Lighting advice for kitchen extension please

4 years ago

Hi there clever people of Houzz!

Lighting advice needed please. Do you think the below lighting plan works for our new kitchen extension? We’re trying to stay away from it being overly bright and stark, but understand it needs to be practical especially in the kitchen. At the moment we have a mixture of spots, wall lights, pendants and strip lighting (under the top kitchen units and in the sky light.)

Main concerns we have:

The island is 2m x 1m with the hob central to it – how many spots do you think we’d need for task lighting here (both chopping and cooking). Is two enough? Where is it best to place these?
Pendants over island – would these look better in a row as per plan or cluster of three (with smaller sized pendants) at the end where there is seating. The spots and pendants would be on different circuits.
Not enough light at the dining/sofa end? We only have two spots and two wall lights here. The ceiling at this end of the extension is lower than the kitchen end, with a height of 2.4m

Any other advice most welcome! Thanks

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Comments (4)

PRO
Rukmini Patel Interior Design
4 years ago
Hi Patrizia,

Ok so for the island, I take it there is an extractor fan in the middle for the hob? If so I would stick to the 2 spots either side and make sure your extractor fan has lighting (they usually do). The alternative could be to have a downdraft extractor fan (if it is still possible to change this). They are not as expensive as you might think, obviously as with everything you get what you pay for. Here's one relatively cheap but can fetch up to 2K! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cookology-CDD900BK-Kitchen-Downdraft-Extractor/dp/B0191SSA5I

If you do decide to have downdraft extractor fan, I would ditch the spots and put three pendant lights. This is going to to add instant character and statement pieces into your kitchen without looking like a football stadium!

For the dining area I would also suggest to have one medium sized chandelier modern/traditional whatever you fancy. This is far more modern than having spots and will also allow you to add your personality and character - something spots can't do!

Hope that helps!

Rukmini Patel Interior Design
Patrizia
Original Author
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Hi Rukmini, thanks so much for the response!

Great thinking - we are actually having a downdraft extractor, forgot to mention that! The ceiling above the hob is where the ceiling 'steps down' into the newly made extension area so the downdraft was perfect for us.

We originally had just three pendants over the island, but were worried it wouldnt give enough light for cooking and chopping. We like the Industville lights (i.e. not glass pendants which would show cooking dirt more quickly) but understand these probably wouldn't give as much light.

For the dining table we have a TV on that wall so a pendant would fall right in front of it sadly - love that look too though, jsut sadly doesn't work with our space.
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PRO
Rukmini Patel Interior Design
4 years ago
Hi Patrizia,

You're right about glass showing the dirt more, but then any light you have above there will to some extent catch the dirt. Tom Dixon have some really good pendants which could work well, of course it all depends on the style and look of your kitchen. I do think 3 pendants will be more than enough for cooking and chopping and remember they will be lower down than spots so will definitely give you the light you want as long as you have the right lumens output.

Ok for the dining sofa area, I would put four spots two across the dining room and two near the sofa. Have them on separate circuits to the wall lights. I think if you only have two on the dining table you may cast darkness in front of the sofa. So if you have them on different circuits you can choose or decrease your lighting. I also suggest having the spots on a dimmer for when you are entertaining for example or just want a softer light.

Let me know what you think?
Patrizia
Original Author
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Thanks I'll have a look at Tom Dixon for sure.

Thanks for letting us know your thoughts, really appreciated.

Lighting advice for kitchen extension please

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Rukmini Patel Interior Design

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Lighting advice for kitchen extension please

Comments (4)

Rukmini Patel Interior Design

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Rukmini Patel Interior Design

PatriziaOriginal Author

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CONNECT WITH US

Patrizia
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Patrizia
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