HomeWorx, April 2014 – by Cheryl von Tress
Your kitchen is the “Heart of the Home”—make it a feast for the eyes! Lighting is essential to creating a functional and stylish center for nourishing both body and soul. No matter your personal style—without great lighting choices, a kitchen can remain lackluster.
No longer do we ask a single ceiling fixture to provide the illumination. Food preparation and enjoyment, homework completion, activity planning and socializing all take place in this “heartbeat room” of your home.
Ambient light (soft, warm) gives your kitchen life and allows you to move safely through the space. Task light (under-cabinet, track/monorail/cable systems) create a functional space. Accent light (directional spot or stem lighting, cabinet lights) shows off loved and decorative objects. When used independently or in combination, they provide function and create atmosphere in the kitchen.
When planning a new home or remodel, consulting with your electrician about proper switching is essential. Make sure your kitchen works for you! No need to settle for a “one approach fits all” electrical plan. The electrical systems market is alive with technological options to take your kitchen and home into the future with ease.
Ambient Lighting—The amount of ambient light needed depends on how the room is used, the amount of natural light available and the time of day. Decorative lighting is much better suited for ambient lighting. Types of fixtures that provide the best ambient light include chandeliers, pendants, sconces and inverted bowls.
Recessed cans are available in various sizes to fit into your unique design theme. The direct lighting they distribute is suited best for task and accent lighting, and should not be used for ambient lighting.
Task Lighting—Review how your kitchen is used versus how you’d like to use the space. Sometimes, a change in task lighting can increase the functionality and draw family and friends in to share time there. Ensuring every task is met with equal importance can be addressed with a variety of lighting techniques and fixtures.
Accent Lighting—Accent lighting can enhance fine artwork, tableware displayed in a cabinet or the unique architectural traits of a room. Track lighting or recessed adjustable fixtures can make art displays more visual. Lights can be aimed at cabinetry to highlight embellishments or directed at stand-alone cabinets used for display. Miniature accent lighting adds charm and dimension and is especially useful for illuminating collectibles and dinnerware. Toe-kick lighting (mounted beneath cabinets near the floor) is another way to add elegance, sense of space and style.
Cheryl von Tress
Decorative Lighting—Eye-catching pendants and chandeliers create signature style. When paired to complement cabinetry (or when used to juxtapose different styles in an eclectic space), decorative lighting allows for personal expression. In some cases, the decorative lighting and the task lighting are a single system, for example, cable/track/monorail fixtures.
Cheryl von Tress, owner of Cheryl von Tress Design, is a designer and lighting plan specialist. Hourly or fixed fee services are available for new construction, remodels and do-it-yourself consultations. Southern and Coastal Oregon, Northern California. Cheryl can be reached at 541-951-9462.
Posted March 28, 2014
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Cheryl von Tress, owner of Cheryl von Tress Design, is a designer and lighting plan specialist. Hourly or fixed fee services are available for new construction, remodels and do-it-yourself consultations. Southern and Coastal Oregon, Northern California. Cheryl can be reached at 541-622-5263.