Tips From The Handyman: Everyone knows that lighting sets the mood. So why do so many homes feel dark and uninviting? And why do some bright rooms seem so blah and mundane? Lighting. And I'm not talking about changing your bulbs to the latest LED (which is a topic we'll cover soon) or adding new recessed lighting to older homes, of which I have some tricks for also. No, today we'll focus on one room, one simple solution. Kitchen cabinet lighting.

Kitchen cabinet lighting can give an amazing ambiance, especially when a dimmer is installed to give an endless range of lighting possibilities. I prefer installing a slide dimmer switch in walls instead of the 3-position touch switch that typically comes with cabinet lights. If you have cabinets with space above them, adding the same lights on top of them on a separate dimmer switch can splash beautiful light across your ceiling. And finally, a simple way to add some elegance is to choose a few select cabinets, take out the shelves, put a frame-less mirror in the back, replace the shelves with clear glass shelves, add some lights (on a dimmer, of course) and show off your favorite china!

There are many options for lighting including new LED strips, but my favorite are the puck lights found at Lowe's or Home Depot. The light they give off is a clean, able-to-be-dimmed, art gallery-type feel that most of my clients fall in love with (actually all that I can remember). If you install them yourself, you can use the provided plugs, outlet strips, and touch dimmer (only 3 brightness settings) but remember the plugs under the cabinet may be visible because of how they "sit." And you will have that one ugly plug running down to an outlet over your counters. I like the "professionally installed" look with the wires tacked underneath out of sight. Also, your power is not from an unsightly plug but hidden behind the wall, run to a convenient dimmer switch next to an outlet for a sleek, clean look. Add Lighting to your kitchen cabinets and see the difference!  

And as always, if you want help, I know a great handyman!

McKinley Pritchard | Owner
Craftsman On Call
(214) 609-5013
www.highlandparkshandyman.com