From the Forum: Alternatives to Recessed Lighting?

A Brownstoner reader is starting a row house renovation and his contractor is recommending recessed lights.

Jim writes:

Hi all. We are about to start a renovation of a row house. I am not a huge fan of recessed lighting and we chose not to put recessed lights in our last brownstone. However that house was always really dark and it was hard even with floor lamps to get our living room properly lit (and it had windows on three sides).

Our contractor wants to install lots of recessed lights in the row house we’re working on now. It’s attached on both sides, gets lots of light in back which is south facing but very little in the front. We’ll have one large light fixture in the front room and a kitchen island with a few pendant lights in the back of the main floor. Any ideas on how to light the space without adding a dozen recessed lights?

What do you think? Have you used a fitting alternative to recessed lighting fixtures?

Head over to the original post to give Jim your suggestions.

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[Photo: earthisthering via Flickr]