Category Archives: Kitchen

Tips for Adding New Interior Lighting to Your Kitchen

Lighting is crucial in pretty much every room or space. However, the right lights can have an especially big impact on kitchens, which are frequently in use around the clock. Finding items in a kitchen without a well-placed indoor light fixture or cooking a meal under poor lighting can be especially problematic. Fortunately, you can find some lighting tips below.

Increase Natural Light When Possible

Every kitchen needs an indoor light fixture. However, that doesn’t mean artificial light has to do the heavy lifting around the clock. You can use natural light throughout much of the day. Many people prefer natural light, and using it can trim your utility bills and improve your environmental footprint.

Leverage “Task” Lighting

In the past, the go-to solution for lighting was simply to throw a few lights on the ceiling and call it a day. While there may still be a need for large ceiling lights, they may not be enough in many situations, and they can prove to be too much in other scenarios. Task lighting — say, underneath the cabinets by your sink or over your cutting board — can go a long way.

Light Cabinet Interiors

Even the best lights can struggle to light the inside of cabinets. That is, unless those lights happen to be in the cabinets themselves. If you want to maximize lighting and make it easy to find things night and day, simply put some lights in the cabinets themselves.

Mix Warm and Cold

Should you rely on warm lighting, or is it better to go for bright white with cold lighting? The best option is to have both. Sometimes cold white light is needed. You might be cooking up a complicated meal, so the extra bright lighting can go further. Yet when it comes to a romantic meal, soft lighting is often better.

Hanging or Pendant Lights Are a Must

Hanging lights and pendant lights are great for your counters and eating areas. These lights should hang about 36 inches above the counter, according to Driven by Decor, and will put the spotlight on meals, dishes, drinks, or whatever else. Besides providing optimal light in all the right spots, they are also generally easy to maintain.

Keep an Eye on Glare

Glare can be a serious nuisance with any type of lighting in pretty much any room. However, because kitchens have so many reflective surfaces and often a lot of glass, glare can be an especially glaring issue. It’s smart to consider surfaces and how they might reflect light from the get-go.

Are you ready to take your kitchen lighting to the next level? If you need help with glare or selecting an indoor light fixture, get in touch with Premier Lighting today. We’ll be happy to assist you!

4 Top Tips to Choosing New Lighting For Your Kitchen

Choosing new lighting for your kitchen is a fun part of the remodeling process! There are so many beautiful products to choose from that homeowners can spend hours browsing among the various light fixtures available. These tips will help you find the ideal lighting for your kitchen.

Ceiling Fan Options

Before deciding on a light fixture, consider whether you would like a ceiling fan. Homeowners that prefer this option will only have certain options. Likewise, owners that do not want a ceiling fan can focus on other options.

Color

Deciding what color you would like will help you narrow down the selection to find the perfect new lighting. Lighting fixtures should coordinate well with the rest of the room. If you have silver knobs and handles on cabinetry, a new lighting fixture should coordinate well with those. Homeowners should also consider what color their cabinets, walls, and the trim in their kitchen are when choosing home lighting. Your color scheme can also help determine whether you’d like to explore fluorescent lighting options.

Size of the Room

Smaller lights work well for smaller rooms and vice versa. When deciding on the type of lighting for your kitchen, it’s important to consider how much light you would like. In general, the main home lighting used in kitchens should be 5,000 to 10,000 lumens while smaller lights, such as those over top of a sink, should only be approximately 500 lumens.

Placement

Knowing where the lights are going to be placed will help homeowners determine what type of light they would like. For example, a light hanging over top of the kitchen sink will not have the same light fixture as one that will be placed in the middle of the kitchen. Similarly, a standard ceiling provides the opportunity to choose larger light fixtures. A drop ceiling with ceiling tiles can limit your options. Make sure to determine which light fixtures will work with your kitchen’s size and ceiling type before browsing through products.

For many, the kitchen is the heart of the home. A well-lighted kitchen can make all the difference for your family and the memories you’ll make. Whether you’re an amateur chef or just looking for a picture-perfect kitchen, we would love to help you choose the perfect fixtures for your space!

5 Factors to Consider When Choosing Light Fixtures for Your Kitchen

Sometimes it can be challenging to pick a suitable lamp for your kitchen. You often have to balance between creating a welcoming ambiance and functional lighting to support tasks. But using a variety of light fixtures, you can create a well-lit space for working or socializing.

