Mike Dolt Enterprises
Mike Dolt Enterprises
User: mkgrady, Location: Massachusetts
Asked on: Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 5:47 pm EDT
Answered on: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 4:24 am EDT
Question: I'm putting in NSL Xenon UCL's in my own kitchen. The wife will be wanting to highlight new granite countertops and the wall space will be tiled. Both the tile and the granite are light in color. I think she will crank up the dimmer for preparing meals and dim them later on to light the room enough to walk around with no other lights on.Normally I put UCL's in the rear of the under cabinet against the wall. I hear some mount them towards the front of the cabinet. Any opinions on what works best?
Mounting Location for NSL Xenon UCLs
When considering the placement of NSL Xenon UCLs under light-colored countertops and tiled walls, two main factors to consider are
1. Light Distribution:
Mounting UCLs in the rear of the under-cabinet
This provides more direct light on the surfaces below and creates a focused beam. This is ideal for task lighting when preparing meals.
Mounting UCLs towards the front of the under-cabinet
This distributes light more evenly across the surface and creates a more ambient effect. It is better for general illumination when using the kitchen as a living space.
2. Reflection and Glare
Light-colored countertops
Mounting UCLs in the rear can create glare on the countertop if the light is too bright.
Light-colored tiled walls
Mounting UCLs towards the front can reflect light off the tiles and create a more diffused effect, reducing glare.
Recommended Approach
Based on the above considerations, it is recommended to mount the NSL Xenon UCLs
towards the front of the under-cabinet. This will provide a more even light distribution, reduce glare on the countertops and walls, and create a more ambient atmosphere when dimmed.
Additional Tips: Use a dimmer switch to adjust the light intensity for different tasks. Consider using a hood vent with integrated lighting to provide additional illumination from above.* Place some UCLs behind tall objects like coffee makers or toasters to illuminate those areas as well. Flag for review