Kitchen lighting ideas?

[JohnW2]

Hi folks,

I'm dealing with quite a large (about 5m x 3m) and very high (a bit over 3m) kitchen, which is currently lit by one 5-foot fluorescent in roughly the centre of the ceiling. Perhaps surprisingly, this gives pretty adequate illumination throughout the room.

I want to change this to some sort of LED lighting. I could stick with a (single) LED tube/fitting but there are all sorts of reasons (not the least being aesthetic) that I would not favour that.

There are obviously all sorts of possibilities, so I wonder what people would suggest?

Kind Regards, John

 

[blup]

Well designed downlighters

 

[JohnW2]

Well designed downlighters

Goodness. I suspect that suggestion with provoke a good few 'responses'

Given that wide-angle lamps/bulbs (or, yuk, 'integrated fittings'!) for downlighters are now widely available, I'm not against downlighters as much as many people seem to be (particularly for this very high room), but I'm really no fan of multiple holes in the ceiling!

 

[Murdochcat]

Downlights, but not all in 1 switch so you can illuminate different zones and also add under cupboard lights

 

[aveatry]

LED surface mounted panel lights.

 

[pete01]

Round the edge led strip with spotlights?

 

[JohnW2]

LED surface mounted panel lights.

Yes, as a generic statement, that (or flush-mounted panels) really represents most of what one is left with if one discounts tubes and would prefer to avoid downlights!

Has anyone got any thoughts about 'how much' lighting for a kitchen of this size?

 

[JohnW2]

Downlights, but not all in 1 switch so you can illuminate different zones and also add under cupboard lights

Interesting. Not very long ago any mention of downlights here would trigger WW3

 

[blup]

Goodness. I suspect that suggestion with provoke a good few 'responses'

Given that wide-angle lamps/bulbs (or, yuk, 'integrated fittings'!) for downlighters are now widely available, I'm not against downlighters as much as many people seem to be (particularly for this very high room), but I'm really no fan of multiple holes in the ceiling!

You need access from above as there will inevitably be joists to drill through that are in the way, or you can just rip down the relevant parts of the existing ceiling and board over. 5x3 metres isn't a huge job.

 

[JohnW2]

You need access from above as there will inevitably be joists to drill through that are in the way ....

Indeed - but in this case that would mean lifting floor coverings and floorboards in three separate rooms (well, two rooms plus a landing/corridor).

, or you can just rip down the relevant parts of the existing ceiling and board over. 5x3 metres isn't a huge job.

Again, indeed.

However, although I suppose that neither of those options are particularly 'huge jobs', both represent very appreciable amounts of work 'just to update a light fitting', particularly in the eyes of someone who is no great fan of downlights in the first place

 

[aveatry]

So you do not have to do any plaster boarding how about one of these - its the frame for it but something like this in 48w \LED I would go for the 6000k
I have 2x 18w 10inch round slimline ones in my much smaller kitchen and they give a very good even light so much so that I do not need under cabinet lights as the light spreads out under the wall units.
https://www.simplelighting.co.uk/12...1_aRNTwmTzqAsNkfT_FVcLlw7I4fnCuEaAuprEALw_wcB

 

[aveatry]

Or this

72w Surface Mount LED Ceiling Panel 1200 x 600 Cool White 6500K

Long Life Lamp Company 1200 x 600 flat LED panels are suitable for both commercial and domestic applications, Designed to be surface mounted to ceilings and walls. These panels are manufactured to the highest possible standards, making them an ideal it

energylightbulbs.co.uk

 

[Murdochcat]

Interesting. Not very long ago any mention of downlights here would trigger WW3

If you go down this route don’t fit sealed led units

 

[JohnW2]

If you go down this route don’t fit sealed led units

No worries there - as you should know, I abhor light fittings without replaceable bulbs/lamps - just as I would avoid buying a car which had non-replaceable tyres/wheels, brake pads or whatever (or even windscreen wipers)

The problem is that it is becoming increasing difficult to find ones which have replaceable light-generating parts!

 

[JohnW2]

So you do not have to do any plaster boarding how about one of these - its the frame for it but something like this...

How does having a frame make it any easier (less invasive) to install the wiring (which is the main work-generating issue)? You surely aren't suggesting wiring in surface-mounted trunking, are you?

As Murdo has reminded us,the big problem is the lack of availability of units with replaceable light-generating parts - and, quite apart from the 'waste', by the time one needs to replace the whole thing, one will often be hard-pressed to find one with the same shape/size/appearance/fixing method (and obviously even more of a problem, and expense/waste, if there are more than one of them which should look the same)>.