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Reply to "Dark kitchen - what to do?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I would start with paint and adding recessed lighting.[/quote]

Already have recess lighting and it's on even in the daytime if I want to be in the kitchen. Cabinets are reddish brown so I could have those painted white but I doubt it would do much to help brighten the kitchen workspace [/quote]

If you have a space that is a light sink (e.g. absorbs a lot of light), here are the options:
- More light.  A window is great in the daytime, but useless at night.  You need more recessed lighting
- Lighter colors.  Lighter colors reflect more light.  Your reddish brown cabinets are absorbing at least half of the light and not reflecting it back.  Light colors (pale colors or white) will reflect more light.
- More reflective surfaces.  You can paint with more reflective paint.  A higher gloss paint will reflect more light back
- You don't necessarily have to paint the cabinets.  If there is any open wall space, you can paint the walls, which is a less expensive option than painting the cabinets.
- Replace appliances with lighter, more reflective surfaces.  So, stainless or brushed nickel instead of black.  For some appliances like refrigerators and dishwashers you can get laminates that will cover the appliance with a lighter/more reflective option.
Mirrors on walls or stainless backsplashes behind sink and stove/cooktop can also help improve lighting.[/quote]

Lots of good ideas here. Thank you!

Our house is NE facing. When we walk in through long hallway from front door, to the back, kitchen is on right side with stove top on right wall.  Family room is along the East and South East, kitchen wall along the West, opposite the Family room. There is a sun room on South West at the back of house that runs parallel to my breakfast area and kitchen (a doorless entryway from breakfast area into it) and the sun room extends behind my kitchen partway. There is a pass through space from kitchen to sunroom where a double window would be. On either side of the pass through space I have cabinets, and also a double wall oven near doorless entry to sunroom. The double wall oven and cabinets block the light from sunroom and I get just the light from pass through which is not enough natural light. Add to that the dark reddish brown kitchen.

If we were to add new windows, they would be on the East and kitchen is on the South West . The South East wall of family room already has many windows and plenty of light in family room from those, but it does not reflect along the opposite side where kitchen is.[/quote]

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