Kitchen remodel Can light questions

[65ranchero]

I'm getting ready to do a complete kitchen remodel new upper and lower cabinets.
In the ceiling there is a total of 6) 6" recessed cans. 2 of which are on a separate dimmer switch for over our 2-seat table, the other 4 light up the kitchen quite well also on a dimmer.
The LEDs in there now are point straight down with a narrow beam
Since cabinets will be a slightly different position the light in the main part of the kitchen are centered where I would like them so the to do it properly it will require opening up ceiling to move 2 of the lights one bay over.
I would rather not do that so my solution would be to add retro gimbal light so the light will wash the cabinets.

I have done some research and there is plenty of options for retro fit, and at this point I'm so confused as to what is good (flood or spot) thermoplastic trim vs. metal, installation
What is good and what is bad?
Thanks for any help that can be given
Some names I have looked at are:
Most of these are from HD site
Commercial Electric
NuWatt
Halo
Luxrite
Maxxima
Juno

 

[mm08822]

Since this is a complete remodel, I would not let a little bit of sheetrock impact the lighting. Kitchens have a lot of tasks/activities going on so lighting is important.

Consider undercabinet lighting led for the counter top. I would do aluminum bar strip LEDS so there is something solid to mount. I would not do hockey pucks as they are a much of hot spots and create uneven lighting. Consider dimmable. Some drivers even let you pick the temperature to adjust to suite once the overall project is complete. These also reduce work shadows that ceiling lights only could provide while working at the counter.

As for gimbals, I like them for cathedral ceilings. I 've never done wall washing with them, but a different topic altogether. I wouldn't want them angled with a low ceiling as the cone of light will be uneven and you may notice that.

I would relocate any/all of the existing now for optimal lighting. I have had good luck with Halo wafer LED flood lights. These too, are temp adjustable and some even have switchable lumen output. Maybe consider dimmable as well.

Over sink and island should also be considered, possibly separately.

 

[65ranchero]

Since this is a complete remodel, I would not let a little bit of sheetrock impact the lighting. Kitchens have a lot of tasks/activities going on so lighting is important.

Consider undercabinet lighting led for the counter top. I would do aluminum bar strip LEDS so there is something solid to mount. I would not do hockey pucks as they are a much of hot spots and create uneven lighting. Consider dimmable. Some drivers even let you pick the temperature to adjust to suite once the overall project is complete. These also reduce work shadows that ceiling lights only could provide while working at the counter.

As for gimbals, I like them for cathedral ceilings. I 've never done wall washing with them, but a different topic altogether. I wouldn't want them angled with a low ceiling as the cone of light will be uneven and you may notice that.

I would relocate any/all of the existing now for optimal lighting. I have had good luck with Halo wafer LED flood lights. These too, are temp adjustable and some even have switchable lumen output. Maybe consider dimmable as well.

Over sink and island should also be considered, possibly separately.

mm, thanks for the reply.
We are going to use under cabinet lights also. These will be recessed in the bottom of the cabinet, very thin round, low voltage (with no wires showing) the wires are run through the bottom of the cabinet.
Line voltage to 12v DC with a wireless controller that looks like a "push to start" button which has a magnetic holder so it can be placed anywhere hidden.
I have looked at the Halo gimbal line (flood) and am considering them.
I am 6' 4'' and no matter how I stand at the counter working my fat body blocks the light out of the ceiling so my thought was being able to control where ceiling lights shine may help with eliminating shadows along with the addition of under counter lighting.
I like the idea of being able to change the color temp and already have the current lights on a dimmer.
My other house when we did a full kitchen remodel went with gimbal halogen lights and was very pleased with how they washed the upper cabinets (other than not being able to use them at full brightness and power consumption)
at that time LEDs were just in its infancy, and everybody shied away from them.

 

[MichaelP]

I like Feit retrofits and have many of them: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F8G4N8MC?tag=atomicindus08-20. Only two of them failed within 5-7 years (I had single color temperature ones, but those above have adjustable color and replace the originals perfectly).

Put many of them (you'll need it while getting older) and be mindful to position the cans in front of you, so that you don't cast shade while cooking and eating.

I've never had a need for dimmable kitchen lights, but they are dimmable.

 

[jar944]

Hard to beat the thin led pucks. You don't need to worry about framing and can lay them out exactly where you want.

 

[65ranchero]

Thanks to everyone who have contributed to this discussion.
I have some good info so far and will be making decisions in a while since I have at least 90 days to choose.

 

[dave*99]

The last kitchen I did I was faced with similar concerns about lighting, soffits etc. I cut and chopped the ceiling up as needed. Holes, slits, whatever. I did not remove the old drywall entirely. I covered it all with a fresh layer of 3/8 drywall and ended up with good lighting and a perfect ceiling. No more sand finish etc.

