Concrete ceilings in condo buildings
Condo kitchens with concrete ceilings need surface-mounted lighting or a framed soffit. We plan it with the building's rules in mind.
Serving Palatine & nearby Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove
Kitchen Lighting Installation in Palatine, IL
Recessed, pendant and under-cabinet lighting for Palatine kitchens, laid out so the counters are bright and wired by a licensed electrician.
- Serving Palatine ZIP 60067, 60074
- A new look without tearing the kitchen out
- Clean, protected work area every day
Kitchen lighting problems we solve in Palatine
A single fixture in the center of the ceiling leaves you working in your own shadow. Our Palatine electricians replace it with lights placed over the counters, the sink and the island, using LED fixtures that suit your ceiling and wiring.
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
We install a downlight or pendant over the sink, often on a separate switch, so dishes don't happen in the dark.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What the work covers
- Lighting layoutWe mark where each light goes and which switch controls it.
- 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.
- Fixtures installedEach fixture hung, leveled and wired.
- Switches and dimmersLED-compatible dimmers and separate switches for each lighting layer.
- Testing and adjustmentWe run each circuit and fine-tune before leaving.
Finishes we offer
Under-cabinet LEDTask lighting aimed straight at the counters.
Dimmers and controlsLED-rated dimmers, smart switches and motion or timer controls.
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.
Color temperature optionsWarm white around 2700 to 3000K, and selectable-color fixtures where you're unsure.
Kitchen Lighting Installation before and after — Palatine homes
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1990s two-story colonial in Palatine
The site: a 1990s two-story colonial in Palatine. The kitchen as it was: two hanging glass pendants. What bothered the owners most: dim counters despite the ceiling lights. The result: black cage pendants and slim recessed lights on separate switches. On site this meant old fixtures removed, ceiling openings and boxes, plus fixtures installed.
Before
AfterArlington Heights kitchen, 1960s ranch: kitchen lighting installation
This one is a 1960s ranch in Arlington Heights. What we started with: a fluorescent box light. What bothered the owners most: a humming fluorescent light that left the counters flat and dim. Finished kitchen: two glass pendants and recessed lights on separate switches. The job covered wire fished to fixtures and switches, fixtures installed, plus testing and adjustment.
Kitchen Lighting Installation in Arlington Heights →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1970s tract home in Hoffman Estates
A 1970s tract home in Hoffman Estates, a typical kitchen for Hoffman Estates. What we started with: a hanging swag lamp. The main complaint was a single old light that left the counters in shadow. After: two glass pendants and recessed lights on separate switches. Work included old fixtures removed, wire fished to fixtures and switches, plus switches and dimmers.
Kitchen Lighting Installation in Hoffman Estates →
Before
AfterPalatine kitchen, 1980s two-story: kitchen remodeling
Finished: cabinets in white uppers and deep green lowers with polished nickel pulls, dark soapstone-look quartz counters, a white herringbone tile backsplash, warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Palatine →
Before
AfterPalatine kitchen, 1980s two-story: kitchen cabinet painting
What changed: the same doors sprayed in deep navy, new brushed nickel bar pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Palatine →How the job goes
- Share photos and plansTell us what feels too dark and what lights you have in mind.
- Layout visitWe check the ceiling type, joists, insulation and wiring, and mark fixture positions.
- 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 Palatine 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.
Do I need an electrician to install kitchen lighting?
New recessed lights, pendant boxes and hardwired under-cabinet strips involve new wiring, which is electrician work and may need a permit.
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.
Do I need a permit for kitchen lighting?
It depends on the scope. New wiring and circuits typically require a permit, which we pull.
Can you install fixtures I already bought?
Yes. Many owners pick their own fixtures and we handle the wiring and mounting.
Do I need a Palatine-registered contractor for kitchen lighting project?
Contractors must be registered and bonded with the Village before a permit is issued. Registration is online and expires Dec 31 each year. We take care of that before work starts.
What is the Palatine building department phone number?
Permits go through Community Development Department - Building Permits & Inspections, phone (847) 359-9042. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Can you do kitchen lighting project in a Palatine condo?
Associations usually set rules for work hours, elevators, deliveries and insurance, and many require approval for plumbing, electrical or structural changes. We provide the certificate of insurance and follow the building's rules.
What does Palatine ask for on electrical work?
Electrical contractors must register with the Village, post a $10,000 surety bond and submit a copy of an accepted electrical license (Elgin, Libertyville, Schaumburg, Ottawa, Woodstock, Chicago, ICC Master Electrician; Orland Park supervisory certificate only). New circuits and wiring are done by licensed electricians.
Do I need a permit for kitchen lighting project in Palatine?
It depends on the scope. Palatine's rule in short: A permit is required to remodel a kitchen or to add/alter the electrical system. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department - Building Permits & Inspections.
Do you work in my part of Palatine?
Yes. Our crews work across Palatine — ZIP 60067, 60074 — and nearby Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Lake Zurich.
Working in Palatine
- A lot of Palatine kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Condo or townhome? We follow association rules on work hours and elevators and bring the insurance certificate your board asks for.
- We know how Community Development Department - Building Permits & Inspections handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60067ZIP 60074
Kitchen Lighting Installation nearby
Other kitchen services in Palatine
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.