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.
Serving Northbrook & nearby Glenview, Highland Park
Kitchen Lighting Installation in Northbrook, IL
Recessed, pendant and under-cabinet lighting for Northbrook kitchens, laid out so the counters are bright and wired by a licensed electrician.
- Serving Northbrook ZIP 60062
- A new look without tearing the kitchen out
- Clean, protected work area every day
Kitchen lighting problems we solve in Northbrook
Most kitchens have enough light in the middle of the floor and too little where you actually chop and read recipes. In Northbrook we plan lighting in layers: recessed or ceiling light for the room, under-cabinet strips for the counters, pendants over the island, each on its own switch or dimmer.
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.
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.
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.
Adding recessed lights to an existing ceiling
We cut new recessed lights into a finished ceiling, fish the wire from the switch and keep patching to a minimum.
Light that looks too blue or too yellow
Mixing bulbs of different color temperatures makes a kitchen look patchy. We use one consistent warm white across the fixtures.
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.
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.
What we do on the job
- Lighting layoutA plan for ceiling, task, island and accent light, with fixture positions and switching.
- Old fixtures removedFluorescent boxes, old cans and outdated fixtures taken down and wiring made safe.
- 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.
- Switches and dimmersLED-compatible dimmers and separate switches for each lighting layer.
- Testing and adjustmentWe run each circuit and fine-tune before leaving.
- Patching and cleanupWe close up openings and clean the work area.
Options to choose from
Pendants and linear fixturesHanging fixtures that light the island and set the style.
Recessed lightingCanless LED wafers or housings with LED trims, IC-rated where insulation is present.
Surface and flush fixturesLow-profile LED discs and flush or semi-flush fixtures for shallow or concrete ceilings.
Accent lightingIn-cabinet lights for glass doors, toe-kick strips and lighting above the cabinets.
Under-cabinet LEDHardwired strips, puck lights or light bars mounted under the wall cabinets.
Before and after: kitchens near Northbrook
Before
AfterNorthbrook kitchen, postwar bi-level: kitchen lighting installation
A postwar bi-level near Techny, a typical kitchen for Northbrook. Before: a round fluorescent ceiling ring. What bothered the owners most: an old fluorescent box that flickered. Finished kitchen: black cage pendants and slim recessed lights on separate switches. The job covered old fixtures removed, switches and dimmers, plus testing and adjustment.
Before
AfterA Glenview postwar Cape Cod: before and after
This one is a postwar Cape Cod near The Glen. Before: a dome ceiling light. The reason for the call: one ceiling fixture lighting the whole room. After: a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights on separate switches. The job covered old fixtures removed, wire fished to fixtures and switches, plus testing and adjustment.
Kitchen Lighting Installation in Glenview →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1960s ranch in Mount Prospect
A 1960s ranch in Mount Prospect, a typical kitchen for Mount Prospect. Before: a fluorescent box light. What bothered the owners most: a humming fluorescent light that left the counters flat and dim. The result: two glass pendants and recessed lights on separate switches. The job covered lighting layout, old fixtures removed, plus patching and cleanup.
Kitchen Lighting Installation in Mount Prospect →
Before
AfterNorthbrook kitchen, 1960s ranch: kitchen remodeling
Cabinets in forest green with matte black pulls, black honed granite 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 Northbrook →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a postwar Cape Cod in Northbrook
The same doors sprayed in deep navy, new satin brass pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Northbrook →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 Northbrook homeowners
Can recessed lights go into a plaster ceiling?
They can. We cut each hole slowly to avoid cracks and patch around the trims.
How high should pendants hang over an island?
We start in the usual 30 to 36 inch range and adjust before fixing the final drop.
Can old recessed cans be switched to LED?
Usually. Retrofit trims are quick; worn or wrong-rated housings get new fixtures.
Hardwired or plug-in under-cabinet lights?
We recommend hardwired in a remodel or when you want a finished look. Plug-in suits renters.
Do I need a permit for kitchen lighting?
It depends on the scope. New wiring and circuits typically require a permit, which we pull.
Does Northbrook require a licensed electrician for kitchen lighting project?
Electrical contractor license $70; must submit a copy of a valid electrician's registration with the application. New circuits and wiring are done by licensed electricians.
Do I need a Northbrook-registered contractor for kitchen lighting project?
Village contractor license required, good for one year: general contractors $100; electrical $70. We take care of that before work starts.
What is the Northbrook building department phone number?
Permits go through Development & Planning Services, phone 847-664-4050. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do I need a permit for kitchen lighting project in Northbrook?
It depends on the scope. Northbrook's rule in short: Village lists separate permit types: Single Family Alterations - Interior, Electrical (new wiring/outlets), and Plumbing (new fixtures). We handle the permit when one is needed with Development & Planning Services.
Do you work in my part of Northbrook?
Yes. Our crews work across Northbrook, including Techny, Downtown Northbrook — ZIP 60062 — and nearby Glenview, Highland Park, Mount Prospect.
Working in Northbrook
- A lot of Northbrook kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Northbrook homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Development & Planning Services handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
TechnyDowntown Northbrook
ZIP 60062
Kitchen Lighting Installation nearby
Other kitchen services in Northbrook
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.