My current kitchen is open concept with the LR and DR. I put LED tape lights on top of the kitchen cabinets (no soffit, cabinets are 12" down from the 9' high ceiling. They are on a dimmer and provide nice soft lighting in the space for after dinner relaxing in the LR. They are on a plug and receptacle arrangement atop the cabinets. All hidden by crown molding.

 

[65ranchero]

OK, this is the latest.
We met with the designer today and I think we found the solution.
He has suggested to use these lights on the bottom of the upper cabinets

Pockit Point - Puck Lighting

trescolighting.com

These are very thin and fits in less that 3/4 space and wires run through the wood to the wall and hidden.
They require a 120V ac to 12V dc power supply with a wireless remote like this

FREEDiM Series Micro Dimmer, Nickel

FREEDiM Series Micro Dimmer, Nickel

trescolighting.com

For the ceiling will remove existing lights and move the new lighting 3 or 4 " LED closer to the cabinets (the new uppers will go to ceiling and finished off with crown moulding)
We looked at his display that was close to what we are ordering and fell in love with the look.

 

[dave*99]

Before you commit to pucks, consider trim rail on the bottom of the upper cabinets with continuous LED tape or strip lighting at the front edge of the cabinets
It provides much more even lighting than pucks.

 

[65ranchero]

Dave, thanks for your suggestion however due to cabinet style and design the trim rail is not an option.
But your kitchen looks very nice with the strip lighting.

 

[jar944]

I like recessed pucks (under cabinet) however the recessed strips are more popular. Imho you need seamless finished bottom panels on the uppers for either to look right.

 

[65ranchero]

I like recessed pucks (under cabinet) however the recessed strips are more popular. Imho you need seamless finished bottom panels on the uppers for either to look right.

I agree!

 

[dave*99]

I like recessed pucks (under cabinet) however the recessed strips are more popular. Imho you need seamless finished bottom panels on the uppers for either to look right.

One of the drivers away from pucks is the shiny countertops that reflect the pucks such that you see them on the countertop.

 

[65ranchero]

One of the drivers away from pucks is the shiny countertops that reflect the pucks such that you see them on the countertop.

Thanks, I realize that and will be punishing myself for that even more since countertop is going to be polished absolute black granite
That's what she wants and gets .

 

[jar944]

One of the drivers away from pucks is the shiny countertops that reflect the pucks such that you see them on the countertop.

I prefer the pinpoint aesthetic. Diffused strip is to modern of a look.

Imho this was very well executed (not my work)


I'm also not (personally) a fan of polished stone. Actually that's not 100% true. I've done flat/leathered, matte/honed and polished/leathered. The polished leathered is the way to go maintenance wise. Flat/matte is a nightmare to keep that way.

 

[65ranchero]

I prefer the pinpoint aesthetic. Diffused strip is to modern of a look.

Imho this was very well executed (not my work)


I'm also not (personally) a fan of polished stone. Actually that's not 100% true. I've done flat/leathered, matte/honed and polished/leathered. The polished leathered is the way to go maintenance wise. Flat/matte is a nightmare to keep that way.

I am all with you on the polished look, did it in the other house and well aware of the downside.
You see every speck of dust, food and drips.

 

[65ranchero]

I went to Amazon and took a chance and ordered a 4 pack of Halo retro fit thin profile LEDs with selectable color temp. like this: https://www.platt.com/p/2208991/halo/6-slim-led-downlight-27-50k/080083294831/halhblt609fs5
My wife like them and they have a big light angle.
We have them on the lowest temp, and it is more light than we need.

Down side: Amazon shipped it in one of their own boxes, opened the box and found that the lights were in their original packing boxes and all 4 of them were inside a plastic bag with printed words of " Ready to Ship" .
Thought that to be odd but unpacked box #1 all secure with inner packing and service label, same went for # 2 and 3.
Get to box 4 and open box and found the interior packing cardboard was missing. and no service label.
Take the light out and find the lens was damaged (looked like someone laid a hole saw on it while it was running).

Good side: Contact Amazon and complain, they wanted me to send back all 4 of the lights. I told them that 3 of the lights were installed already and that would make them used, and all I wanted was to replace the one damaged light.
They finally said that since it was a package we will send out another package of 4 lights and I could keep the other ones.

As far as I can figure someone damage a light on a job
ordered a 4-pack, swapped out bad light and did a return

 

[Shiftless]

well aware of the downside.
You see every speck of dust, food and drips.

This would be a deal breaker for me.
And the glare from the bright puck lights is another big problem.

 

[mm08822]

I have installed LED strip lights underside contained within a 1/2" aluminum frame. The strips had frosted diffusers. You can still see each LED reflecting on the polished countertop.

I still like them compared to pucks. Pucks make it look like cave torches were used IMHO ....too much of a hot spot.