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.
Serving Highland Park & nearby Northbrook, Glenview
Kitchen Lighting Installation in Highland Park, IL
Recessed, pendant and under-cabinet lighting for Highland Park kitchens, laid out so the counters are bright and wired by a licensed electrician.
- Crews working in Highland Park ZIP 60035
- Most jobs done in days, with your kitchen still usable
- Samples and a written quote before we start
Kitchen lighting problems we solve in Highland Park
A single fixture in the center of the ceiling leaves you working in your own shadow. Our Highland Park electricians replace it with lights placed over the counters, the sink and the island, using LED fixtures that suit your ceiling and wiring.
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.
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.
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.
Switches in the wrong place or one switch for everything
A switch on the far side of the room is a daily nuisance. We move or add controls where you walk in.
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.
Fluorescent box or panel that hums and flickers
Removing a large fluorescent light box often leaves a recess or hole in the ceiling. We close it up and wire new LED lighting in its place.
Pendants over the island
To hang pendants over a new island, the ceiling boxes have to be in the right spots and rated for the weight. We set them, then fine-tune the drop.
What's included
- 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.
- Wire fished to fixtures and switchesWe pull wire from the switch to each fixture location.
- 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
Recessed lightingCanless LED wafers or housings with LED trims, IC-rated where insulation is present.
Dimmers and controlsLED-rated dimmers, smart switches and motion or timer controls.
Color temperature optionsLEDs in a consistent, warm color with good rendering.
Surface and flush fixturesCeiling-mounted lights when recessing isn't possible.
Accent lightingIn-cabinet lights for glass doors, toe-kick strips and lighting above the cabinets.
Before and after: kitchens near Highland Park
Before
AfterHighland Park kitchen, postwar bi-level: kitchen lighting installation
This one is a postwar bi-level near Ravinia District. The kitchen as it was: a dome ceiling light. What bothered the owners most: a single old light that left the counters in shadow. Finished kitchen: a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights on separate switches. Work included old fixtures removed, wire fished to fixtures and switches, plus patching and cleanup.
Before
AfterKitchen Lighting Installation in a postwar bi-level, Northbrook
A postwar bi-level in Northbrook, a typical kitchen for Northbrook. The kitchen as it was: a round fluorescent ceiling ring. What bothered the owners most: a humming fluorescent light that left the counters flat and dim. The result: black cage pendants and slim recessed lights on separate switches. Work included wiring and circuit check, old fixtures removed, plus fixtures installed.
Kitchen Lighting Installation in Northbrook →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Buffalo Grove
This one is a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Buffalo Grove. Before: two hanging glass pendants. What bothered the owners most: dim counters despite the ceiling lights. After: black cage pendants and slim recessed lights on separate switches. On site this meant old fixtures removed, fixtures installed, plus patching and cleanup.
Kitchen Lighting Installation in Buffalo Grove →
Before
AfterKitchen Remodeling in a 1950s ranch, Highland Park
Cabinets in white uppers and dusty blue lowers with matte black pulls, bright white quartz counters, a terracotta-look square tile backsplash, black-and-white checkerboard tile flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Remodeling in Highland Park →
Before
AfterA Highland Park postwar Cape Cod: 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 Highland Park →How your kitchen lighting project goes
- Share photos and plansSend photos of the kitchen, the ceiling and any fixtures you've picked.
- Layout visitAn electrician looks at the space and plans the layers and switching.
- 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 Highland Park homeowners
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?
Yes, with the right tools and patience. Older plaster on lath is common in our area, and we work with it often.
Do I need an electrician to install kitchen lighting?
For new fixtures, new switches or any added circuits, yes. Replacing a fixture on an existing box is simpler, but a licensed electrician makes sure the box and wiring are sound.
Can old recessed cans be switched to LED?
Often yes, with LED retrofit trims that screw into the old socket. If the housings are damaged or not rated for insulation, we replace them.
How long does recessed lighting installation take?
Adding a set of recessed lights to an existing ceiling often takes a day. Bigger layouts with pendants, under-cabinet lights and patching take longer.
Do I need a Highland Park-registered contractor for kitchen lighting project?
The City publishes contractor requirements on its Building Division page (new building codes effective March 1, 2026). We take care of that before work starts.
Do you work in my part of Highland Park?
Yes. Our crews work across Highland Park, including Ravinia District, Downtown Highland Park, Port Clinton, St. John's — ZIP 60035 — and nearby Northbrook, Glenview, Buffalo Grove.
Working in Highland Park
- A lot of Highland Park kitchens date from the pre-1940. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Highland Park homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Older paint is treated with lead-safe practices: containment, HEPA cleanup and a clean hand-over.
Ravinia DistrictDowntown Highland ParkPort ClintonSt. John's
ZIP 60035
Kitchen Lighting Installation nearby
Other kitchen services in Highland Park
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.