1. Avoid Overpowering the Room with One Lamp

Homeowners often resign themselves to using one bright light fixture for the entire kitchen. Unfortunately, it makes some sections of the room brighter, while other places get no light. The lamp will create glare on one side and shadows on the other.

Always make full use of sunlight for optimal indoor lighting. Consider using a sun tube or skylights if you are not getting enough sunlight in the interior.

2. Layer the Light Fixtures

Instead of using one bright lamp, consider going for multiple light fixtures for optimal illumination of the kitchen. First, you ought to understand the different types of lamps you can use in your home. They include task, accent, ambient, and decorative lights.

Task lighting is for focusing light onto the work area. The placement of the lamp should be such that it does not create shadows on the workspace.

Ambient lighting is for general illumination throughout the room. It includes pedants that infuse a warm ambiance, making the kitchen more welcoming.

You can use decorative and accent lamps to highlight the design elements of your kitchen. Keep in mind, the larger your kitchen, the more of these indoor light fixtures you will need.

3. Create a Focal Point in your Kitchen

Even as you incorporate multiple light fixtures, it is always advisable to create a focal point in your kitchen. You can use accent lights to highlight eye-catching aspects of the room. Areas to highlight may include your glass cabinetry or a new backsplash.

Consider selecting one or two lamps to act as statement pieces. They should be light fixtures that work for your interior and match your taste.

4. Height and Placement of the Home Lighting Fixture

The placement of the lighting fixture is essential for ensuring optimum illumination of the space. If you have tall ceilings, consider installing the lamp at a higher point. The beam angle should be narrow. Otherwise, the light may not be bright enough for the entire room.

The home lighting fixture you pick should spread the illumination evenly across the room. If the ceiling is more than 10 feet high, you can raise the lamp by 3 inches for every foot over 8 feet. But that will also depend on the brightness and the dimensions of your kitchen.

5. Use a Variety of Fixtures

Bring out the beauty of your kitchen with a variety of light fixtures. Avoid using too much of one type of lamp, as it will often leave shadows. You may use different lighting options with varying light intensities for an inviting ambiance in your kitchen.

You can use a wide range of light fixtures to revamp the ambiance in your kitchen and make it comfortable. Take time to plan the placement depending on the dimensions of the room and your preferences. If you are in the market for lighting fixtures, outdoor lighting, lamps and shades, wall fixtures, ceiling fixtures among others, call or visit Premier Lighting. We are proud to be the home of quality products for every room in the house.

Why Pendant Lighting is a Must for Any House

Pendant lighting truly affects the ambiance of a home, and your online searches probably don’t show you the full affect. Here’s why you should check out local pendant lighting in Tucson, AZ and discover the wonders it can do to a room’s atmosphere.

Helps with Everyday Tasks

Pendant lights can be used as task lighting. If your overhead lights are dim or too far, that could be why you have such a hard time preparing meals in your kitchen. Shop around for pendant lights. With the right option, you can enjoy better brightness from your lights, making it easier for you to cook.

Available in Plenty of Forms

You can find local decorative home lighting fixtures in Tucson, AZ that make a strong statement. Available in many forms and styles, you’ll have a fun time deciding which ones fit your home’s style. Whatever kind of ambiance or personality you want your home to exude, the lighting system you choose is going to contribute to that.

Highlights Features

Pendant lights are ideal as accent lighting. They highlight a design feature in your home, like a piece of art or your fireplace. Their colors bring out the tones or shades in a room.

Makes Activities Easier

Every area in your home has different lighting needs. If you’re upgrading the lights because you want to renovate, consider your future plans for those areas. What kind of activities do you want to do in those areas? That’s going to influence your light buying decisions.

Gives You Greater Control

You’ll want the ability to control the level or intensity of your lighting systems. That’s why it’s ideal to shop around for dimmers as well. With dimmers, you’ll have greater control over your lights.

Ready to shop? Visit Premier Lighting for pendant lighting in Tucson, AZ today.

Kitchen Ceiling Light Fixtures – Make Your Ceiling Fixtures Shine

It’s amazing what a little light will do. Light really makes a room open up, makes it more inhabitable, more welcoming, and more useful. This is true even in the kitchen. Working in an under-lit kitchen can be a frustrating experience, while good lighting can make the kitchen the center of the home. When you think about where to place lighting in the kitchen, think about the tasks that you most commonly perform there.

