The Kitchen Edit: Lighting Beyond the Island

October often marks the start of renovation planning season. When clients come to me about a new kitchen, the conversation usually starts with cabinets and stone. But the secret to a kitchen that actually works? Lighting.

It is the difference between a cold, clinical space and the heart of the home. If you are planning a kitchen refresh this season, here are the four questions you must ask your designer (and yourself):

• The Prep Zone: It’s easy to focus on the "hero" pendants over the island, but where will you actually be chopping? Ensure you have focused task lighting directly above your work surfaces—shadows are the enemy of a functional kitchen.

• The "Mood" Shift: Your kitchen is a workspace by day and a dining room by night. Can you dim the pendants over the table for those special dinners? Every light in your kitchen should be on a separate circuit with dimming capabilities to allow the room to "soften" in the evening.

• The Summer Sun: We design for the Irish winter, but what about those rare, bright summer days? Track where the sunlight hits your workspace at 2:00 PM. You may need to plan for integrated blinds or solar control to ensure you aren't blinded while making lunch.

• The Layered Look: Combine high-level spots for general light, low-level LEDs under cabinets for tasks, and decorative wall lights for character.

The goal is a kitchen that feels as good at 8:00 AM on a rainy Monday as it does at 8:00 PM on a Saturday night!! Xx Liz