Haha, recessed LEDs are definitely a solid choice, but honestly, after dealing with plaster walls myself, I'd probably avoid cutting into them again at all costs. Last time I tried installing recessed lights, it turned into a weekend-long saga of patching and repainting...ugh.
If I had to redo mine now, I'd probably go for track lighting or even some sleek pendant lights. Easier install, less mess, and you can still get that nice adjustable lighting vibe. Plus, pendants can add a bit of personality to the kitchen without breaking the bank. Wireless bulbs are cool for accent lighting, but yeah, for everyday use, hardwired is way less hassle.
Totally feel your pain on the plaster walls—I swear mine are cursed. When we redid our kitchen lighting, I went cheap and simple with track lighting, and honestly, zero regrets. Took me maybe an afternoon instead of a whole weekend of drywall drama. Plus, I grabbed some vintage-looking bulbs online to give it a bit more character. Not fancy, but it works great and didn't kill my budget.
Totally get the plaster wall struggle—been there, done that, and I still have nightmares about it. When we redid our kitchen lights last year, I went with pendant lights instead of track lighting. Honestly, I was tempted by the simplicity of track lighting (especially after reading your experience), but I wanted something a bit more unique and personalized.
Ended up finding these really cool handmade glass pendants from a local artist. Installation was definitely more involved than your afternoon project—took me a whole weekend and a few choice swear words—but the results were worth it. They completely changed the vibe of the kitchen, and I love knowing they're one-of-a-kind.
But now you've got me thinking vintage bulbs...might have to swap out my basic LEDs for something with a little more character. Always room for improvement, right?
"Ended up finding these really cool handmade glass pendants from a local artist."
Those handmade pendants sound fantastic—love the idea of supporting local artists while personalizing your space. I've been leaning towards eco-friendly lighting myself, like reclaimed wood fixtures or recycled glass shades. Vintage bulbs do have charm, but I'm curious if anyone's tried pairing them with dimmers or smart switches to balance aesthetics and energy efficiency...would that even work smoothly?
I've actually paired vintage bulbs with dimmers in my historic home, and it works surprisingly well. The key is choosing bulbs specifically labeled as dimmable—otherwise, you might get flickering or buzzing noises. Smart switches can be trickier, though; some vintage-style LEDs don't play nicely with certain smart systems. Has anyone else run into compatibility issues between vintage bulbs and smart lighting setups? Curious how others have handled it...