Adjustable

Doing all the chopping, slicing, dicing, mixing, and other tasks associated with cooking means that work areas should be well-lit and clean. Under cabinet lighting is one option, but so is adjustable lighting over a work surface. Think about placing a series of adjustable hanging lamps over your primary work surface. This is similar to task lighting, just like the adjustable lamps in a workshop.

Recessed

You may have thought of lighting above the stove and above the sink, but what about recessed lighting? Recessed lighting gives a welcoming and warm reception to the entire kitchen, softly illuminating cabinets and surfaces. Instead of little pockets of light, get that overall glow with recessed lighting fixtures.

Ceiling

Ceiling fans keep the air moving and comfortable in a room where the heat is almost always on, whether it’s a burner on the stove or an oven full of cookies. One – or even two – can keep things cool, especially on a hot Scottsdale, AZ day. It’s rare to find a ceiling fan these days that isn’t also a light.

Rheostat

When it comes to a breakfast bar, mornings might need a subtler light to help you adjust to the day. Ceiling light fixtures with a rheostat (a “dimmer switch”) might seem like “mood lighting,” but once you try a lower, more relaxing light, you’ll find that your start is relaxed and mellow.

And remember, kitchen lighting doesn’t have to be stuffy or boring. Modern ceiling light fixtures come in a variety of styles. More than lighting, these fixtures are home decor products that will add charm and uniqueness to the heart of your house. If you’re not sure what look you want for your kitchen, check out Premier Lighting. Stop by one of our stores in Tucson or Scottsdale, AZ or check out our website to get ideas that will make your kitchen just as unique and individual as you are.

How to Pick the Perfect Pendant for Your Kitchen Island

Why settle for blasé, run-of-the-mill pendant lights when you can have your pick of fresh and exciting fixtures to really bring your kitchen to life? With islands becoming almost second nature to kitchen remodels, pendant lighting is also becoming equally important to the design process. These five types of pendant lighting can really bring style and flare to your kitchen and what would normally be a fairly monotonous environment. Liven up your island space with some of these pendant ideas.

Colorful

Colored pendants can be tricky. You want to use just the right pop of color without overdoing it and causing it to look tacky. If you use a lot of whites or neutral colors in your kitchen, then colored pendants can be just what you need. Use them for an exotic edge on a normally traditional design idea.

Clear Glass

Clear glass pendants can do just the opposite. They add an elegant touch to an already busy kitchen area. They are also great for smaller spaced kitchens, as you can see through them, causing them not to block anything out of view. Hand-blown are going to be the best quality and will be sure to give a modern, yet stylish feel to your kitchen.

Oversized

Going big on overhead pendants can be scary, but they definitely have a huge impact on a space. They can really liven up an otherwise minimalistic area. Oversized pendants can be perfect for the added touch and dramatic accent piece that you’re looking for in a wide-open kitchen. The appearance that they add is unlike anything you’ll see.

Industrial

If you’re looking for an edgy feel for your kitchen space, industrial pendants are the way to go. They have a rough quality to them that can really transform the island area. Go with stainless for a crisp, clean look or a rustic black version for a more serious approach. Either way, industrial pendants will give a sculptured finish to your kitchen vibe.

Chandeliers

Chandeliers in a kitchen can be pretty unexpected, but that’s what makes them exciting. They are dramatic and really add life to a room. If you’re looking to soften up all of the hard lines and surfaces in your kitchen, then chandeliers are the right choice for you. They give your kitchen a glamorous touch and feel. The shine and sparkle can be very refreshing for your island décor.

Where to Use Pendant Lighting

Pendant lighting allows a homeowner to get creative when it comes to style and ambience. Pendants are a great way to illuminate task areas or showcase certain elements in your home by enhancing a particular space. If you have an open floor plan, pendants can be used to break up the feel and create a layout that is more separated.

Lighting is one of the most important aspects of home décor. With so many different styles and sizes to choose from, deciding on what works best can become an overwhelming task. Before you choose your style and size, you will need to know where the best places to use pendant lighting are. Pendant lighting works best in conversation areas like family rooms, living rooms, and dining rooms. They are also typically used in task areas such as the kitchen, reading areas, or a workspace.

In the kitchen: If you have an island in your kitchen, pendants are a great way to draw attention to this feature and add task lighting. The same goes for other unique features such as a breakfast nook or a bar, making it more distinct and highlighting it as a conversation or gathering area.

