I am a kitchen remodeler and am responsible for the type and placement of can lights. I am currently on yet another remodel and need to decide once again (a task I struggle with). Let me tell you what I've been doing and maybe you can critique me. What I have and plan on using is 5" lightolier white stepped baffles. I use 75 watt halogens or 65 watt incandescents (about 50/50 of the time). I will generally try and place the cans between base cabinets i.e. in the middle of the walk way around an island etc. My reasoning is that the light will wash the fronts of the bases on both sides of the walkway and I'm also careful not to place any cans in such a way as to create shadows like on ends of cabinet runs and such. I have used this method many times but am concerned by the suggestion that can lights be placed about 12" out from wall cabinets to project onto counters. My thought is in doing this one creates a shadow on the face of those bases. I often do under cabinet lights but not always (I use low voltge linear zenon or the kichler low voltage that comes in the various lengths). So I guess my big question is, center of walkway or 12" out from wall cabinets.
Oh yes, on an 8' ceiling, how far should I be putting these cans apart??
Thanks
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