What it is: Recessed lighting, sometimes known as recessed cans or may light, is installed inside the ceiling instead of on the ceiling surface. It has two main components: casing, the space where the bulb matches, and trim, the finished edge that sits around the ceiling.

Philpotts Interiors

The kind of home is dependent upon the ceiling material and insulation, and if the lights are installed during new construction or a remodel. There are specially designed housings to fit ceilings that angle up or down. Trim is largely a matter of personal taste and suitability with the décor.

Downlights, as the title suggest, beam light directly downward, while eyeball-style fixtures pivot inside their housing. Depending on where you need light concentrated, you can choose one, the other or a combination for your space. If you are installing them at a damp space, like a toilet, basement or covered outdoor living space, be sure you choose models that are rated for moisture.

When to use it : Recessed lighting is frequently used for accent lighting rather than as the only light source for a room. Because it is so discreet (when done well, that is), it marries well with clean, contemporary or minimalist interiors. However, there is no style for which recessed lighting looks really ill satisfied.

It may offer task illumination in kitchens and bathrooms, and can highlight a gallery wall or a stunning piece of artwork. If you’ve got a statement light fixture like a chandelier, but want extra downlighting to decorate the room, recessed lighting include illumination without stealing the fixture’s limelight.

When not to use it when you’ve got a ceiling with detailed plasterwork, ornamental coffers or a painted or papered theme, recessed lighting may detract from its beauty — you may not want ceiling fixtures in any way. There is also A ceiling that is concreten’t the ideal fit for recessed lighting.

Glenvale Kitchens

How many you are going to want: It’s easy to go overboard and plan for way more recessed lighting than you require, resulting in the dreaded “Swiss cheese ceiling” look. Consider several factors: which areas you want to illuminate, how much light floods the distance already, how much visibility you need (a media room versus a kitchen, by way of instance), the wattage of the bulbs you’ll use and the height and square footage of your ceiling.

The size and spacing of recessed lighting depends completely on your individual space and the result you need — there is no universal solution. One general rule of thumb is to put 4-inch lights 4 feet apart and 6-inch lights 6 feet apart. Generally, you’ll want to mount them 12 to 18 inches in front of the region you need to illuminate. Consult an attorney for information regarding your particular situation.

Bunker Workshop

Special concerns: One important factor is the electrical load of your circuit. If you want to have more lights in the present circuitry can handle an electrician will be able to help you devise a safe solution. If you’d like to be able to control the quantity of light through the day and evening, add dimmers.

Price: Again, this varies widely based upon your space. However, as a rule, you can program on roughly $100 to $150 per fixture for a simple version, including materials and skilled installation. Prices go up from there.

Lumens

Ledra 12 LED Recessed Light by Bruck Lighting Systems – $238.40

The metal casing with this version from Bruck Lighting, available through Lumens, lends a compact, modern texture.

Lumens

Easy Recessed Light by Fabbian – $115.20

A drum-style glass color gives the Fabbian Easy Recessed Light, too from Lumens, a profile. Additionally, it comes in many recessed home styles.

YLighting

Leucos | Plain Small Semi Flush Ceiling Light – $148

A hand-molded, etched glass diffuser beams light down to get a gentle glow. The fixture comes in four colors: clear crystal (shown), satin white, amethyst and light blue.

LightingUniverse

Leucos Hera2-Non IC-CFL-B Hera Energy Saving Recessed Can Light – $196

This version features a poured-glass diffuser and fully remodeled home. Available colors include clear crystal, cobalt blue, jade green, Nile green/aqua, light blue, rose and lace white (shown).

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We’ve noticed how pitched roofs with gable ends can look contemporary, even though they are suspended from vernacular buildings and structure. A departure from that traditional type are”brows” — roofs that extend well beyond the exterior wall.

These magnificent extensions color the interior, define exterior spaces, offer exterior lighting, and offer other uses. The following examples show this technique for a fairly contemporary expression that is nevertheless rooted in the modern design of Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, and others.

Read more contemporary layouts | Find an architect

Feldman Architecture, Inc..

Feldman Architecture’s Caterpillar House is sited on the rolling hills north of San Francisco. The plan opens itself up to the south with expansive glass walls shaded by the heavy overhang of the curving roof.

Feldman Architecture, Inc..

This roof, supported by slender columns in the exterior porch, gives the Caterpillar House a strong expression, swooping like the mild pitch of the hills.

Feldman Architecture, Inc..

From inside we can see the way the roof’s expansion shades the interior once the sun is large, letting it in through the winter, once the sunlight is low. The pitched roof also serves to catch rainwater that is utilized for irrigation.

CG&S Design-Build

The photo of this energy-efficient house in Austin, Texas, reveals not only the expansion of the roof but also the way that it aligns with the patio below. The roof colors but in addition, it can help define a large outdoor area that wraps around to a seating area adjacent to an outdoor fireplace.

Sutton Suzuki Architects

Roof”brows” can also work to frame and direct opinions, like this large residence that overlooks the San Francisco bay.

Gardner Architects LLC

This”Sixties Solarium” at Washington, DC was renovated to improve the thermal performance of a 1969-era accession to a 1929 house. Translucent panels comprise the second floor wall above glass doors, all capped by a projecting roof that offers some shade but also features down lighting to the patio below.

Gardner Architects LLC

Inside, the Sixties Solarium is punctuated by skylights along the translucent-panel wall.

Lane Williams Architects

The dusk shot of this house in Seattle illustrates another aspect of”brows”: the ceiling and eave frequently appear constant, linking outside and indoors together. That effect is very evident here provided the full-height glass exterior walls, which probably necessitate the massive overhang.

Warmington & North

This house, also in Seattle, includes a dramatic overhang on the next floor that extends over a patio adjacent to the spacious living room below. Notice the way the lighting is placed on the exterior wall, highlighting the roof’s wood structure.

Coates Design Architects Seattle

Another Seattle residence illustrates how roof overhangs are usually linked to abundant glass in the exterior wall and outdoor area below. This instance is pint-size when compared with the preceding two Pacific Northwest ones, so it is very good to find that these roofs can happen at different scales.

The construction zone, ltd..

The desert of the American Southwest is a circumstance that is perfect for deep overhangs, especially when the client and architect opt for large glass walls to catch desert views.

Andre laurent

This photograph angle gives the impression that the roof overhang is more striking as it is, but it is apparent that it is thicker than the roofs to either side. This centre roof defines an outdoor seating area connected to the interior via a wide opening with folding doors.

Andre laurent

Under the eyebrow, we can feel the enclosure created by the deep overhang.

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