TIP: If you’re looking to upgrade your kitchen without breaking the bank by remodeling, consider replacing older fixtures with a pendant fixture, or a row of pendants to give your kitchen a more modern look.

Dining areas: Get rid of that outdated lighting fixture and replace it with a unique pendant fixture. If you have a larger dining area, use 3 or more fixtures in a row to highlight your dining space.

TIP: Be sure to use a dimmer switch so you can brighten the area up for a dinner party, or set the mood when it is time for a romantic dinner for two.

Open floor plan: Pendant lighting can be used to break up a large open floor plan, giving the space a more separated feel and creating “zones” within it. If your living room and kitchen are adjoined, consider positioning your couch so the back is towards the kitchen. Hang a row of pendants above the couch and another row in the kitchen. This will separate the two areas and showcase your décor.

TIP: If you have a large living room, consider breaking it up into smaller areas. Create a focal point around a fireplace or entertainment center and hang a pendant fixture above this area. Use a chair or two, and a table in the corner with a single pendant fixture to create a reading nook.

The bedroom: Looking to make that master bedroom more romantic? Consider hanging a pendant fixture above the bed, or a row of pendants above your headboard. Install a dimmer switch to create a more inviting ambience.

TIP: Pendants can also be used above a dresser or vanity to create an extra layer of light or give your room a fresher look.

Dress Up Any Space With a Dramatic Chandelier

Chandeliers can take any room from simple and casual to being the most dramatic room in the house! Whether you want to take an already decorated room and add some pizzazz to it, or are starting from scratch and decorating a room in efforts to make it dramatic, chandeliers are the way to go.

Not only are chandeliers beautiful and dramatic statement pieces but they are also functional, adding necessary light to any space. A lot of people have a hard time deciding what room to put a chandelier in. Gone are the days where the only room that can have a chandelier is the dining room. With the wide variety of shapes, styles and sizes of chandeliers, the answer is simple – any room! Below is a list of some of the most common and uncommon spaces to put a chandelier:

• Kitchen – A fun chandelier in your kitchen’s style placed over the kitchen table is perfect for style and lighting.

• Bathroom – Add a small chandelier that fits the space (no matter how small) but also pumps up the drama! Think bright, sparkly or quirky. The bathroom is a great space to have fun and go for something outside the box.

• Dining Room – The dining room is the most common room to install a chandelier because it is typically the most formal room in a home. Stick with your home’s style when choosing your dining room chandelier, but remember to go bold and pick something that will make a statement.

• Bedroom – A chandelier can be installed over the bed, or over any reading/desk area your bedroom may have. A chandelier will take any ordinary reading/desk area to the next level by increasing the drama and adding some useful lighting as well.

• Laundry room – Not the most common space to add a chandelier, but the laundry room is often forgotten; by adding a small chandelier you can create drama in a room where drama is most likely lacking.

By adding an unexpected chandelier into a typically casual space such as the bedroom or laundry room, you can ensure that guests will be impressed by your home’s style and décor! On the other hand, by adding a spectacular chandelier into formal yet drab room such as the dining room, you can up the style of both that room, and the surrounding rooms! Chandeliers are one of the best additions for any homeowner that is looking to make an impact change without making tons of little changes around their living space.

Kitchen Lighting 101

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house in regards to lighting. It is home to many activities that require task and general lighting. Your plan should include enough light to see into cabinets, drawers and pantries, adequate task lighting over sinks, countertops and islands and ample lighting over a table for dining and family activities.

When it comes to kitchens, the possibilities are endless and can include chandeliers, wall sconces, under-cabinet lights, recessed or track lights, ceiling fans and pendants. Soffits, ceilings or toe kick areas of the cabinets or island can be lit for design style or as a soft light at night. Because there are a variety of activities that tend to take place in a kitchen, dimmers are a nice addition to your lighting plan.

TIP: The darker the surfaces of the countertops, walls and floors, the more wattage you need. Always plan for more light than you think you need and use dimmers or extra switches to adjust later on.

If I hang pendants above a kitchen island, how high should they be?

Pendants or fixtures that hang above the island or bar should be high enough so that all members of the household can look across the island or bar without their vision obstructed by the fixtures. The exact height depends on your personal preference. We recommend being home when the pendants are installed to ensure the perfect install.