Group 6 1 minute Read

modern undercabinet lighting

Lauren Zerbey

Last weekend we completed the final to-do on the kitchen – installing the undercabinet lighting. We wanted something minimal, yet effective. Luckily, we found both these things in an LED system from ET2 Contemporary Lighting.

Techy! Commonly referred to as LED tape, this thin strip has an adhesive backing so installation is literally peel and stick. The trickiest part was designing the system. Power comes up from the panel in the basement through the wall and into a small transformer in the cabinet above the range hood. From there, connector cords go through holes drilled in the side wall of each flanking upper cabinet and down through the faux chase space that we created using the IKEA blue-gray panel remnants (as seen in this older photo below):

The connector cord then comes down through the bottom of the cabinet and plugs into the LED strip via a small 4-way connector. ET2 sells black metal valances but (shocker) we decided to DIY our own. So Kyle bought simple aluminum angles and built our own version that wraps along the front and exposed edge at the range. (It’s fastened to the cabinet with a few screws. We also applied a thin bead of caulk between the two surfaces to prevent light leakage.)

Next, we adhered the strip (and connector piece shown below)… 

…and attached the connector cord (photo below was taken before we pulled the cord tight and secured it with a couple electrical staples).

We wanted the light (and valance) to be recessed from the face of the cabinet, but out far enough that the light wouldn’t cast a shadow on the steel ledge.

Light Emitting Diodes!

Not only do they provide additional task lighting, but they also serve as a subtle night-light of sorts.

It’s a small detail but we’re pleased with the results. More importantly, this was the last light fixture to be installed. Our house had 3 ceiling fixtures when we moved in, now we have mood lighting.  Love that modern technology.