KITCHEN GUIDE / LIGHTING & APPLIANCES
Powering up There’s a lot of electrics in the kitchen, from appliances to sockets. But music systems and undercounter and inbuilt lighting could also readily be added to your list. You need to know what you want, and where, at the earliest design stage. Words from articles by Keith Kelliher, Paul McNally, Marion McGarry, and Astrid Madsen
Lighting
Paul Lindsay, paullindsayphoto.co.uk
On self-builds, hiring a lighting designer is not the norm but it’s worth considering if you have the budget. Lighting may seem easy but it’s actually quite tricky to get right. Effective lighting is a must in kitchens, both for functionality and to create atmosphere, with mood lighting particularly important in open plan designs. Task lighting normally
1 1 8 / SE LF BU IL D / WIN TER 2 021
involves white lighting for food preparation and other activities where clarity is needed. Warmer ambient lighting promotes relaxation. Dimmer switches for mood lighting can work especially well in an open plan area, as this becomes important when the family winds down and prepares for bedtime. If the kitchen is in a darker part of your home, you can create a feel of natural light
by adding fluorescent or LED tubes over cupboards; the light will hit the ceiling which can be painted in light reflective paint. This will bounce the light around the room, providing indirect illumination. For a conversation point, suspend a light box from the ceiling. Undercounter and inbuilt lighting is an integrated part of any kitchen design at present, with most kitchens now including some element of lighting feature. From lights in glass door cabinets, integrated lighting on the splashback to undercounter strip lighting, costs can vary greatly depending on the extent and quantity of lights designed. With shelving, consider introducing an LED strip in a groove, to provide task lighting. Deep drawers will benefit from adding LED strips inside them too; lights in kickers and pelmets are also an option. Directional lights are flexible in that they can be orientated to hit the spot where you want the most intensity, after the kitchen has been installed. Pairs of
directional LED downlights will brighten up the island and cover all angles, for example. It should always be kept in mind that power to, and connection of, these lights may well be in addition to the cost of the kitchen. Because this will most likely be done by your electrician, as will any sound system you choose. Plumbing costs (connecting to waste pipes, water connections) will of course also cost extra.
Choose appliances early
Appliances in general tend to be expensive. Including the fridge, oven, cooker... with extras such as a microwave and coffee maker you could easily be looking at a budget of 5k or more. So doing your research on your chosen electrical appliances at an early stage will allow you to shop around for bargains, have the measurements ready for the kitchen manufacturer, and delivery organised for the fitters well in advance. It will also help avoid
