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32 | Kitchen & Bath Design News | July 2015 Lighting Trends lighting to really make it your own, and diferent lighting levels give the room a whole diferent feel." In cabinet lighting: Warm white puck lights and strip/tape lights are Rocco's go-to choices for this application. "LED tape lights that run vertically are a great choice for lighting interior cabi- nets because they shine consistently throughout the cabinet," she explains. "We do a custom channel so the lights can be hidden by the trim moulding so you never see them. They give a great glow to the whole cabinet." Favorite application for LED lights: Undercabinet lighting is Rocco's fa- vorite use for LED lights. In fact, she recommends LED undercabinet light- ing to all her clients, and virtually everyone heeds her advice. "Lighting's frst function is to keep a space safe, such as lighting a pathway," she says. "But a good lighting plan will also in- clude proper task lighting, in addition to accent lighting for focal areas and glass door cabinets. That's why we rec- ommend undercabinet lighting on all of our jobs, so the countertops are lit up when it starts to get dark outside. Chris Chumbley, CGR GENERAL PARTNER USI DESIGN & REMODELING GRAND PRAIRIE, TX More lighting: "My clients are spend- ing more money for electrical, in general, while getting a better result in how kitchens and baths, and really all rooms, are lit," says Chumbley. "They are spending more money on materials and they want them to show better." Greater focus on lighting: People are paying more attention to lighting, he notes, adding that this, in turn, puts more emphasis on the design and ele- vates its overall appeal. "When clients look at images, they look more at the lighting," he states. "For instance, they will notice what is being used in the ceiling and they will pick up more on project details." Favorite application for LED lights: "In general, with all of our LED lights, we use a difused lens," he says. "It broadens the light a little better. We do a lot of hardwood foors and, de- pending upon the height of the ceiling, you can get a spotlight efect on the foor without it. It also gives a unique look – which everyone craves – and it automatically distinguishes itself from a regular can light. Plus, it isn't any more expensive than a regular LED." Amanda Haytaian OWNER/DESIGNER HOUSE OF CLINE DESIGN LITTLE SILVER, NJ Sconces in the kitchen: Based on the size of the space, people aren't doing as many wall cabinets, says Haytaian. "They will leave more open wall space, for instance, on each side of a sink under a window where I can add wall sconces instead of cabinets," she ex- plains. "In the bathroom, I also do a lot of simple Robern cabinets and will add some interesting lighting such as a wall sconce. I am defnitely seeing more sconces in kitchens and baths." Contemporary fixtures, even in traditional homes: "My clients are being a little braver about bringing in more contemporary lighting, even in traditional homes," she says. "Con- temporary chandeliers and pendants can really freshen up the look." Square trim: "I've been using more LED high hats with small square trim," she states. "It gives a more modern, contemporary look to the space." Favorite application for LED lights: Haytaian's favorite use for LED lights is for accent lighting under and in- side cabinets. "The strip lights are very tiny, so they are easily hidden compared to the lights we used previ- ously under the cabinets, which were big and bulky," she notes. Haytaian also adds a lot of foating shelves to her designs. "I always route a strip into the top or bottom of the shelf, depending on the design," she says. She also includes a difuser for a steady stream of light. Michelle Fee DESIGNER CHANGE YOUR BATHROOM, INC. ATLANTA, GA Toekick vanity lighting: "We work a lot in bathrooms, as opposed to kitch- ens, and under vanity lighting is one of our top requests," says Fee. "It is a nice nightlight feature because you can turn down the brightness (with a wireless remote) and you can have the light come on with a motion sensor when you walk into the room." Frameless glass panels: "This is a great option for bathrooms that lack a window, because it gives the illusion of a false window," she says, noting that the panels she uses come in custom sizes and shapes. "It is also controlled by a remote and has limitless color options. Since it is waterproof, it can also be used as a cool feature in the shower…think backlit recessed shelf!" Lighted vanity mirrors: In these ap- plications, Fee prefers 3000K (Kelvin) One of Amanda Haytaian's favorite uses for LED lights is for accent lighting, such as what's used underneath the foating shelves, underneath island countertop overhangs and above pantries/refrigerators, as seen in these kitchens, as well as toe kick lighting, as seen in this bathroom. Used with a difuser lens, she can achieve a steady stream of light as opposed to dots of light. For LEDs used in high hat applications, Haytaian often trims LED bulbs with small square trim shapes for a more modern, contemporary look. Photos: Amanda Haytaian