A timely post-starting a bathroom reno and was going to have Visual Comfort Bryant sconces on either side of mirrors but still planning on one or two canned lights above for better lighting for makeup etc. Do you have a particular type you recommend for bathrooms? Also the builder has only one can light planned but an electrician once told me that you need two above a mirror so the light doesn’t produce a shadow on the face. True?
I absolutely love your posts and willingness to educate. I also have the same approach to adding recessed to projects and in my own recent renovation added 3” recessed to my kitchen and I do love having it for a brighter wash of lighting and for tasks. Always on a dimmer!
In high end projects, I always recommend using a plaster in true recessed/regressed fixture. I find that having no trim (ring on ceiling) can really disguise the recessed the best. When I have a painted or wood ceiling, I have the painters match the interior of the can to the ceiling and have had great success!
Adding a couple of recommendations:
I really like the 3” regressed option from lotus- budget friendly and great light quality. Used these in my own home and am really happy with the light quality.
Tech lighting via visual comfort has a great line of trim less/plaster in recessed with a lot of options for CRI, beam spread, temp, adjustability.
In high end projects I use the aera by lumenwerx. 2”-3” plaster in adjustable option. You can change out the lenses and baffles, they have multiple factory finished options for the interior of the light (champagne, bronze, white) and the white is easily paintable.
Thanks so much for adding all of your insights and experience to our post, these are great suggestions. I always love hearing what other designers are implementing in their projects. So happy to have you as part of our Substack community!
We moved into a 1996 house a couple years ago and one of the best things I discovered about the house is that there were no can lights! Anywhere! We added some lighting to the kitchen when we did a renovation but stayed away from can lighting. After living without them in this home for a couple years I can confidently say in most spaces they’re pretty unnecessary.
Once again, another great post that I find so helpful! Thank you! I would be very interested in any brand of 4” canless lights you’ve used in the past as it helps narrow the search. Either way, thanks for sharing your knowledge!
What LED light bulb do you like to use that is closest to incandescent warm lighting? 2700K or 3000K? I struggle with LED lighting so much! The 2700 seems closest to incandescent light, but sometimes a little too yellow
This is such a helpful post—thank you for sharing! Do you have a favorite dimmable 4" canless light you’d recommend for a kitchen? Also, I'd love to hear your thoughts on color temperature—do you prefer 2700K, 3000K, or adjustable for kitchen lighting?
Such a great post! I have learned so much about recessed lighting in the past few years, and I too have posed the question to WDC/Marianne in the past about what kind, where, placement, etc.
I thought it might be worth a mention to use a recessed light with a CRI-color rendering index- of 90 or above. We are building 52 townhomes and I tested at least a half dozen can lights. The 80 CRI 2700K recessed lights give off a pinkish hue in the room. We are building 650K-800K townhomes and have had good success with keystone can lights. See spec sheet below.
So glad you found it helpful! The brand we use varies depending on the home/contractor but we would typically specify a 2700K light, adjustable lighting is also a great choice!
I too added way too many recessed lights in my house that I’d like to either replace with your alternatives above or remove. Marianne, have you or has anyone else here had success with those kits you can buy to convert them to regular light fixtures?
saw your post on recessed lighting. We are a new entrant in the category. We would love to connect with you and share more about Invisabeam. https://invisabeam.ca/ new product innovation that is virtually invisable in the ceiling. if i can share more, pete@invisabeam.ca. Thanks.
A timely post-starting a bathroom reno and was going to have Visual Comfort Bryant sconces on either side of mirrors but still planning on one or two canned lights above for better lighting for makeup etc. Do you have a particular type you recommend for bathrooms? Also the builder has only one can light planned but an electrician once told me that you need two above a mirror so the light doesn’t produce a shadow on the face. True?
I absolutely love your posts and willingness to educate. I also have the same approach to adding recessed to projects and in my own recent renovation added 3” recessed to my kitchen and I do love having it for a brighter wash of lighting and for tasks. Always on a dimmer!
In high end projects, I always recommend using a plaster in true recessed/regressed fixture. I find that having no trim (ring on ceiling) can really disguise the recessed the best. When I have a painted or wood ceiling, I have the painters match the interior of the can to the ceiling and have had great success!
