"When my boyfriend moved into his current apartment, the first thing I noticed was the horrific lighting in the kitchen. There was an old style 90s California light panel or whatever they call them; basically panels over fluorescents, like an office. There were cupboards over most of the counters, and it was hard to see what you were doing at times.
A run to Ikea solved this. I bought two packs of the Grundtal spotlights and some long pieces of baseboard moulding and double sided tape from my local hardware store. Using some nails, I attached the base of the lights to the baseboard, then hung up the baseboard with double sidedtape, which has now held successfully for almost two years. (He's a renter, so I didn't want to do anything major) There was a little ledge on the underside of the cupboards, so it looks like the lights are attached to the cupboards.
I then attached the halogen portion of the lights, clipped the wires and switches up and out of the way, and now have some nice task lighting, and just nicer than the horrid fluorescent lighting!"
Hide the wires!
ReplyDeleteYou could route them along the same line the lights are in.
It does not look finished with those hanging like that.
I'm not sure I like those wires - maybe they can be hidden somehow?
ReplyDeleteNice Idea!
ReplyDeletenot to be a jackass, but how is this a "hack" arent these made for doing exactly this?
ReplyDeleteEither way, looks good.
I am a big fan of under cabinet lighting as well, but the Ikea lights have HUGE transformer plugs. Not to bust Ikea, but Home Depot sells the same type of halogen lighting sans the large transformer. Just bought a 3 pack for 20$ and all the cable lengths between lights were trim-able as well so you don't have any loose wire between lights. Sorry Ikea, not this time.
ReplyDeleteThis looks great, but, um, how is this a hack? Isn't this how these lights are supposed to be used?
ReplyDeletejeremy and anon, a very minor one. just thot she had a good idea of attaching the lights to a baseboard rather than directly onto the cabinets, which some may find useful.
ReplyDeletei'm inclined to agree its not really a "hack". its poor execution
ReplyDeletemakes it look like a "hack" but by this posts logic my new ikea kitchen that i've just installed
should be posted here even though it hasn't been re-purposed in any way.
I'm not a big fan of the wires. Now what have been really cool is if the baseboard used to suspend the lights would have also been used to hide the wires as well!
ReplyDeleteThese Lighting are best for Kitchen
ReplyDeleteLike everyone else, I don't like the wiring set up. I my wife seen that she would have a fit.
ReplyDeletetidy it up you useless get.
don't like the wires -- like everyone else. but the pictures really show that the light put off sees better than other lights I've seen.
ReplyDeletehiding those wires will make it perfect.
ReplyDeleteSeems like this would be ideal for a rental property.
ReplyDeleteHere's a real Hack for this post. I have these lights, they are super hot, and the halogen bulbs burn out constantly. i want to do a direct led Replacement. Here's the link.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ecolumenation.com/products/2-Watt-G4-LED-Halogen-Replacement.html
That's a good idea, thanks. I will try to replicate this design.
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