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Monday, June 2, 2014

KITCHEN UPDATE

 

LET THERE BE LIGHT


We are almost to the finish line on our kitchen. This weeks project was installing the undermount and inside cabinet lights.

I am a fanatic about lighting, and the mood it can set in a room. 

If you were to visit in the evening you would see all kinds of little ambient lighting around my home.

It gives me great delight to go around my home humming along, and turning on the lights at dusk.

Of course they all have dimmers so I can get a nice candle glow effect.

We never put undermount lighting in our kitchen because all the lights were either too harsh, or the wrong color of lighting for me.

I love a warm glow and all I seemed to see was a bright white, or a blue base lighting……

……UNTIL NOW!!

My sweet hubby went on line to see what kind of lighting we could find that could be dimmed for underneath the cabinetry,  and give me the warm glow that I love.

He found just the right kind of lighting for me……..

led lighting

LED strip lighting.

The strip itself is about 1/4 of an inch and the little tiny LED lights are about half the size of a match head. 
Just tiny!! 
It comes all rolled up on a reel just like film would be for a projector.

I chose less voltage, and warm white because I like a warm glow.

You need a transformer, connectors, and a dimmer switch to complete the job.

CONNECTORS…

connectors
The connectors are really cool, no soldering needed!!


TRANSFORMER
transformer
The transformer has to have an electrical outlet. We put ours inside the cabinet above our microwave where we have an outlet to plug in the microwave. I got lucky on this count!!

DIMMER SWITCH

DIMMER
This is installed inside the cabinet next to my stove so it is out of sight, and I have easy access to it.

All my cabinets have undermount lighting, and the two cupboards with glass doors have lighting inside them as well.

All of this for under $50!

Color me HAPPY!!!!

That’s enough technical stuff, let’s get down to the.....
....PRETTY STUFF!!!

P1130956 (646x800)

I took this image right when the sun was going down. Can you see the warm glow in the corner, and inside the cabinets?

P1130958
See how they glow, and make everything look sparkly inside my glass cabinets. I also have the back wall mirrored to add to the reflective quality of the lighting.

P1130962 (800x600)
It is even prettier at night time, or at least it is to me.

Next on the agenda is ……….

P1130920

BTW: If you are interested in any of the above products just click on the image to go to the website to purchase them.
 
 

10 comments:

Thehouseofhampton said...

Say what? I need your husband at my house! Gonna take a closer look at this. What a difference it makes. Your kitchen keeps getting better and better.
Sharon

Woodside Park said...

Hey, Kathysue - Your kitchen is positively glowing! Thanks for sharing the light source - great find. Are these the same light strings you placed outside? I loved those! xo

Patty Day @Pattys Epiphanies said...

Undercounter lighting is one of the best known ideas to date! Love it and have enjoyed it for years in our last three homes.
Yours is great!

Unknown said...

The lighting is beautiful! I love your tray ceiling with the chandelier. It is really looking great in there. Your marble is gorgeous! Enjoy. xo Nancy

Debra Lea said...

Your kitchen is looking lovely! My husband installed some under cabinet lighting for me a couple years ago and I still get a jolt of happiness when I see it!! :0)

Debra Lea said...

Your kitchen is looking lovely! My husband installed under cabinet lighting for me a couple years ago and I still get a jolt of happiness when I see it!

-Debra Lea

La Vie Quotidienne said...

It all has turned out beautifully, I totally agree with you about ambient lighting...so important, and you have done it so well.

I love using mirrors too and just added some mirrored accents in my little powder room redo. They add so much!

Merlin said...

You ARE a girl after my own heart! My "handy hubby" put in under counter lighting, too, and I LOVE IT! There is just "something about" that soft glow...and your MIRRORS...I did that too!! Someone asked me my favorite color and I said.."sparkle." Great job on the kitchen!! franki

Teresa Hatfield ~ Splendid Sass said...

Wow! What a difference $50 makes! And overlays, I ADORE! Can't wait to see.
Happy Wednesday,
Teresa
xoxo

Preppy Empty Nester said...

It looks great! Love the overlays!