dom
I don't think its a matter of proper lighting, I think its more a matter of style. But I really have no idea I'm just having a hard time remembering seeing pot lights in kitchens. There usual used in Family rooms and hallways.
I just happened to stumble across this. An example of pot lights in the kitchen.
http://www.mls.ca/PropertyDetails.as...ertyID=3790462
EDIT: And another ... http://www.mls.ca/PropertyDetails.as...ertyID=3852079
08-09-2005, 10:54 AM
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Originally Posted by fdl
I just happened to stumble across this. An example of pot lights in the kitchen.
http://www.mls.ca/PropertyDetails.as...ertyID=3790462
http://www.mls.ca/PropertyDetails.as...ertyID=3790462
Although, they look more like the smaller, higher-end eyeball type fixtures than just regular cans(maybe even low-voltage halogens).
08-09-2005, 11:05 AM
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Originally Posted by fdl
So chris, would you point some of them at the cabinets to "highlight them" or keep them all focused on work space? 
All depends on the room though. For instance:
Say I had cherry cabinets, soapstone or copper countertops, a nice island unit. I would use the smaller eyeball units to (softly) light the cabinets themselves(about 12" from the cabinet fronts), I'd use regular can lights(about 2 ft from the cabinets) to light the workspaces/countertop area, and I'd probably do a few hanging low-voltage pendants over any island or bar area ~ like these http://imagex.homedepot.com/f/248/13...38843775_3.jpg )
Oh and I almost forgot...always/always/always use a high quality dimmer. You'll almost always have a need for it if you entertain even one time.
08-09-2005, 11:06 AM
#37
I just put 6 inch cans into my living room; it looks great and it was really easy to install. if you do cans, make sure you put them on a dimmer. the smaller lights like you see in those pics are usually non-ic, which means they shouldn't come in contact with insulation. non-ic are usually used in new construction. ic lights like i bought can be in contact with insulation and are usually larger; 4-6 inches (for a reason i have yet to figure out). 
