ᐅ Lighting for a Long, Narrow Combined Living and Dining Area in a Mid-Terrace House
Created on: 4 Jul 2021 18:20
J
JuliaAlex
Dear forum users,
We have purchased a mid-terrace house and are currently working on the electrical planning. Our biggest concern is the open-plan living-dining area with the kitchen, especially the central part around the dining table. Since it is a mid-terrace house (unfortunately, due to current prices, we could not afford anything else), the dining area does not have a side window, and the house is very narrow and long (almost 12 meters (39 feet 4 inches) in length, only 5.88 meters (19 feet 3 inches) wide). Our main worry is that the dining area will feel like sitting in a long, dark tube. We would like to counteract this by using interior design, spatial arrangement, and especially lighting.
Do you have any concrete ideas, maybe with pictures? Or are there other homeowners in a similar situation who could give us some tips?
For your information: The house facade on the living area side is almost fully glazed and faces south, our kitchen window is also quite large, the front door will have glass elements, and the separation between the entrance hall and dining area will be made with a glass door. Our staircase, however, is closed off (the wall is load-bearing), which of course contributes to the tunnel-like feeling in the dining area.
So far, we have planned the following lighting points:
1x ceiling outlet in the entrance hall
1x ceiling outlet in the entrance hall near the staircase (where a wardrobe will be located)
2x ceiling outlets in the kitchen (1 in the middle, 1 above the counter)
1x ceiling outlet above the dining table
1x ceiling outlet in the living room.
Additionally, we are considering installing wall outlets for indirect lighting either on the wall facing the staircase or on the opposite wall in the dining area, but we have not yet decided on a specific lighting concept there.
We appreciate all constructive suggestions and ideas!
We have purchased a mid-terrace house and are currently working on the electrical planning. Our biggest concern is the open-plan living-dining area with the kitchen, especially the central part around the dining table. Since it is a mid-terrace house (unfortunately, due to current prices, we could not afford anything else), the dining area does not have a side window, and the house is very narrow and long (almost 12 meters (39 feet 4 inches) in length, only 5.88 meters (19 feet 3 inches) wide). Our main worry is that the dining area will feel like sitting in a long, dark tube. We would like to counteract this by using interior design, spatial arrangement, and especially lighting.
Do you have any concrete ideas, maybe with pictures? Or are there other homeowners in a similar situation who could give us some tips?
For your information: The house facade on the living area side is almost fully glazed and faces south, our kitchen window is also quite large, the front door will have glass elements, and the separation between the entrance hall and dining area will be made with a glass door. Our staircase, however, is closed off (the wall is load-bearing), which of course contributes to the tunnel-like feeling in the dining area.
So far, we have planned the following lighting points:
1x ceiling outlet in the entrance hall
1x ceiling outlet in the entrance hall near the staircase (where a wardrobe will be located)
2x ceiling outlets in the kitchen (1 in the middle, 1 above the counter)
1x ceiling outlet above the dining table
1x ceiling outlet in the living room.
Additionally, we are considering installing wall outlets for indirect lighting either on the wall facing the staircase or on the opposite wall in the dining area, but we have not yet decided on a specific lighting concept there.
We appreciate all constructive suggestions and ideas!
J
JuliaAlex5 Jul 2021 15:18ypg schrieb:
But here is the central dining table, which needs good lighting.
No, unfortunately I don’t know.
I meant it like this: aligned with the kitchen island, the distance to the dining table, then adjust the same distance at the bottom right.
[ATTACH alt="Bildschirmfoto 2021-07-05 um 12.54.37.png"]63357[/ATTACH]
However, I’m retracting a bit: your kitchen island is currently too shallow. You’re going to get more grease splashes behind it than you want. A kitchen island should be at least 90cm (35 inches) deep.
And the others are right about visually separating the dining area from the chill-out area.
You have a 2.40m (7 feet 10 inches) dining table drawn in? Do you already have it? I would set it back, maybe even rotate it and place it against the wall. A pendant light above the dining table, dimmable.
I think the wall outlets themselves can only be determined once the kitchen layout is finalized. If you actually have a kitchen island, what type of extractor hood do you have? Downdraft or with lighting from above? That makes a difference.
The kitchen needs task lighting... Or doesn’t your kitchen have that? Then you can skip the central light.
The hallway at the front needs light. My middle left point of the six-point layout would also be good for a spotlight that shines light onto the closet. Do you like spotlights? LED?
I would skip my upper left point of the six, it’s just visually there if you use spotlights, but above the dining table this unit is already out, so that point is unnecessary as the basement stairs will have their own light anyway.
