These photos come from a serious DIY-er, so perhaps they’ll be an inspiration for anyone considering tackling a major renovation project on your own. Chad decided to build a kitchen in his basement, so he picked out cabinets and hardware and then installed all of the electrical, plumbing, and flooring with the help of his wife. He hired someone to help with the countertops and drywall work. “Some things should just be left to the pros,” Chad said. We agree!
He used our Xenon Line Voltage Under Cabinet Task Lights (in brushed steel) to illuminate the countertops. A lot of our customers have trouble deciding what type of light source to choose for under cabinet lighting, so I asked Chad why he went with xenon. There are pros and cons to each type, but it’s really a matter of personal preference. Chad said he picked xenon because he loved the color temperature (xenon gives off a warm white light) and the CRI (xenon has excellent color rendering). “They’re very bright, thin, and dimmable,” he said.
Why not fluorescent? Chad said he wanted to avoid flickering and also wanted to make sure the light was dimmable. Actually, all of our fluorescent under cabinet lights include a built-in electronic ballast which prevents flickering. However, they are not dimmable, and the CRI is typically not as high as what you’ll see with xenon.
Chad mounted the light fixtures as close to the front of the cabinet as possible to maximize even light distribution – which is exactly what we recommend for installation, and the Lighting Research Center backs it up.
WOW! I love the look! I`m speechless!