Dark counters and shadows where you work
We fix shadowed counters by adding task light under the wall cabinets and placing ceiling fixtures toward the front of the counters instead of the room's center.
Serving Elgin & nearby St. Charles, Bartlett
Kitchen Lighting Installation in Elgin, IL
Recessed, pendant and under-cabinet lighting for Elgin kitchens, laid out so the counters are bright and wired by a licensed electrician.
- Crews working in Elgin ZIP 60123, 60124, 60120, 60140
- Most jobs done in days, with your kitchen still usable
- Samples and a written quote before we start
Kitchen lighting problems we solve in Elgin
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 Elgin kitchen.
Light over the sink
We install a downlight or pendant over the sink, often on a separate switch, so dishes don't happen in the dark.
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.
One old fixture lighting the whole kitchen
A single dome or flush fixture can't light a whole kitchen evenly. We replace it with a layout of recessed or surface LEDs across the ceiling.
Canned or canless recessed lights?
Slim wafer fixtures need only a small hole and little room above. Housings with trims are better when you want to change trims later.
Recessed lights under an insulated attic
On a top-floor kitchen, we use IC-rated, airtight recessed lights so the insulation stays in place and heat doesn't escape.
Fluorescent box or panel that hums and flickers
Old fluorescent boxes buzz, flicker and give flat light. We take them out, patch the ceiling and install recessed or surface LED fixtures.
Under-cabinet lighting: hardwired or plug-in?
Hardwired fixtures take some wiring work but look finished and switch with the room. We locate the driver where it can be reached later.
What's included
- Lighting layoutWe mark where each light goes and which switch controls it.
- Wiring and circuit checkExisting circuits checked for capacity; a permit pulled when new circuits are added.
- 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.
- Wire fished to fixtures and switchesNew cable run through the ceiling and walls with minimal access holes.
- Testing and adjustmentWe run each circuit and fine-tune before leaving.
- Patching and cleanupAccess holes patched and the kitchen cleaned of dust.
Materials and finishes
Surface and flush fixturesCeiling-mounted lights when recessing isn't possible.
Recessed lightingDownlights set into the ceiling for even general light.
Color temperature optionsWarm white around 2700 to 3000K, and selectable-color fixtures where you're unsure.
Dimmers and controlsControls that let you set each layer separately.
Accent lightingSofter layers that add depth in the evening.
Before and after: kitchens near Elgin
Before
AfterElgin kitchen, 1980s two-story: kitchen lighting installation
This one is a 1980s two-story near Downtown. What we started with: a brass chandelier over the nook. The main complaint was one ceiling fixture lighting the whole room. After: two glass pendants and recessed lights on separate switches. Work included lighting layout, ceiling openings and boxes, plus testing and adjustment.
Before
AfterBartlett kitchen, 1980s two-story: kitchen lighting installation
This one is a 1980s two-story in Bartlett. What we started with: two hanging glass pendants. The main complaint was dim counters despite the ceiling lights. The result: black cage pendants and slim recessed lights on separate switches. Work included lighting layout, wiring and circuit check, plus wire fished to fixtures and switches.
Kitchen Lighting Installation in Bartlett →
Before
AfterKitchen Lighting Installation in a raised ranch, Hoffman Estates
The site: a raised ranch in Hoffman Estates. The kitchen as it was: a hanging swag lamp. The main complaint was a single old light that left the counters in shadow. The result: two glass pendants and recessed lights on separate switches. Work included lighting layout, old fixtures removed, plus ceiling openings and boxes.
Kitchen Lighting Installation in Hoffman Estates →
Before
AfterAn Elgin 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
Cabinets in white uppers and deep green lowers with unlacquered brass knobs and cup pulls, warm walnut butcher block counters, a green zellige-look tile backsplash, warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Remodeling in Elgin →
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet Painting in a two-story colonial from the 1990s, Elgin
The same doors sprayed in pale mint green, new matte black pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Elgin →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 estimateAn itemized estimate listing fixtures, wiring, switches, patching and any permit.
- Install and testWe install, test each light and clean up.
Kitchen Lighting Installation questions from Elgin homeowners
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.
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 long does recessed lighting installation take?
We give you a schedule with the estimate once we see the ceiling.
What color temperature is best for a kitchen?
Warm white around 2700 to 3000K is the most common choice. Some owners prefer a slightly cooler task light under cabinets.
Do I need a permit for kitchen lighting?
It depends on the scope. New wiring and circuits typically require a permit, which we pull.
What is the Elgin building department phone number?
Permits go through Community Development Department (Building permits), City of Elgin, 150 Dexter Court, phone 847-931-6001. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Does Elgin require a licensed electrician for kitchen lighting project?
Electrical service upgrades must be done by a licensed electrician; electrical contractors need a license from an Illinois municipality that gives a written exam, plus notarized letter of intent. New circuits and wiring are done by licensed electricians.
Do I need a Elgin-registered contractor for kitchen lighting project?
City requires a notarized letter of intent from all licensed contractors; general contractors submit one for each licensed subcontractor. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for kitchen lighting project in Elgin?
It depends on the scope. Elgin's rule in short: No kitchen-specific rule; interior remodeling (including kitchens) uses the general Remodeling Permit Application. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department (Building permits), City of Elgin, 150 Dexter Court.
Do you work in my part of Elgin?
Yes. Our crews work across Elgin, including Gifford Park, West Side, Downtown — ZIP 60123, 60124, 60120, 60140 — and nearby St. Charles, Bartlett, Hoffman Estates.
Working in Elgin
- A lot of Elgin kitchens date from the pre-1940. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Elgin homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Live in the Spring-Douglas Historic District? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
Gifford ParkWest SideDowntown
ZIP 60123ZIP 60124ZIP 60120ZIP 60140
Kitchen Lighting Installation nearby
Other kitchen services in Elgin
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.