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Xenon: An Option for Undercabinet Lighting.
Want to try something new to shed light under your cabinets?
Consider xenon, since it gives better color rendering than fluorescent lighting?which is the predominant source for undercabinet lighting.
Besides having a warmer color tone, Xenon lamps last a long time: usually between 5,000 and 10,000 hours.
Get Cooking with a Kitchen Lighting Makeover.
Most of us don't realize what a huge difference great lighting can make in our homes. The right lighting fixtures and portable lamps add new levels of functionality to just about any room, making it more pleasant and enjoyable to be in.
Use the right light for the job. Stove and sink areas demand down-lights to create task lighting for cooking and food prep. Adding lighting to these areas also allows you show off dramatic stoves tops or counter areas, the very areas where you've spent lots of money! The kitchen table is
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another focal point, as are kitchen islands and peninsulas. Even if the rest of your kitchen space features recessed lighting, a pendant or chandelier fixture in these areas can add some color or style by breaking up the space without blocking the view.
Under cabinet lighting is also important. Used effectively, under-cabinet lights can draw attention to granite and marble countertops, provide effective food prep task lighting, and even help make food look more attractive. It's also a great way to get light into small spaces without taking away precious counter space.
Recipe for kitchen lighting.
To get the effect you want in your kitchen, take into account the many "ingredients" that go into an effective lighting plan.
Your kitchen needs to be well-lit, for many very good reasons - among them, beauty, safety and comfort for the cook.
Many facets of your kitchen design will determine the way it is illuminated. Not only do such variables as ceiling height, natural light, and surface finishes affect the placement or amount of light used, but there are other factors you should consider as well.
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Use the following checklist as you consider the kitchen you want to light:
-Color
Darker finished surfaces absorb more light. An all-white kitchen requires dramatically less light (40%-50% less) than a kitchen with dark wood cabinets and walls.
-Reflectance
A highly polished countertop acts just like a mirror. Any under-cabinet lighting will show its reflection.
-Texture
If your end design includes brickwork or stucco, you might want to show off the textural quality of those surfaces. To draw attention to a texture, direct light at an acute angle to the textured surface. Luminaires located too far away from the wall will smooth out its appearance - which might be a good idea for bad drywall jobs.
-Mood
Floor plans are more open now. Guests will flow from the living room to the kitchen to the dining room. The kitchen should be just as inviting as the rest of the house. Make sure that there is enough ambient light in the kitchen. This softens the lines on people's faces and creates a warm, inviting glow.
-Tone
The warm end of the color spectrum works okay with incandescent light, but cooler colors can be adversely affected by the amber quality of incandescent light. Blues can turn green and reds can turn orange. Selecting a bulb that provides a cooler color of light can improve skin tone and room colors.
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