How to Survive Life in the Suburbs

Come Shopping With Me?

in Everyday on

It’s time.  Actually it’s long past time we take our kitchen from the 80’s and forcibly toss it into the new century.  Or at least try.  We’ve been living with green counters, broken appliances, chipped paint and a soffit?  What the heck is a soffit?  Don’t worry, I didn’t know either.  Here, let me show you.  It’s that UGLY white box housing the lights in the kitchen. Ug. The 80s called.  They want their lights back.

Kitchen

Pretty right.  So finally a new era is dawning.  We will knock that sucker right off the ceiling.  Banish florescent lights from our lives.  Repaint, and add a pretty little lightfixture  in it’s place.  The problem.  It’s just not that easy.  Do you have any idea how many lighting choices there are?  Can you begin to fathom how much light that hideous florescent light used to throw around my dated kitchen?  Let me tell you, it was a lot!  SO a challenge is a foot.  To find the perfect lighting.  Lightning to pull the entire kitchen together.  Lights that are both practical and pretty.  Lights that don’t break the bank?  Here’s what I need.  Something stylish yet timeless that will go with my maple cabinets, new white quartz counters and stainless steel appliances and accents.  Take a peek.  Do any of these begin to fit the bill?

 

A)
Screen Shot 2016-03-01 at 2.23.56 PM

B)Screen Shot 2016-03-01 at 2.27.35 PM

C)Screen Shot 2016-03-01 at 2.28.30 PM

D)Screen Shot 2016-03-01 at 2.29.35 PM

Tell me what you think?  Actually scratch that.  HELP! Which direction would you begin to go?

 

    • Comments

    1. OMG…. A is by far my favourite. I love the style, it’s PERFECT! – although to be honest your current kitchen beats mine by a landslide! 🙂

      • We loved A too. Brought one like that home to see if it throws enough light around our space 🙂

      • I think we have a winner! Found some this weekend so just have to wait on the new counters to see if they will “go” 🙂

    3. I really like the lights in A and white quartz. I must say that I am in the minority when I say I would trade in stainless steel appliances any day for the ‘old’ ones!

      • I think you are! We haven’t had our stainless appliances for very long, but love them! Is it the finger print thing you don’t like?

        • I think it is an industrial / restaurant kitchen feel. Too many years in the service industry I guess!

    4. OMG that first kitchen is absolutely GORGEOUS!!!! my fav pick for sure. love the industrial looking lights. A friend of mine have them and they look even better in person. she has a similar kitchen to A with the white cabinets and stainless steel but she went with the white grey approach

    5. Personally I’m a fan of brushed nickel. We re-did a lot of the lighting in our house, from that godawful builders brass, and I just like the polished brush look. It looks so clean and fresh. If you know your prices and look around, you can always find good deals.

      • Oh me too! We will definitely have some brushed nickel accents as it goes with our appliances

    6. WOW!! So many choices and we are all different, would take me days to decide what I wanted

    7. I’m such a fan of natural wood but the older I get, the more important SEEING is to me…lol. So, I’d go with lighter services and lots of light that is so intense, but spot directed, you could operate. My next kitchen will have led lights under the counter and prettier lights in the ceiling. I want both…function and beauty. Best of success with your choices.
      oh yeah. I did know what a soffit is but I’m as old as dirt…lol.

      • I think we have just ruled out the first option b/c after looking at them they direct too much lights straight down. They don’t offer enough light to the entire kitchen. Does that make sense? Who knew picking kitchen lights could be so complicated!

    8. I bet “C” would look so cool at night with the designs lighting on walls

    9. love all those lighting choices . We are in the midst renovating our kitchen as well and am struggling with lighting options.

    10. A & C are my favorites. Although, I would highly suggest recessed lighting, if you’re ripping out the ceiling anyway. My parents just did that in their kitchen and it looks great. They also have a fixture over the table. The under the cabinet lighting really added charm. You can’t have too much light in a kitchen!!!

      • We’ve decided we must also add pot lights. I’m with you, we need lots of light!

    11. I guess it depends what style your are going with, traditional, modern, etc.

    12. Well, think about the “feel” you want to have in there. Modern and sleek? Farmhouse? That will help guide you in your decision. Personally, of all the lights you’ve shown, I would probably pick A or C…in a different finish.

      Whatever you do stay away from those retro “Edison” lights. They are pretty cool looking but those bulbs do not put out a nice, white light…it’s amber and dark. We’ve inherited them in this house and they will be going.

      • Oh good advice all around! Thank you. I think we may have to do some pendant lights and some pot lights. I’m afraid of it being too dark when we are done.

    13. I think I like A or C the most. What I don’t like about D is the sink in the middle of the island. BTW, I’m sitting in MY kitchen right now, reading this post when I saw a picture of your cabinets. I have the EXACT ones! I had to turn around and look at them to confirm. Yup…the same ones.

      • Isn’t that funny! Now as for the sink, agreed. Our sink will stay under the window so at least that decision is made. I do love the idea of C. I think the stainless steel look might help pull the whole thing together.

    14. I adore the D look, but its not my kitchen lol I’m sure you’ll make the right choice for you and your family!