A lighting expert shares must-know tips for designing a functional kitchen.

John Merkl

The right lighting is one of the most important elements ofkitchen design.

Read McKendree

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Kitchen lantern pendant lighting

Credit:John Merkl

John Granen

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Elizabeth Howard

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Add Personality Through Light Fixtures

Light fixtures offer a great opportunity to infuse personality into your kitchen.

Industrial-style kitchen pendant lighting

Credit:Read McKendree

Cochran compares choosing kitchen lighting to adding jewelry to an outfit.

Focus on functional lighting first, such astrack lightingover a kitchen island.

Then, add in decorative pieces, like a flashy pendant light or colorfulwall sconces.

a black pendant light that looks like upside down black bowls over a kitchen and a wooden island

Credit:John Granen

golden pendant lamp sheathed in gold over a sink

Credit:Elizabeth Howard