 According to the experts at the American Lighting Association, there is more than one way to light a kitchen, and ideally, you should use a combination of techniques. And area designers agree. Melinda Dupree of Watson Boyce Cabinet Solutions says, “I see three trends in particular: casual elegance, simplified traditional, and soft contemporary. Casual elegance I identify as upscale, warm, relaxed, and cozy. Simplified traditional is less ornate with an antique patina finish. And soft contemporary is clean, modern, simple, and not too cold.”
“Downlights have become the primary source of light in kitchens that I design,” says Carolyn Campbell of Carolyn Campbell Interiors. “Recessed or attached to the ceiling, it is a spotlight that casts a light downward. Then I use task lighting in specific areas such as over an island. In both cases, the light should be shadow-free and localized.”
Karin Maoghler reports her customers are moving away from the once popular oversized central light fixture in the kitchen. “They are opting for new fixtures that give more personality to the space, especially through the use of pendant lights.”
And it’s a question of “more light” according to Amanda Sweeney of AB Home Interiors. “Gone are the days of using one big light in the middle of the kitchen. Everyone wants layered lighting and the want fixtures that are fun and functional,” she says.
In agreement is Beverly Anderson of Beverly Anderson Interiors who says “I’m seeing multiple sources of lighting in kitchens. Undercabinet lighting is a must, while recessed is often used as general lighting. And we’re seeing a lot of pendants or chandeliers over islands.
Adding to the mix is Anna Aycock of Designs by Anna Aycock. “Kitchens have evolved into casual family rooms. Most of my clients are using can lights for the over-all scheme with pendant lights over the island and a chandelier over the table. It is also fun to have indirect accent lighting above the cabinets.”
Pendant lighting and chandeliers “give an opportunity for a decorative element or statement within the kitchen,” says Baylor Bone of Baylor Bone Interiors. “And the use of soffit up-lighting and floor lighting under the base cabinets are pleasant additions to the space. In larger kitchens we’re seeing a trend toward two smaller chandeliers over the middle island.”
David Weisinger of Italia Design, a lighting manufacturer, says glass pendant lighting over the dining table, kitchen sink, or work surfaces offers ample task light and a “great element of style to a kitchen. We are seeing bright, bold colors for pendant lighting as well as the use of high quality crystal clear glass.”
Aycock adds that interesting designs are showing up in track lighting, especially designs that appeal to her clients with contemporary tastes.
Under cabinet lighting not only provides task lighting, according to Moughler, but can further accentuate today’s countertops and backsplashes.
Pointing to yet another lighting trend in the kitchen is Zachary Allbritton of A-1 Appliance Co. “In the appliance business we have noticed the  recent addition of subtle illumination by LEDs that turn stylish appliances and fixtures into sculptures of light.”
Authorities at the American Lighting Association agree with area experts, saying that kitchen ceiling lighting should be combined with lighting positioned in other areas, to create the proper flow and brightness. Typically a combination of ceiling fixtures, undercabinet lights, and often track lighting is necessary to create an effective lighting scheme that is both functional and decorative, the association reports.
Placement of the fixtures is as important as what fixtures are used, and the use of directional lights and dimmers are important for creating the right combination of general illumination and task lighting. The more elaborate the kitchen, the more elaborate the lighting arrangement, calling for a carefully planned blend of general, accent, and task lighting.
Another trend is the addition of sconces in the kitchen, according to Bone. “The kitchen seems to be making the transition from a more utilitarian to a designed room,” she says.
And while it’s making that transition, conserving energy is “number one,” says DuPree. “Dimmer switches and lighting control systems extend lamp life, while low voltage bulbs such as CFLs (today’s fluorescent bulb) and LEDs offer a higher quality, warmer feel of light than before.
In layering lighting, Dupree adds, “Each layer of light has a different purpose, but most important, always, is balance.” She says she’s seen glass backsplashes and countertops lit from behind and underneath.
ISLAND LIGHTING
There is little as frustrating as a dimly-lit kitchen island. In order to be effective in the kitchen, you need to be able to see well. Though the need for lighting in this area is obvious, choosing the right lighting can be very confusing for many.
A dimmer switch, used in conjunction with pendants over an island, allows for bright task lighting to effectively brighten the area for food preparation or homework, while allowing the lights to be lowered when entertaining guests or simply to create a charming atmosphere. Fluorescent light fixtures can also be used to light a kitchen island, as can recessed lights positioned overhead.
KITCHEN PENDANT LIGHTING
Pendant fixtures are also referred to as suspenders or drops. A pendant light is essentially a lone fixture, dangled from the ceiling by a type of rod or chain. Known to provide good general and task lighting, pendants are commonly used over tables, counters, and islands, alone or in combination with other pendants. Over a kitchen island, pendants are often used in rows of three or more of the same fixture, to create a dramatic look.
Kitchen pendant lights are available in an amazing array of sizes, shapes, and colors. Brushed pewter, Tiffany, and polished nickel pendants are popular for kitchen use, but the choices are endless, ranging from contemporary to Old World styles. Many of today's pendant fixtures are crafted with such care they could actually be room decorations all by themselves.
There are a number of sources in the Greater Nashville area for kitchen lighting including:
A-1 Appliance
Nashville
615/ 352-5174
AB Home Interiors
Brentwood
615/ 496-3911
Baylor Bone Interiors
Nashville, Hendersonville
615/ 822-3199
Beth Haley Design
Nashville
615/ 228-3664
Beverly Anderson
Interior Design
Nashville
615/ 352-5012
Designs by Anna Aycock
Brentwood
615/ 794-7561
Hermitage Lighting
Nashville
615/ 843-3300
John Richard
Fine Furniture
Nashville
615/ 712-7920
Kitchen Tune-Up
Franklin
615-595-07553
Watson Boyce
Cabinet Solutions
Brentwood
615/ 373-9425
|
