Pendants attach to the ceiling by cords, rods, chains or combinations of these. Some are even equipped with telescoping cords to allow you to adjust the distance between the fixture and work surface. Unless you’ve selected a telescoping fixture, you’ll want to install your pendant about 36 inches above the work surface for best results. You can choose pendants that use incandescent, halogen or fluorescent light sources.
An interesting twist on the pendant design is the combination pot rack/task light. These fixtures combine the familiar hanging pot rack with built-in task lights. These relatively large fixtures work well over islands in larger kitchens.
- Material Cost: $10 to $55 per pendant
- Material Cost: up to $500 per pendant with telescoping cord
- Material Cost: $150 per combination pot rack/task light
- Labor Cost: $25 to $50/hour
Track Lights
The track light is another way to provide task light that uses a highly visible fixture. Track light fixtures are available in many designs, from retro to ultra modern and everything in between.
Some track fixtures provide individual lights that are permanently positioned along the length of the track, while others provide lights that can slide along the length of the track to provide unlimited adjustability. Whether fixed in place or slidable, the individual lights can be rotated and pivoted allowing you to aim beams of lights simultaneously to different surfaces or areas of the kitchen. Illumination sources include incandescent or halogen bulbs.
The highly adjustable nature of track lights allow them to be used in interesting combinations. For example, while some of the lights can be pointed to work surfaces to function as task lights, others can be directed to bounce light off of walls or the ceiling to create ambient light, while yet others can be aimed at a feature of the kitchen that you want to showcase, such as a china hutch or a floral arrangement.
Tracks can be made of metal rails or metal wires. Rail designs come in various lengths from 3 feet to 12 feet. Some track light manufacturers make rails that can be bent and shaped by the installer to provide a look that is truly custom.
Track lights that use wires rather than rails come in lengths as long as 20 feet. These wires can be cut to size by the installer to suit any size kitchen.
- Material Cost: $30 to $130 per track with fixed-position lights
- Material Cost: $120 to $270 per track with movable lights
- Labor Cost: $25 to $50/hour