Lighting All Around

With Christmas just around the corner and homes lit with sparkling lights all around, I thought it would be fitting to share my process on creating the lighting scheme for the new house. I love lighting and the way it can transform a space. Lighting plays a huge role in every project of mine and my philosophy is "Do it right!" 

THE RECESSED CANS

When I purchased the house, each room had one fixture at best and there were a few scattered wall sconces. So to say the least... I had my work cut out for me. With 8-ft ceilings, I knew that it would be important to maximize the lighting to help make the space feel larger. I scoured the internet researching all different kinds of recessed cans and finally landed on one that was simple and clean. I really wanted to stay away from the larger cans, so I kept my search queries to 3–4 inch recessed housing kits. Super clean, adjustable head to redirect lighting, and a simple white trim that would mount flush to my ceiling is what I found! 

These recessed cans came with both the housing kit and the trim. (bulbs not included) You can find them here on Amazon.

THE BULBS

Now, these cans are typically meant for halogen bulbs. I love the look and feel of halogen bulbs, but energy efficiency wise, not so gouda. Also, something to keep in mind... smaller recessed cans require more of them to light an area. All that points to more money spent on replacement bulbs and higher energy bills. Thus began the research on the perfect LED bulb replacement. I'm super thankful that technology has brought us LED bulbs and in recent years, comparable bulbs to the incandescent and halogen family. 

Here's a fun bulb buying guide from CNET for some light reading.

For residential projects, I'm a strong advocate for the warm whites. I typically avoid the cool whites and the daylights. There's something about not looking like a blue smurf that keeps me operating in the 0-3000 Kelvin range. You can learn more about color temperature here. 

My bulb criteria for this project were (1) LED, (2) Warm White, (3) Bright, (4) Dimmable. And here they are! 

I love the look of these bulbs and I'm all for the energy efficiency! Also available for purchase on Amazon. 

THE LIGHTING PLAN

After choosing my recessed cans and bulbs, I moved onto the lighting layout. The goal was impact and proper lighting throughout each of the spaces. When dealing with floor joists and old home construction, you should plan on making adjustments on the exact location of the cans and how many you'll need. I ran into a few issues with joists but all in all, I was able to get it close to the plans I've included below. 

I ended up putting the exterior sconces (Section O) on hold due to some wiring issues. I also decided to cut back on the recessed lights in the garage/laundry areas (Section M/L)

Adding the recessed cans and closet lights upstairs were a huge upgrade!

THe pendants

I enjoyed picking out the pendants that would eventually go over the kitchen island. I knew that I wanted the space to feel industrial yet inviting and in order to achieve that, it would be important to pair classic with modern elements. These pendants are the perfect combination of both. Introducing the Clemson Classic Single Pendant in Polished Nickel from Restoration Hardware!

Such a great piece of lighting. I love the classic white translucent glass that pairs well with the nickel finish. You can find it here at RH. 

Here's a drawing of the pendants in the kitchen at eye-level. I decided on two of the Clemson pendants to properly light the countertop space of the kitchen island. 

The Lighting UPDATE

And now for the progress photos from the lighting installation! You can also see that the asbestos and popcorn ceiling are gone and the drywall repairs well underway. Check it out!

Here's a view of the kitchen. The wires hanging and the blue work box from the ceiling are where the two pendants will be hung.

A side shot of the kitchen/hallway. Those LED cans really brighten up the space!

A view of the open dining/kitchen space from the living room. 

And let's flip it around. A view from the kitchen of the dining/living room. 

Thanks for reading! Hope you are enjoying this Christmas season and are looking forward to good food and good times. More to come on the blog, but if you don't hear from me before the end of the year... Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!