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.
Serving St. Charles & nearby Geneva, West Chicago
Kitchen Lighting Installation in St. Charles, IL
Recessed, pendant and under-cabinet lighting for St. Charles kitchens, laid out so the counters are bright and wired by a licensed electrician.
- Serving St. Charles ZIP 60174, 60175
- A new look without tearing the kitchen out
- Clean, protected work area every day
Kitchen lighting problems we solve in St. Charles
Most kitchens have enough light in the middle of the floor and too little where you actually chop and read recipes. In St. Charles 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.
LEDs that flicker or buzz on the dimmer
If the lights hum or pulse when dimmed, the dimmer and the driver don't agree. We pair them properly.
Recessed lights under an insulated attic
On a top-floor kitchen, we use IC-rated, airtight recessed lights so the insulation stays in place and heat doesn't escape.
Visible LED dots and glare under the cabinets
If your under-cabinet lights glare off the stone, we swap them for diffused LEDs and add a light rail where needed to hide them.
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.
Switches in the wrong place or one switch for everything
We add switches at each kitchen entry and separate controls for ceiling, island and under-cabinet lighting.
Fluorescent box or panel that hums and flickers
Fluorescent tubes and ballasts wear out and are hard to dim. A switch to LED fixtures gives steadier light and dimming.
Dark counters and shadows where you work
Ceiling lights behind you throw your shadow onto the cutting board. Under-cabinet LEDs and recessed lights set nearer the counter edge put light where your hands are.
What's included
- Lighting layoutWe mark where each light goes and which switch controls it.
- 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 installedEach fixture hung, leveled and wired.
- Switches and dimmersControls installed where you enter and use the kitchen.
- Testing and adjustmentWe run each circuit and fine-tune before leaving.
Options to choose from
Color temperature optionsWarm white around 2700 to 3000K, and selectable-color fixtures where you're unsure.
Under-cabinet LEDHardwired strips, puck lights or light bars mounted under the wall cabinets.
Surface and flush fixturesLow-profile LED discs and flush or semi-flush fixtures for shallow or concrete ceilings.
Recessed lightingDownlights set into the ceiling for even general light.
Accent lightingIn-cabinet lights for glass doors, toe-kick strips and lighting above the cabinets.
Kitchens like yours in St. Charles: before and after
Before
AfterKitchen Lighting Installation in a two-story colonial from the 1990s, St. Charles
The site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in St. Charles. Before: a brass chandelier over the nook. The main complaint was a single old light that left the counters in shadow. The result: two glass pendants and recessed lights on separate switches. The job covered wiring and circuit check, old fixtures removed, plus switches and dimmers.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1990s two-story colonial in Batavia
A 1990s two-story colonial in Batavia, a typical kitchen for Batavia. Before: a fluorescent box light in the ceiling. The reason for the call: an old fluorescent box that flickered. After: recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips on separate switches. On site this meant old fixtures removed, wire fished to fixtures and switches, plus fixtures installed.
Kitchen Lighting Installation in Batavia →
Before
AfterBartlett kitchen, 1980s two-story: kitchen lighting installation
This one is a 1980s two-story in Bartlett. Before: 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 old fixtures removed, wire fished to fixtures and switches, plus fixtures installed.
Kitchen Lighting Installation in Bartlett →
Before
AfterA St. Charles two-story colonial from the 1990s: before and after
Finished: cabinets in deep olive with unlacquered brass knobs and cup pulls, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters, a white 3x12 tile in a stacked pattern backsplash, gray wood-look porcelain plank flooring and black cage pendants and slim recessed lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in St. Charles →
Before
AfterA St. Charles 1980s two-story: before and after
The same doors sprayed in light butter yellow, new brushed nickel bar pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in St. Charles →How the job 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 St. Charles homeowners
What's the best lighting for a small kitchen?
Bright, even ceiling light plus task lighting under the cabinets. We size the fixtures so they don't crowd the room.
Can you install fixtures I already bought?
Yes. We install pendants and fixtures from any store, as long as they're listed for the location and the box can hold them.
Can recessed lights go into a plaster ceiling?
Yes. Plaster needs careful cutting and sometimes added support, and slim canless fixtures often fit best.
How far from the cabinets should recessed lights be?
Close enough to light the counter in front of you, not the cabinet doors. We set them toward the counter edge, adjusted to the ceiling height.
How long does recessed lighting installation take?
We give you a schedule with the estimate once we see the ceiling.
What is the St. Charles building department phone number?
Permits go through Building Division, Community Development, 2 E. Main St., phone (630) 377-4406. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
What does St. Charles ask for on electrical work?
Electrical contractors must be licensed in an Illinois municipality (good standing evidence) and provide a $10,000 surety bond payable to the City. New circuits and wiring are done by licensed electricians.
Do I need a St. Charles-registered contractor for kitchen lighting project?
No registration fee; contractor requirements (general contractor certificate of insurance, with City as certificate holder) must be submitted before a permit is issued. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for kitchen lighting project in St. Charles?
It depends on the scope. St. Charles's rule in short: Permits required for construction, alteration, repair or demolition of any structure; major residential projects including remodels require 5 sets of drawings. We handle the permit when one is needed with Building Division, Community Development, 2 E. Main St..
Do you work in my part of St. Charles?
Yes. Our crews work across St. Charles — ZIP 60174, 60175 — and nearby Geneva, West Chicago, Batavia.
Working in St. Charles
- A lot of St. Charles kitchens date from the 2000s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most St. Charles homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Live in a historic district? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
ZIP 60174ZIP 60175
Kitchen Lighting Installation nearby
Other kitchen services in St. Charles
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.