Expert: Karl Smith - 9/21/2004

Question
There is a large skylight over my kitchen table. I need to light the kitchen and the table at night. How can I treat the skylight to get light over the table? Should I put track heads facing upwards, to allow ambient light to bounce down? What about a fluorescent tube around the periemeter of the ceilng opening? How many of the skylight walls should have fixtures? Which kind? I was also thinking of putting a light directly outside the skylight on the roof to prevent the galss from lookiing black of like a mirror. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks........Sherry

Answer
There is a large skylight over my kitchen table. I need to light the kitchen and the table at night?

Should I put track heads facing upwards, to allow ambient light to bounce down?
If you have a wall that is clear of structures, use this wall to refelect light from ceiling mounted spot (wide ang/60 deg) lights. This will soften any lighting you create.

How can I treat the skylight to get light over the table?
It is simpler to ignore the skylight, consider it part of a daytime room identity that vanishes during the nighttime. If you place lighting externally you may incure the wrath of the local council or you neighbours who whould have the right to have it switched off.

How many of the skylight walls should have fixtures?
The number fixtures requires a calculation on the volume of the room. The type of fixtures for directional cheap lighting would be either TAL (Twist and Lock) or low voltage halogen lamps. Each type has benifits and drawbacks.

To offer any further advice I would need the room dimensions, country and mains voltage type.