When they're done right, illuminated
kitchen ceilings create an
evenly diffused wash of light that
provides brightness and minimizes
shadows. But when they are
poorly designed, illuminated
ceilings can make the kitchen
dark and claustrophobic.
Most illuminated ceilings
feature a soffit, either plaster or
plywood, installed 7 feet from the
finished flooring and in line with
the countertops below, usually
about 2 feet off the wall. I've
found that the 7-foot ceiling,
which allows only a 4-inch clearance
above the tops of doors and
windows, makes the kitchen feel
crowded. At the same time, the
countertops tend to be shadowy
since there's no light directly over
them.
Improper fluorescent lighting
creates another set of problems.
Illuminated ceilings are often
underlit because the wrong types
of lamps