Lighting for basement stairway which is open to living room
#1
09-22-11, 03:18 PM
Lighting for basement stairway which is open to living room
Our basement stairwell runs between the kitchen and living room with the doorway directly across from the kitchen pantry which makes for a tight area. In order to open this area and provide an better flow to the finished recreation room in the basement, we are planning to remove the basement doorway, the stairway wall in the living room and about eighteen inches of the kitchen stairway wall. We will replace the walls with wooden rail and spindles. There is currently a glass covered ceiling light just past the midway point in the stairwell ceiling. However, once the living room wall is removed the stairwell ceiling will become part of the living room ceiling and we are uncertain how the current light fixture will look as part of the living room. We've thought about replacing the light fixture with something suspended --- maybe a pendant or a simple multi-light chandelier; but, we've also thought about can lights. Any thoughts or suggestions?
#3
09-23-11, 05:46 AM
Group Moderator
Can lights are a four letter word in our house. I wanted them and put them in when I built the house but my wife hates them. They light the floor but don't cast light around the room so you can end up with well lit stair treads and darkish walls. As Pulpo mentioned they are more difficult to install since they get mounted in the attic so the work sometimes must be done in a dark, hot attic with little space. If you do go that route make sure you get the proper recessed lights. Some may NOT be covered with insulation and can let a fair bit of heat escape while others are sealed and do allow you to insulate over them.
Basically I'd go with some type of pendant light.
Basically I'd go with some type of pendant light.
