lighting design-who to ask?

[mikethepipe]

I have a top end kitchen to design,make,and install,and I want to use lighting to enhance the setting,but am out of my depth,and most of the electricians i know are reluctant to advise on designer lights,so i was wondering how to get sensible advice.

 

[Steve]

What style of kitchen is it?

 

[ricicle]

Most electrical wholesalers will have access to reps from lighting companies who can advise.

 

[bernardgreen]

I want to use lighting to enhance the setting

That is fine when it is not being used as a working kitchen and when mood and ambience are important.

For cooking and other kitchen activities consideration of mood and ambience come second to lighting that is both applicable to the tasks involved as well as safe and reliable.

Last weekend I supplied an emergency light to a neighbour for their kitchen. They had had a power cut while cooking and lost all lights while a deep fat frier was in use.

 

[mikethepipe]

Thanks for the replies.
Steve; modern -black corian,veneered,bespoke cabinets.

ricicle; Thanks-will check out the local wholesaler

Bernarnd; Thanks-mood of course is secondary to function,and this customer is a serious foodie,but folks spending a load on a kitchen like to sort of present it to new visitors,but cost might rule out extra lights anyway,but i thought I'd get some info.

 

[Steve]

You want small spots in the ceiling, LEDs are coming on now, if they are spending a lot of money this might appeal, but you will need extra lighting such as fancy rise and fall pendants over any eating areas. If not LEDs, then CFLs or halogens.

Then for task lighting, use fluorescent strips under the wall cabinets, or a few extra spots (halogen or CFL) on the ceiling if there are no upper units.

Also consider cheaper LEDs in the plinth, this can look very good.

 

[mikethepipe]

Thanks Steve-most helpfull-especially tip about plinth led's-sorry-what are cfl's?

 

[RF Lighting]

Compact Flourescent Lamps. Better known as energy saving light bulbs, but they come in many shapes and sizes such as a thin round disc, which is ideal for under cabinet lighting.

 

[mikethepipe]

Thanks-does that mean they don't get hot-customer said the previous fluorescents heated the units up.

 

[RF Lighting]

Fluorescents will get warm in use, but they are still cool enough to touch.

It sounds like your customer actually had halogen lights which do burn very hot.

 

[wingcoax]

Plinth light can also be used with a controller to creat different effects. One of my customers has them ,very effective.

 

[mikethepipe]

Thanks everybody-looks like i need to to do a bit of homework-lightingwise

 

[ColJack]

Fluorescents will get warm in use, but they are still cool enough to touch.

I have a burn on my finger that begs to differ.. from 3 days ago when I tried to change out a CLF that had just poped...

CFL's do get hot as do most normal fluorescents tubes.. though most tubes are not too hot to touch if handled near the middle, the hot bits are at the ends..