Choosing lighting for designer kitchens can be a challenge, but selecting the right lighting is essential. Good lighting isn’t just about being able to see what you’re doing. It’s a powerful design tool that can enhance the aesthetics, create ambience, and improve the functionality of your designer kitchen.
There are three distinct layers to consider when it comes to lighting: task, ambient, and accent. Each layer has a specific purpose, and when combined, they create a beautifully balanced and versatile space.
Task lighting is all about practicality. Its purpose is to provide bright, focused light exactly where you need it most – for chopping vegetables, reading recipes, and doing homework at the kitchen island. Without proper task lighting, you’re not only squinting but also creating shadows that benefit no one. Pendant lights are ideal for tasks in the kitchen. They are usually a series of elegant pendants over a kitchen island or peninsula, providing focused light for the workspace below while also acting as a striking visual focal point. Choose pendants that complement your kitchen’s style, whether it’s industrial, minimalist, or rustic chic. Ambient lighting offers an overall glow and is the general illumination that fills the entire kitchen. It’s the primary source of light, providing a comfortable and inviting atmosphere. For kitchens with lower ceilings, a stylish flush or semi-flush mount fixture can provide excellent ambient light without taking up too much vertical space. Accent lighting is where you get to have some fun and truly elevate your design. It’s all about highlighting architectural features, beautiful materials, and creating a sense of drama.
Here are three examples of our recent projects where lighting elevated our handmade kitchens.
The Richlite Kitchen
For our Richlite Kitchen project in a large country manor house in Somerset, we selected the Les Acrobates De Gras lighting designed by Bernard-Albin Gras. The dynamic and fun lighting was ideal to complement the feature oak island and black limestone worktops with hints of antiqued brass. We love the acrobatic lighting because it can be placed anywhere – on walls or ceilings, and can add colourful touches to a truly bespoke handmade kitchen.
The Georgian Manor House Kitchen
We designed a Scandinavian-style contemporary kitchen and breakfast room in The Georgian Manor House Kitchen in rural Somerset. We wanted the golden oak veneers and hint of vibrant yellow paintwork to glow. Adding the iconic In The Tube, 360° light, designed by Dominique Perrault & Gaëlle Lauriot-Prévost, above the handcrafted kitchen island, was a considered statement. Hung horizontally, the LED and aluminium light is industrial in its aesthetic yet delicate and warming. Perfect for prep work, this iconic light is beautiful and functional yet makes a bold statement.
The Frome Kitchen
We designed a beautiful, handmade kitchen in a splendid Edwardian Manor house for our Frome Kitchen in Somerset. The design for the kitchen was inspired by mid-century furniture, Scandinavian design and the property’s Arts and Crafts detailing. With perimeter cabinets with red-tinted walnut, Carrara marble, and a black-fluted kitchen island, the lighting needed to complement the style. We chose the Les Doubles De Gras by DWC Editions over the kitchen island, which were perfect as double lights because they are beneficial above a work surface. And you only need one power point for two lamps. Not only do they function beautifully, but they also make a timeless impression in the space.
