LEDs that flicker or buzz on the dimmer
Older dimmers weren't made for LED loads and can cause flicker, buzz or lights that won't dim low. We install LED-compatible dimmers matched to the fixtures.
Serving Des Plaines & nearby Mount Prospect, Park Ridge
Kitchen Lighting Installation in Des Plaines, IL
Recessed, pendant and under-cabinet lighting for Des Plaines kitchens, laid out so the counters are bright and wired by a licensed electrician.
- Serving Des Plaines ZIP 60016, 60018
- A new look without tearing the kitchen out
- Clean, protected work area every day
Kitchen lighting problems we solve in Des Plaines
Good kitchen light comes down to placement, color and control. We lay out the fixtures before cutting a single hole, pick a warm white that flatters the finishes, and wire everything to switches that make sense in your Des Plaines kitchen.
Dark counters and shadows where you work
If the counters look dim even with every switch on, the light is in the wrong place, not too weak. We move it over the work zones.
Recessed lights under an insulated attic
Non-IC cans need clearance from insulation. We install fixtures rated for contact so the attic stays fully insulated.
Adding recessed lights to an existing ceiling
Recessed lighting can go into most existing ceilings without tearing them down. We check joist direction and obstacles before placing them.
Under-cabinet lighting: hardwired or plug-in?
Hardwired LED strips run from a wall switch with the driver hidden in a cabinet, and the wiring disappears. Plug-in kits are simpler but leave a cord to an outlet.
One old fixture lighting the whole kitchen
One bulb in the middle leaves the corners and counters dim. A planned layout spreads light where you cook and clean.
Light over the sink
The sink is where you need light most and often have the least. A recessed light or small pendant above it solves that.
Light that looks too blue or too yellow
Color temperature sets the mood. Warm white around 2700 to 3000K is common in kitchens, while cooler light can make wood and stone look harsh.
What we do on the job
- Lighting layoutWe mark where each light goes and which switch controls it.
- Wiring and circuit checkWe confirm the lighting circuit can carry the new fixtures.
- Old fixtures removedThe old lights come out and the ceiling is prepared.
- Ceiling openings and boxesHoles cut for recessed lights and fixture boxes set and braced for pendants.
- Fixtures installedEach fixture hung, leveled and wired.
- Switches and dimmersLED-compatible dimmers and separate switches for each lighting layer.
- Patching and cleanupWe close up openings and clean the work area.
Finishes we offer
Pendants and linear fixturesSingle, paired or grouped pendants and long linear lights over islands and peninsulas.
Surface and flush fixturesCeiling-mounted lights when recessing isn't possible.
Dimmers and controlsLED-rated dimmers, smart switches and motion or timer controls.
Color temperature optionsLEDs in a consistent, warm color with good rendering.
Under-cabinet LEDTask lighting aimed straight at the counters.
What the work looks like in Des Plaines homes
Before
AfterKitchen Lighting Installation in a postwar Cape Cod, Des Plaines
This one is a postwar Cape Cod in Des Plaines. The kitchen as it was: a fluorescent box light. The main complaint was an old fluorescent box that flickered. The result: two glass pendants and recessed lights on separate switches. Work included lighting layout, wiring and circuit check, plus old fixtures removed.
Before
AfterKitchen Lighting Installation in a 1960s ranch, Park Ridge
A 1960s ranch in Park Ridge, a typical kitchen for Park Ridge. What we started with: a round fluorescent ceiling ring. The reason for the call: a humming fluorescent light that left the counters flat and dim. Finished kitchen: black cage pendants and slim recessed lights on separate switches. The job covered wiring and circuit check, old fixtures removed, plus switches and dimmers.
Kitchen Lighting Installation in Park Ridge →
Before
AfterAn Elk Grove Village postwar Cape Cod: before and after
The site: a postwar Cape Cod in Elk Grove Village. The kitchen as it was: a dome ceiling light. The main complaint was a single old light that left the counters in shadow. Finished kitchen: a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights on separate switches. The job covered lighting layout, ceiling openings and boxes, plus switches and dimmers.
Kitchen Lighting Installation in Elk Grove Village →
Before
AfterDes Plaines kitchen, postwar bi-level: kitchen remodeling
Cabinets in light butter yellow with satin brass pulls, creamy quartzite-look quartz counters, a green zellige-look tile backsplash, warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Des Plaines →
Before
AfterA Des Plaines 1950s ranch: before and after
What changed: the same doors sprayed in pale sage, new polished nickel pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Des Plaines →How your kitchen lighting project goes
- Share photos and plansSend photos of the kitchen, the ceiling and any fixtures you've picked.
- Layout visitWe check the ceiling type, joists, insulation and wiring, and mark fixture positions.
- Written estimateA clear written price before any ceiling is cut.
- Install and testFixtures wired and mounted, dimmers set, ceiling patched and everything tested.
Kitchen Lighting Installation questions from Des Plaines homeowners
Can you install fixtures I already bought?
Yes. We install pendants and fixtures from any store, as long as they're listed for the location and the box can hold them.
How high should pendants hang over an island?
Usually around 30 to 36 inches above the island top. Taller ceilings and bigger fixtures may shift that.
Do I need a permit for kitchen lighting?
Often when new circuits are added; simple fixture replacements usually don't need one. We check with the village before work starts.
How far from the cabinets should recessed lights be?
Lights too close to the uppers wash the doors; too far back leave you in shadow. We place them over the front of the counter.
What's the best lighting for a small kitchen?
Bright, even ceiling light plus task lighting under the cabinets. We size the fixtures so they don't crowd the room.
Does Des Plaines require a licensed electrician for kitchen lighting project?
Electricians need a City contractor license and fees plus an Electrical Test Certificate. New circuits and wiring are done by licensed electricians.
Do I need a Des Plaines-registered contractor for kitchen lighting project?
Contractors must register with the City (via the online portal); registrations expire Dec 31. We take care of that before work starts.
Does kitchen lighting project need a Des Plaines building permit, and who files it?
Permits go through Community and Economic Development Department - Building Division, phone 847-391-5380. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do I need a permit for kitchen lighting project in Des Plaines?
It depends on the scope. Des Plaines's rule in short: A building permit is required for any residential kitchen remodel; non-structural work uses the Kitchen/Bath Non-Structural permit ($150 fee, rough and final inspections). We handle the permit when one is needed with Community and Economic Development Department - Building Division.
Do you work in my part of Des Plaines?
Yes. Our crews work across Des Plaines — ZIP 60016, 60018 — and nearby Mount Prospect, Park Ridge, Elk Grove Village.
Working in Des Plaines
- A lot of Des Plaines kitchens date from the 1960s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Des Plaines homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Community and Economic Development Department - Building Division handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60016ZIP 60018
Kitchen Lighting Installation nearby
Other kitchen services in Des Plaines
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.
Cabinet RefacingNew doors and fronts on your existing cabinet boxes.
Countertop Fabrication & InstallationQuartz, granite and butcher block, templated and installed.
Kitchen Backsplash InstallationTile backsplashes with clean lines and flush outlets.