Open-plan living lighting with track lights and dimmers

Project outcome

The owners of this Adamstown home had opened up their living, dining and family rooms into one large space under a raked ceiling, but the old lighting had not kept up with the change. A single oyster light in the middle of the room left the corners dark, the fireplace wall disappeared at night and there were too few power points for the television, lamps and chargers. We walked through the space with them one evening, talked about how they use each zone of the room, and designed a lighting and power plan that gives every part of it the right light for reading, relaxing or having friends over for dinner.

We installed black track lighting along the ridge of the raked ceiling, with adjustable heads aimed at the fireplace, the artwork and the reading corner, and added warm LED downlights over the dining area on a separate dimmer. New double power points went in beside the sofa, under the television and next to the fireplace for lamps, along with a data point for the internet and a USB outlet for phones. Every cable was run neatly through the ceiling and walls with no exposed conduit, every circuit was tested, and the work was completed to the Australian wiring rules with a compliance certificate.

The result is a living area that feels warm and inviting at night and works for the whole family during the day. The owners can set the mood with a single dimmer, the fireplace wall has become a feature after dark, and the extra power points mean no more extension leads across the floor. They have since asked us back to light their front garden, side path and back deck.