Because I did the Carnation Instant Breakfast survey, I got a gift card from the ad agency. I’ve had trouble deciding what to do with it. If it were cash, I would have put it in the funds I’m saving for Ned II. I carried the card around in my coat pocket for a while, and was struck with inspiration while walking through the Lowes Home Improvement warehouse – I would get my under cabinet lights. The card only paid for one and a half lights, but still, it was nice to have the discount.
I think my problem all along has not been the work it would take to install the lights, it’s been the decisions I would have to make: What kind of lights would I get? How many of them would I need? How would I place them? Yikes!
The decision came down to halogen or xenon. I decided to get halogen, because they were offered in 25 watt size – 5 watts more than the highest offering in xenon. I got a bunch of light fixtures, and brought them home… only to see that the shelves were mislabeled and I had brought home a bunch of 20 watt xenon lights. D’oh! Not wanting to go back to the store, I kept them. Xenon are supposed to be less hot and have better color anyway.
The next decision was how to place them. I want these to be work lights, not decorative lights. It turns out, they’re pretty bright. My only difficulty was the sink. I’ve had a clip-on light socket hanging over the sink for the last year and a half. I’m used to the sink being pretty brightly illuminated. I went back to Lowes for inspiration, and saw them: little one-bulb fixtures that tilted! I got one for each side of the sink.
Their installation was exceedingly easy. I now have under cabinet lights that are controlled by a light switch next to my sink.
The two major kitchen projects that remain are the backsplash, and the cabinet trim and toe-kicks.
It’s truly wonderful. I’m speechless.
Wow! You are an electrical magician! Anything electrical scares the jibblies out of me, so I’m way impressed. Will you come re-wire my basement? Really, I’m not kidding.
very nicely done!
I think you improperly titled your new cat fund. It should be the “funds I’m saving for Bruce”, right?
Nice lights. I hope it makes you really want to finish that backsplash.
That’s awesome Brad! Nice job! I love that they all light with the flip of just one switch. Magnificent!
(um, are you sure you sent the government enough $)
Ha! I haven’t sent the government ANY money yet. I’ll wait until April 15 to do that.
I think my angry reaction to having so much money taken from me is a reflexive desire to spend it while I have it.
I know, I know… it’s self-destructive. But life’s no fun without a little self-destruction. 🙂
Nice knobs 🙂
All this time has passed and NObody picked on this comment yet?! Shame on Bradaptationlanders – you’re slipping!
…and I wish I could see anything out your kitchen window. My screen is too dark to infer [or imply; always get those confused] any images on the other side. That tends to be the case on this end of cyber space, I’ve noticed. Y’all often comment on things invisible to my eye. Perhaps I have to have Hogsqueal spit in my eyes some day (homage to recently-seen flick).
I forgot to say that your light dilemma sounds like a pro wrestling match, “LAAAADIEEEESSSS AND GENNNNTLEMENNNN, WELCOME TO THE MUCH ANTICIPATED WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION’S GRAND FINALE BATTLE – HALOGEN VS. XENON!!!”
Heh.
Brad, how did you do the wiring? Through and down the wall, under the sink, up the wall to the switch? I would like to do the same thing sometime.
Also take a close look out the window at the building. It looks like a child is looking out the second window and someone taller out the third. Is everyone seeing what I am seeing?
I didn’t do that wiring. I was too chicken. I had an electrician do it. But now that I’ve seen what he did, I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. For me, it was part of a larger job. They replaced the breaker box and everything. But if you’re just running a new electrical line into an existing box, Brent does that all the time.
HERE is what the wiring looked like before I put the wall up.
I see the creepy shadow in that window. Thanks now I’ll have bad dreams. *jibblie*