It's been whirlwind of activity since my great NOLA adventure! Installations are underway, new designs are being created and the busy summer season is ramping up! I'm meeting so many new prospective kitchen clients and although they are all unique, many of them have the same questions. Based on the very real inquiries of my clientele, I will be dishing out my answers and perspectives on five biggies that will give you a head start if you're beginning to plan your own dream kitchen.
1) What kind of lights should I use for under cabinet lighting? I love to use strip, or rope, lighting to illuminate the area between upper cabinets and counter tops. This type of LED lighting casts an even glow without the need to worry about placement of individual lights. Because they are LED, you do have to locate a transformer inside or above the cabinets. They are energy efficient and long lasting allowing you to see what you're doing on the counter or simply providing ambient, or mood, lighting. I like to place them under the front of the upper cabinet either tucked behind the face frame or perhaps concealed with molding. This position will cast light on the center of your counter top. As you can see in the photo above, they are also a perfect option for illuminating the toekick area between cabinet and floor. Not only does this look very stylish but doing this is also a great option for safety and aging in place design. There are many brands on the market with some easier to install than others. I like the Loox line by Hafele. In addition to the rope lights they offer all kinds of stylish, functional and efficient options for lighting the inner recesses of your kitchen.
Some of the newest ways to use rope lighting is to illuminate the interiors of cabinets. Seems so logical!
Up next:2) Some of my cabinets are still really good, can I save money and just get more to match?