If I now plan a more practical U-shaped kitchen (not a G-shaped), I would go for this design and thus these outlets (excluding wall outlets, I’m leaving those aside). I must admit, I am somewhat relaxed about the “monkey swings” because I often rearrange furniture. So I tend to be creative and sometimes even hang the pendant light one meter (3 feet) farther than the ceiling outlet is. For me, for example, a table lamp on the kitchen worktop is still stylish and decorative, even if others say that means there is a lack of lighting planning 😉 Our counter is not meant to be a classic kitchen island but more of a work counter. That way, I can seat kids and guests who want to help in the kitchen on the dining room side, and I can have my peace in the kitchen 😎 I also imagine a counter with an extended depth that can be accessed from three sides as very practical. We also like that it creates a visual separation from the kitchen and distracts the eye somewhat from the clutter behind it... That’s also why we thought about a pendant light above the work counter to further distract and provide lighting.
We don’t have the dining table, etc., yet; as mentioned, it’s only a rough draft. Regarding the “monkey swings,” I agree with you—I don’t expect to plan everything now exactly so that it perfectly matches the lighting outlets, especially in the dining area. We will probably adjust how exactly we position the table later.
Regarding the separation between the living and dining areas: we have seen setups in pictures where the table extends into the living area that we really like. The table is not just for eating but also a gathering spot for the family where kids do homework, etc. We have a “proper” living room upstairs in the studio (with TV etc.) for relaxing in the evening; downstairs, the whole area is more of a family zone. But maybe I’m misjudging it and the table will be annoying—although then we could also shift it sideways towards the kitchen.
JuliaAlex schrieb:
But that’s probably from an expensive kitchen showroom, right? Our budget is unfortunately limited to 15,000 – max. 20,000 euros including appliances.
I also like your island solution. Do you have enough space to get past the island to the dining area? I’m always worried it might be too tight and you’d have to “walk all the way around.” For something like that, I would go to a carpenter rather than a kitchen showroom.
We have a clear width of 72cm (28 inches), and I was worried about that at first too. But the island is only 90cm (35 inches) high, which visually softens the tightness a lot, and it’s just one step, so you quickly get through the narrow spot. Not a big deal. OK, maybe for sizes 3XL and up it could feel cramped... 😉
JuliaAlex schrieb:
Personally, we don’t particularly like this side view from the dining room of the fairly bulky 60cm (24 inches) deep tall cabinets for the oven and refrigerator, but thanks to the cladding and the “floating effect,” they look completely different! Everyone’s impression is different. I see a wall of tall cabinets that are supposed to appear floating but still look very dominant and bulky. This might also be due to the color. However, I do like the fact that 40cm (16 inches) cabinets are used to create a finish that is less imposing. These could blend with the wall color, while the 60cm (24 inches) ones are done in the kitchen color.
J
JuliaAlex5 Jul 2021 17:47I have now created a separate kitchen thread where you can see our current plans:
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/Küchenplanung-in-reihenmittelhaus-neubau.39742/
https://www.hausbau-forum.de/threads/Küchenplanung-in-reihenmittelhaus-neubau.39742/
I would plan roughly as follows:
- In the living room at the top left of the plan, 1 to 2 pendant lights as task lighting for reading (separate dimmable switch/button). Below that, either a floor lamp or preferably an adjustable and extendable wall light, also for reading or as ambient lighting (separate dimmable switch/button).
- Prepare wiring for the coffee table lighting just in case. However, I think it will be used only rarely (dimming is not necessarily required).
- Above the dining table, 3 pendant lights or possibly one continuous pendant light. Additional wall lighting to highlight a picture or something similar. All dimmable and controlled by one switch/button.
- One pendant light over the peninsula as task lighting and as additional separation for the dining and cooking areas.
- I am not entirely clear on the exact placement of the kitchen cabinets/tall units. Here, I would plan for multi-light ceiling spotlights on a track or individually installed (the latter involves more effort). Additional lighting for work areas.
At the bottom left of the plan, a wall outlet for decorative lighting. This will probably also be connected to the dining area switch/button.
- In the living room at the top left of the plan, 1 to 2 pendant lights as task lighting for reading (separate dimmable switch/button). Below that, either a floor lamp or preferably an adjustable and extendable wall light, also for reading or as ambient lighting (separate dimmable switch/button).
- Prepare wiring for the coffee table lighting just in case. However, I think it will be used only rarely (dimming is not necessarily required).
- Above the dining table, 3 pendant lights or possibly one continuous pendant light. Additional wall lighting to highlight a picture or something similar. All dimmable and controlled by one switch/button.
- One pendant light over the peninsula as task lighting and as additional separation for the dining and cooking areas.
- I am not entirely clear on the exact placement of the kitchen cabinets/tall units. Here, I would plan for multi-light ceiling spotlights on a track or individually installed (the latter involves more effort). Additional lighting for work areas.
At the bottom left of the plan, a wall outlet for decorative lighting. This will probably also be connected to the dining area switch/button.
M
Myrna_Loy6 Jul 2021 18:07For relaxing, the attic studio would be way too far from the wine cellar and the fridge. 🙂
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