Adding recessed lights to an existing ceiling
Adding can lights to a finished kitchen is mostly careful cutting and fishing wire. We plan the grid around joists, ducts and plumbing above.
Serving Naperville & nearby Lisle, Warrenville
Kitchen Lighting Installation in Naperville, IL
Recessed, pendant and under-cabinet lighting for Naperville kitchens, laid out so the counters are bright and wired by a licensed electrician.
- Crews working in Naperville ZIP 60540, 60563, 60564, 60565
- Most jobs done in days, with your kitchen still usable
- Samples and a written quote before we start
Kitchen lighting problems we solve in Naperville
A single fixture in the center of the ceiling leaves you working in your own shadow. Our Naperville electricians replace it with lights placed over the counters, the sink and the island, using LED fixtures that suit your ceiling and wiring.
Under-cabinet lighting: hardwired or plug-in?
For a clean look, we hardwire under-cabinet lights with a concealed driver and a switch or dimmer. Plug-in and battery options suit renters or quick fixes.
Light over the sink
A dedicated sink light on its own switch is useful early and late in the day. We add one where the ceiling or soffit allows.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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'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 boxesOpenings cut cleanly and pendant boxes secured to framing.
- Fixtures installedEach fixture hung, leveled and wired.
- Switches and dimmersLED-compatible dimmers and separate switches for each lighting layer.
- Patching and cleanupAccess holes patched and the kitchen cleaned of dust.
Finishes we offer
Dimmers and controlsControls that let you set each layer separately.
Accent lightingSofter layers that add depth in the evening.
Recessed lightingCanless LED wafers or housings with LED trims, IC-rated where insulation is present.
Pendants and linear fixturesHanging fixtures that light the island and set the style.
Color temperature optionsWarm white around 2700 to 3000K, and selectable-color fixtures where you're unsure.
What the work looks like in Naperville homes
Before
AfterKitchen Lighting Installation in a 1990s two-story colonial, Naperville
This one is a 1990s two-story colonial in Naperville. The kitchen as it was: two hanging glass pendants. The main complaint was dim counters despite the ceiling lights. Finished kitchen: black cage pendants and slim recessed lights on separate switches. The job covered lighting layout, ceiling openings and boxes, plus patching and cleanup.
Before
AfterKitchen Lighting Installation in a 1980s two-story, Lisle
A 1980s two-story in Lisle, a typical kitchen for Lisle. The kitchen as it was: 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. The job covered lighting layout, old fixtures removed, plus ceiling openings and boxes.
Kitchen Lighting Installation in Lisle →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Naperville
Finished: cabinets in light butter yellow with satin brass pulls, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters, a terracotta-look square tile backsplash, gray wood-look porcelain plank flooring and two glass pendants and recessed lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Naperville →
Before
AfterNaperville kitchen, 1980s two-story: kitchen cabinet painting
What changed: the same doors sprayed in pale mint green, new matte black pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Naperville →
Before
AfterNaperville kitchen, 1990s two-story colonial: cabinet refacing
What changed: new five-piece shaker doors in warm white on the existing boxes, matching face-frame veneer and satin brass pulls.
Cabinet Refacing in Naperville →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 testFixtures wired and mounted, dimmers set, ceiling patched and everything tested.
Kitchen Lighting Installation questions from Naperville homeowners
What color temperature is best for a kitchen?
Most kitchens look best in warm white. Keep all fixtures in the same color so the room looks even.
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.
How far from the cabinets should recessed lights be?
It depends on cabinet depth and ceiling height. We mark positions so light lands on the work surface.
Can old recessed cans be switched to LED?
Many old cans accept LED trims. We check the housings first and replace any that are worn.
How long does recessed lighting installation take?
Most kitchen lighting jobs take one to a few days depending on the number of fixtures and access.
What does Naperville ask for on electrical work?
City guide says electricians must be licensed; it advises insisting on seeing a current license. New circuits and wiring are done by licensed electricians.
Does kitchen lighting project need a Naperville building permit, and who files it?
Permits go through Transportation, Engineering and Development (TED) Business Group, Building Permits, phone (630) 420-6100, Option 2. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do I need a permit for kitchen lighting project in Naperville?
It depends on the scope. Naperville's rule in short: Remodeling such as kitchens requires a permit, as do electrical work (minor repairs and low-voltage excepted), plumbing pipe/fixture installation or rearrangement, and structural changes. We handle the permit when one is needed with Transportation, Engineering and Development (TED) Business Group, Building Permits.
Do you work in my part of Naperville?
Yes. Our crews work across Naperville, including Downtown Naperville, Highlands, Tamarack — ZIP 60540, 60563, 60564, 60565 — and nearby Lisle, Warrenville, Bolingbrook.
Working in Naperville
- A lot of Naperville kitchens date from the 1990s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Naperville homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Live in the Naperville Historic District? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
Downtown NapervilleHighlandsTamarack
ZIP 60540ZIP 60563ZIP 60564ZIP 60565
Kitchen Lighting Installation nearby
Other kitchen services in Naperville
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.