Adding a couple of recommendations:
I really like the 3” regressed option from lotus- budget friendly and great light quality. Used these in my own home and am really happy with the light quality.
Tech lighting via visual comfort has a great line of trim less/plaster in recessed with a lot of options for CRI, beam spread, temp, adjustability.
In high end projects I use the aera by lumenwerx. 2”-3” plaster in adjustable option. You can change out the lenses and baffles, they have multiple factory finished options for the interior of the light (champagne, bronze, white) and the white is easily paintable.
Love your work!!!!
Elizabeth of Arkins Dasco Design
Thanks so much for adding all of your insights and experience to our post, these are great suggestions. I always love hearing what other designers are implementing in their projects. So happy to have you as part of our Substack community!
We moved into a 1996 house a couple years ago and one of the best things I discovered about the house is that there were no can lights! Anywhere! We added some lighting to the kitchen when we did a renovation but stayed away from can lighting. After living without them in this home for a couple years I can confidently say in most spaces they’re pretty unnecessary.
Love hearing this because I totally agree!
What kind of color/temp/wattage for canless? I just moved to a new house and they seem so YELLOW!
Thank you,
Ashley Rahar
We would typically specify a 2700K light.
Once again, another great post that I find so helpful! Thank you! I would be very interested in any brand of 4” canless lights you’ve used in the past as it helps narrow the search. Either way, thanks for sharing your knowledge!
if helpful, I am planning to use these in my house that Chris Loves Julia has used & recommended :) https://www.homedepot.com/pep/Halo-HLB-4-in-Selectable-CCT-New-Construction-or-Remodel-Canless-Recessed-Integrated-LED-Kit-HLB4069FS1EMWR/306050711?=&clickid=xa5QqaVODxyKTYzUINTZeSYzUksxMgROPx26zs0&irgwc=1&cm_mmc=afl-ir-116548-456723-
What LED light bulb do you like to use that is closest to incandescent warm lighting? 2700K or 3000K? I struggle with LED lighting so much! The 2700 seems closest to incandescent light, but sometimes a little too yellow
We would typically specify 2700K!
This is such a helpful post—thank you for sharing! Do you have a favorite dimmable 4" canless light you’d recommend for a kitchen? Also, I'd love to hear your thoughts on color temperature—do you prefer 2700K, 3000K, or adjustable for kitchen lighting?
Such a great post! I have learned so much about recessed lighting in the past few years, and I too have posed the question to WDC/Marianne in the past about what kind, where, placement, etc.
I thought it might be worth a mention to use a recessed light with a CRI-color rendering index- of 90 or above. We are building 52 townhomes and I tested at least a half dozen can lights. The 80 CRI 2700K recessed lights give off a pinkish hue in the room. We are building 650K-800K townhomes and have had good success with keystone can lights. See spec sheet below.
https://keystonetech.widen.net/content/rqmmoo0yas/pdf/KT-WDLED9-4A-9CSF-FDIM.pdf?u=xq6wdp
There are other can lights with 93 CRI but I couldn’t get them at price point or quantity needed.
Good luck!
This is so helpful Deanna! Thank you so much for sharing what you've learned.
Deanne, would love your thoughts on our latest innovation. We were at the Tampa Build Expo last week and received great feedback.
Streamlined Installation: Unlike other trimless lighting options, InvisaBeam requires minimal drywall preparation, saving your team time and effort
High-Quality Performance:
Five color-selectable settings (2,700K–5,000K)
820 lumens for optimal brightness
Dimmable to 1% for perfect ambiance control
CRI over 95 for true-to-life color rendering
invisabeam.ca. we ship direct to the project.
Thank you so much for sharing!
So glad you found it helpful! The brand we use varies depending on the home/contractor but we would typically specify a 2700K light, adjustable lighting is also a great choice!
I too added way too many recessed lights in my house that I’d like to either replace with your alternatives above or remove. Marianne, have you or has anyone else here had success with those kits you can buy to convert them to regular light fixtures?
Have you ever worked with a home that is predominately run via a Lutron system? Anything I should watch out for?
saw your post on recessed lighting. We are a new entrant in the category. We would love to connect with you and share more about Invisabeam. https://invisabeam.ca/ new product innovation that is virtually invisable in the ceiling. if i can share more, pete@invisabeam.ca. Thanks.