Natural Light
Windows and skylights provide ambient light during daylight hours. However, if these are not ideally positioned in your kitchen, you can still bring in natural daylight without undertaking the expense of a larger scale remodel project. One way to accomplish this is by installing a solar tube type of product. This product is composed of an acrylic lens that is installed on the roof or outer wall of the home, and a diffuser that is installed in your kitchen ceiling. Connecting these two end points is a tube that is installed through the home’s attic, and through closets if more than one story separates the roof from the kitchen. This tube is lined with highly reflective material that directs captured sunlight to the diffuser and into the kitchen. There is virtually no heat transfer through solar tubes, and condensation is minimized by incorporating breathable expansion joints in the tube design.
Solar tube products are manufactured by several companies. A leader among these is SOLATUBE. Solar tube products are installed by local distributors that can be found online. Since product characteristics and warranties can vary significantly, it is helpful to request a list of satisfied customers from the installers you are considering.
Solar tube products offer a relatively simple and cost effective way to provide daytime ambient light to the kitchen. The “standard” kitchen installation includes four feet of 10-inch diameter tube, roof lens, and diffuser. Add about $15 for each additional foot of 10-inch tube required for your particular installation. Most installers provide cost quotes that include labor.
- Material and labor costs: $350 for a “standard” kitchen installation.
Ceiling Light
Regardless of your daytime light source, you’ll want to carefully plan your ambient illumination for other times of the evening and night when kitchens are at their busiest. Surprisingly, centrally positioned ceiling fixtures are still popular. Today’s most popular designs provide softer, indirect illumination that minimizes shadows. To accomplish this, these fixtures are mounted a few inches below the ceiling enabling them to bounce light off of the ceiling. These fixtures, known as semi-flush mounted fixtures, are available in many styles to coordinate with the kitchen’s décor.
Dimmer switches work well with ambient lights since they allow you to fine tune the room’s brightness and overall mood.
As is the case with all of the other lighting installations discussed below, an electrician or handyman with specific electrical experience can remove and replace a ceiling mounted fixture. Additionally, an experienced handyman can patch any holes in the ceiling that remain visible after the new light fixture is installed.
- Material Cost: $35 to $450 per ceiling light fixture
- Material Cost: $10 to $65 per dimmer switch
- Labor Cost: $25 to $50/hour