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.
Serving Geneva & nearby Batavia, St. Charles
Kitchen Lighting Installation in Geneva, IL
Recessed, pendant and under-cabinet lighting for Geneva kitchens, laid out so the counters are bright and wired by a licensed electrician.
- Serving Geneva ZIP 60134, 60510
- A new look without tearing the kitchen out
- Clean, protected work area every day
Kitchen lighting problems we solve in Geneva
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 Geneva kitchen.
Pendants over the island
Island pendants usually hang with their bottoms around 30 to 36 inches above the counter, adjusted for your height and the fixture's size. We center them on the island and space them evenly.
Visible LED dots and glare under the cabinets
Cheap strip lights show a row of bright dots on glossy counters. We use diffused channels or fixtures and mount them toward the front of the cabinet.
Recessed lights under an insulated attic
Fixtures in a ceiling with insulation above must be IC-rated, meaning they can touch insulation safely. Airtight models also keep warm air from leaking into the attic.
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.
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.
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.
LEDs that flicker or buzz on the dimmer
Flickering LEDs are usually a dimmer mismatch. We replace the control with one rated for the fixtures on that switch.
What's included
- Wiring and circuit checkWe confirm the lighting circuit can carry the new fixtures.
- 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.
- Fixtures installedRecessed, pendant, surface and under-cabinet lights mounted and connected.
- Switches and dimmersControls installed where you enter and use the kitchen.
- Testing and adjustmentEvery fixture tested, dimmers checked for flicker and pendants set to height.
- Patching and cleanupWe close up openings and clean the work area.
Finishes we offer
Dimmers and controlsControls that let you set each layer separately.
Under-cabinet LEDTask lighting aimed straight at the counters.
Recessed lightingDownlights set into the ceiling for even general light.
Surface and flush fixturesLow-profile LED discs and flush or semi-flush fixtures for shallow or concrete ceilings.
Pendants and linear fixturesSingle, paired or grouped pendants and long linear lights over islands and peninsulas.
What the work looks like in Geneva homes
Before
AfterKitchen Lighting Installation in a 1990s two-story colonial, Geneva
The site: a 1990s two-story colonial near Mill Creek. Before: a brass chandelier over the nook. What bothered the owners most: a single old light that left the counters in shadow. After: two glass pendants and recessed lights on separate switches. The job covered wire fished to fixtures and switches, fixtures installed, plus switches and dimmers.
Before
AfterKitchen Lighting Installation in a 1980s two-story, Batavia
This one is a 1980s two-story in Batavia. Before: a fluorescent box light in the ceiling. What bothered the owners most: a humming fluorescent light that left the counters flat and dim. Finished kitchen: recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips on separate switches. Work included wiring and circuit check, switches and dimmers, plus patching and cleanup.
Kitchen Lighting Installation in Batavia →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1980s two-story in Geneva
What changed: cabinets in warm taupe with satin brass pulls, warm walnut butcher block counters, a gray beveled subway tile backsplash, light beige 18x18 porcelain tile flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Remodeling in Geneva →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1980s two-story in Geneva
Finished: the same doors sprayed in cream uppers and walnut-stained lowers, new satin brass pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Geneva →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1990s two-story colonial in Geneva
New five-piece shaker doors in sage green on the existing boxes, matching face-frame veneer and satin brass pulls.
Cabinet Refacing in Geneva →How your kitchen lighting project goes
- Share photos and plansTell us what feels too dark and what lights you have in mind.
- Layout visitAn electrician looks at the space and plans the layers and switching.
- Written estimateAn itemized estimate listing fixtures, wiring, switches, patching and any permit.
- Install and testFixtures wired and mounted, dimmers set, ceiling patched and everything tested.
Kitchen Lighting Installation questions from Geneva homeowners
Hardwired or plug-in under-cabinet lights?
Hardwired looks cleaner and works from a wall switch. Plug-in is quicker but leaves a cord and uses an outlet.
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.
What's the best lighting for a small kitchen?
In a small kitchen, under-cabinet lighting does the most work for the space. Add even ceiling light and skip bulky fixtures.
Can recessed lights go into a plaster ceiling?
They can. We cut each hole slowly to avoid cracks and patch around the trims.
What color temperature is best for a kitchen?
Around 2700 to 3000K for a warm, natural look. Selectable-color fixtures let you decide after install.
Geneva contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
None: the City does not have contractor registration (contractor name, address, phone and license numbers if required go on the application). We take care of that before work starts.
Geneva building permit for kitchen lighting project: where do I apply?
Permits go through Building & Zoning Division (Building Division), 109 James St., phone 630-262-0280. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do I need a permit for kitchen lighting project in Geneva?
It depends on the scope. Geneva's rule in short: A building permit is required before any construction or alteration; separate Kitchen Remodel permit form exists. We handle the permit when one is needed with Building & Zoning Division (Building Division), 109 James St..
Do you work in my part of Geneva?
Yes. Our crews work across Geneva, including Mill Creek — ZIP 60134, 60510 — and nearby Batavia, St. Charles, West Chicago.
Working in Geneva
- A lot of Geneva kitchens date from the 1990s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Geneva homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Live in the Geneva Historic District and designated Historic Landmarks? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
Mill Creek
ZIP 60134ZIP 60510
Kitchen Lighting Installation nearby
Other kitchen services in Geneva
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.