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 49 Chicago-area suburbs
Kitchen Lighting Installation in Chicago & the Suburbs
Recessed, pendant and under-cabinet lighting for Chicagoland kitchens, laid out so the counters are bright and wired by a licensed electrician.
- Crews working in the Chicago suburbs, from Naperville to Evanston
- Most jobs done in days, with your kitchen still usable
- Samples and a written quote before we start
Kitchen lighting problems we solve in Chicagoland
Most kitchens have enough light in the middle of the floor and too little where you actually chop and read recipes. In Chicagoland 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.
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.
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.
Light that looks too blue or too yellow
If your new LEDs look clinical, the color is likely too cool. We pick fixtures in a warmer range and with good color rendering.
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.
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.
Canned or canless recessed lights?
We compare both for your ceiling: wafers for tight spaces and quick installs, cans with LED trims where the depth allows it.
Pendants over the island
Two or three pendants, or one long linear fixture, are common over an island. We place the boxes so the lights line up with the island, not the old ceiling layout.
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.
- 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.
- Patching and cleanupAccess holes patched and the kitchen cleaned of dust.
Materials and finishes
Color temperature optionsWarm white around 2700 to 3000K, and selectable-color fixtures where you're unsure.
Surface and flush fixturesLow-profile LED discs and flush or semi-flush fixtures for shallow or concrete ceilings.
Under-cabinet LEDTask lighting aimed straight at the counters.
Dimmers and controlsControls that let you set each layer separately.
Recessed lightingDownlights set into the ceiling for even general light.
Kitchen Lighting Installation across Chicagoland
The same job looks different in a 1920s bungalow, a 1970s split-level and a new subdivision. Here is what we plan for in different parts of the region.
Prewar towns
Plaster ceilings in older homes
Plaster takes patience. We score and cut each opening, secure loose areas and patch around fixtures so the ceiling stays sound.
Condo and townhome towns
Concrete ceilings in condo buildings
You can't recess lights into a concrete slab. In condos we use low-profile surface LED fixtures, track or a dropped soffit to hide wiring.
Glendale Heights, Lisle, Palatine, Itasca, Carol Stream, Evanston
Kitchen Lighting Installation before and after
Before
AfterBefore and after: a postwar Cape Cod in Des Plaines
This one is a postwar Cape Cod in Des Plaines. 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 testing and adjustment.
Kitchen Lighting Installation in Des Plaines →
Before
AfterKitchen Lighting Installation in a 1990s two-story colonial, Winfield
A 1990s two-story colonial in Winfield, a typical kitchen for Winfield. What we started with: 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. Work included lighting layout, fixtures installed, plus patching and cleanup.
Kitchen Lighting Installation in Winfield →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a raised ranch in Roselle
The site: a raised ranch in Roselle. Before: a hanging swag lamp. The reason for the call: a single old light that left the counters in shadow. After: two glass pendants and recessed lights on separate switches. The job covered switches and dimmers, testing and adjustment, plus patching and cleanup.
Kitchen Lighting Installation in Roselle →How the job 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 estimateAn itemized estimate listing fixtures, wiring, switches, patching and any permit.
- Install and testWe install, test each light and clean up.
Kitchen Lighting Installation: common questions
How much does kitchen lighting installation cost?
Fixture count, wiring access, patching and controls drive the price. We put it in writing before we start.
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.
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.
Can you install fixtures I already bought?
Yes. Many owners pick their own fixtures and we handle the wiring and mounting.
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.
Which towns do you serve?
Chicago and 49 suburbs, from Naperville and Aurora to Evanston, Schaumburg and Orland Park. Pick your town below for local details and ZIP codes.
Kitchen Lighting Installation near you
Pick your town for local details, ZIP codes and nearby projects.
