Kitchen & Bath Business - April 2020 - 25

LEARNING CORNER

From the Past to the Future
A look at how kitchen lighting has changed through the years
THE EVOLUTION OF KITCHEN LIGHTING is an interesting topic to explore,
especially when you look throughout history and realize it is still a relatively
new concept in the big picture of time. Take a look at how it has progressed
throughout the centuries and decades. It will make you more thankful you
cook in the 21st century!

AN ILLUMINATING TIMELINE

In the Middle Ages,life centered around open fireplaces,and in the 1740s,the first
wood stoves appeared, putting an end to open-fire cooking. (Thank goodness!)
A very important year was 1879, as Thomas Edison developed the incandescent light bulb, which became the standard of lighting for decades. In the
1900s, a family with electric lighting was the envy of its neighborhood. Even
though electricity was invented in the late 1800s, Americans still lit their
homes with gas lights and candles until the mid 1920s. Houses were probably
adorned with little more than a ceiling fixture for each room.
In the 1920s, most kitchens had just the basics. New light fixtures had
"keyless sockets," which users controlled at a wall switch rather than at the
fixture itself. In the 1930s and 40s, recessed lighting was introduced and was
initially used in factories over workstations as superior task lighting.
In the 1950s, kitchens began to take the familiar shape they have today.
Kitchen islands still were not popular, as most kitchens were an L-shape
with cabinets along the walls and empty space in the center. Kitchen tables
were popular and most often had a simple decorative lighting fixture centered above.
Ever the old kitchen standby, fluorescent lighting was flickering away in
the late 60s and 70s. Undercabinet lighting gained popularity and was introduced as fluorescent during this time.The first track lighting was clunky and
expensive. By the 70s, there were more versions that were cheaper and offered
more fixtures, finishes and wiring options. With this advancement, track
lighting quickly became the go-to for many interior designers in the kitchen.

ABOVE LEFT Today's kitchens
include layers of lighting, and
pendants are a popular choice
for above the island.
ABOVE RIGHT Adding a

pendant over the sink provides
a little decorative ﬂair to the
kitchen.
Projects by designer Rebekah
Murphy, Karr Bick Kithchen
and Bath; Photography: Karr
Bick Kitchen & Bath

By REBEKAH MOORE
MURPHY, an awardwinning designer at Karr
Bick Kitchen & Bath in
St Louis. She lives and
breathes interior design
and architectural space
planning.

The 80s kitchen got a major facelift with the
kitchen island. While islands weren't technically
invented during this time, they became popular. Decorative lighting pendants were installed
over the kitchen islands, and they were generally
smaller fixtures. In addition, track lighting became
a design hit. With the kitchen being open to the
family room, the open-kitchen concept gained
popularity and the trophy kitchen was born.
WHAT'S POPULAR NOW

The kitchens of today offer layers of illumination,
which include task lighting, accent lighting and
general lighting. Recessed LED can lights are
evenly spaced on ceilings to provide general illumination. Pendants are among the most popular
choice for kitchen island lighting; generally, two
large pendants over the island is most desirable.
Adding simple lighting over the sink, such as a
wall sconce or pendant for a more decorative look
is beautiful. Simply placing a recessed can light
over the center of the sink is also common. Undercabinet LED tape lighting along the perimeter
wall cabinets supplements the general lighting and
ensures good visibility for food preparation. Because kitchens have so many functions, dimmers
are included to allow adjustment to the lighting,
and more complex wireless lighting control systems are also increasingly popular.
The future of kitchen lighting is in digital technology. Manufacturers are upping their game and
making digital options increasingly customized
and affordable so more people can add these luxuries into their kitchens, with increased capabilities
like intelligent lighting, sensors and color tuning.

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3/24/20 8:32 PM

Kitchen & Bath Business - April 2020

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