Sparks Electrical News June 2019

LIGHTING

18

KITCHEN LIGHTING: TIPS FROM A LIGHTING DESIGNER

T he kitchen is the heart and soul of the home. It’s where we sort mail, read, do our homework, prepare signature meals for those we love and gather with our friends after dinner parties. This multi-functional, highly visible space needs layers of illumination to make it really shine, including task lighting, accent lighting and general lighting. For the most effective and attractive kitchen lighting design, plan task lighting first to give you light where you really need it, then add accent lighting for visual interest. Add your general lighting last to fill the space with just the right amount of ambient light. Combine all three layers of light with the right kitchen light fixtures and dimmers, and you’ve got a recipe for kitchen design success. LED soft strip (tape light) is also an option for cabinet interiors, but use soft strip with caution. The individual dots might be seen, especially if the cabinets are higher up. In some cases, depending on the cabinets, you can use 45 degree light channels or soft strip with an L channel. LED cabinet down lights create a different effect, ideal for creating an isolated pool of light. Use LED cabinet down lights to highlight individ- ual items or those in a series. Their compact size and easy installation make them attractive to home owners considering a simple remodel. For glass door cabinets displaying china or glassware, another option is to create back-lighting by placing soft strip or L channels (which pro- vide a nice, wide flood) one to two inches from the back of the cabinet, shining either up or down. Definitely use L channels with the strip if you’re going to shine the light upwards. Lighting kitchen drawers When you open your refrigerator door, and now your cabinets, you ap- preciate the light. So why not do the same for your drawers? Simple LED soft strips placed in the right location will work perfectly and make your silverware sparkle. You don’t need a diffused lens here as there is no glare, only sparkle. If you use switches or motion sensors with the drawers and wire them up to the soft strip, the lights will turn on when the drawers are opened and then turn off automatically after you close them. Lighting kitchen countertops Some of the most precise tasks in a kitchen take place on the counter- tops. Countertops at the perimeter of the room typically sit below upper cabinets, so the easiest way to light them is to install under cabinet lighting. Keep in mind that many countertops have shiny surfaces, i.e. marble or granite, so a diffused light source is needed to avoid reflected glare. In these cases, a light channel is a much better option than bare LED Soft Strip facing down. If the budget calls for Soft Strip, place it on its side on the lip of the cabinet, facing the wall. If you have no cabinet lip, mount an L Channel under the cabinet. Channels are ideal for under cabinet lighting, easiest to install if the cabinets are brand new and have not been installed yet. Another option is to place Light Channel 45 Degree Surface Mount at the front of the cabinet facing the wall, which will light the countertops nicely. For easier installation, you can also place the 45 degree light channel at the back, facing the front. Just keep in mind that people may be able to see light channels mounted in the back when sitting down at a dining table if the

cabinets are in view. If the countertop surface is matte, under counter LED down lights can be used for kitchen under cabinet lighting. Centre down lights under up- per cabinets and space them evenly, keeping beam spread in mind. A good rule of thumb for 90 degree lights is to place them roughly 500 mm apart; this will give you beams that overlap about 50%. Keep the full length of the wall in mind, as well as surrounding architectural ele- ments, and work from the outside in. Understanding brightness When choosing lighting, don’t just consider wattage only as that is mere- ly how much energy is being used by the bulb or light source. Rather, think more about the actual amount of light that is being produced, measured in lumens (the amount of light produced by a light source) and foot-candles. The amount of foot-candles needed on countertops depends on the age of the occupants. As we age, the lenses of our eyes begin to yellow and become much denser, which affects howmuch light we see; 50 foot-candles is standard, but people over 50 years old may need 100 foot-candles or more. Those over 50 should consider a 5 W light channel to light their kitchen countertops; for those under 50, a 2.5 W light channel should suffice. Lighting kitchen island counters If you use a kitchen island for food prep and other tasks, you’ll need targeted task lighting before you can think about decorating with pen- dants. While the kitchen island is often the place for decorative fixtures like pendants, most pendants distribute light in all directions rather than providing focused beams of light to adequately illuminate countertops. Consider adjustable accent heads or recessed fixtures to light the tasks on kitchen islands. Decorative pendants can be added later as an ad- ditional layer of lighting. Track works nicely over kitchen islands because you can bend the rail however you like and get the best of both worlds; you can have accent heads and pendants on the same rail. The accent heads provide directional task lighting, and the pendants offer decora- tion. If you use 2-Circuit Track, you can wire the heads and pendants on separate dimmer switches for ultimate lighting control. Kitchen accent lighting Once you have the task lighting you need, use accent lighting to draw attention to architectural details and other points of interest in the kitch- en, such as artwork or other displays. Make sure your kitchen accent lighting has a minimum contrast ratio of 3:1; accent illumination should be at least three times brighter than the surrounding light in the room in order to stand out. A 5:1 ratio is appropriate when you want to draw the eye to particular features. Toe kick lighting The easiest way to accent your kitchen is with toe kick lighting around the perimeter of the space, underneath the lower cabinets and underneath the kitchen island. It’s a simple and elegant way to define and emphasize the space, provides safety pathway lighting and makes a unique nightlight. For toe kick lighting, LED strip light- ing will usually do the trick, but take a survey of the kitchen floor. Is it

matte or shiny? High-gloss floors reflect the individual dots within LED strip lighting, so shiny floors call for more diffused light. General kitchen lighting/ambient lighting By the time you have accounted for all your task and accent lighting in the kitchen, you should not need much more additional light. Well- placed recessed lighting, a chandelier and/or decorative pendant light- ing can do the trick. This is the opportunity to incorporate decorative fixtures and let your personal style show through. Recessed lighting Recessed lighting can help fill the gaps for general kitchen lighting. When choosing recessed lights, take the beam spread and measure- ments of the space into account. If you have a 2500 mm ceiling and an island that is 1250 mm wide, you will need a beam spread to match. To avoid reflected glare on shiny countertops, it’s best to avoid direct down lights; cross-illumination can help in this instance. If you have existing fittings, LED retrofit trim kits and/or retrofit LEDs bulbs are a great op- tion; they come in a wide variety and are easy to install. Flush mounts As an alternative to recessed lights, ceiling flush mounts offer deco- rative ambient lighting in a kitchen. Similar to flush-mounted ceiling lights are ceiling semi-flush lights, which project up to 500 mm from the ceiling. For decorative statements in kitchens with lower ceilings, semi-flush ceiling lights can take the place of chandeliers. Chandeliers and kitchen pendant lighting Pendants are among the most popular choices for kitchen island light- ing. Begin by selecting what material(s) you’d like – fabric, glass, metal, crystal or even concrete. Next, remember that the laws of good de- sign favour odd numbers. For example, a 2500 mm island holds three small- to mid-sized pendants, while a 3600 mm island holds five small- to mid-sized pendants or three large pendants. Some spaces can accommodate two large pendants over a 2500 mm island, which is a popular look at the moment. ACDC Dynamics has a large selection of pendant lighting in a variety of sizes that look great in the kitchen. Every kitchen presents its own set of design opportunities, so any in- formation (blueprints, floor plans, pictures, colour samples, etc.) you can bring into the store with you will allow the lighting consultant to help you sift through the multitude of different style and design choices available.

Enquiries: www.acdc.co.za

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

JUNE 2019