The first question to ask is whether or not your kitchen needs to be dark. “I always try to work in natural light first, then supplement,” says Bertrand. “Sometimes that’s working in a skylight, or a solid bank of windows at the end of a galley kitchen.” Once you’ve maxed out your natural light, think of how to layer light across your space. “The idea is really to have different sources of light that can work independently or in tandem,” says Carnemark. He uses a combination of subtle task lighting and attractive fixtures, and always includes an option to flood the space with bright light for cleaning. “When you have multiple pieces that pair well together, and walls that reflect the light across the space, it’s just so much more pleasant to work in than when you have a single hot fixture in the middle of your ceiling, lighting the entire area,” he says.