Planning on fitting some downlighters in the kitchen and hallway ceilings. Kitchen is 3.25m x 2.20m (worktop in a U-shape, wallunits on two walls) and hallway is L-shaped - 2.45m x 1.85m with 0.90m x 0.95m taken off one corner. Not worried about the ability to dim them, just want to switch them on and off. Our ceilings are quite low (2.3m) so I have a feeling we would need need a number of downlights spaced out around the areas involved to ensure that the light produced is evenly spread out. Was thinking about having three downlights in the hallway and four/five downlights in the kitchen (all with wide beam bulbs).
Looking for recommendations on whether to use mains voltage (240v) lights or low voltage (12v) lights and also depending on the type used how many would be required to sufficiently light the areas without casting lots of shadows. At the minute I am swaying towards LV ones.
Plus point I have for the mains downlighters is that they are easier to wire up but on the down side they have a high wattage - 50W or 35W. I am also led to believe the bulbs don't last as long as LV ones.
Plus points I have for the low voltage downlighters is that the bulbs last longer and are more energy efficient. I am also told they give off a whiter light. On the downside these may be a 'little' harder to wire up, and a transformer needs to be used, but this shouldn't be too hard in my case as the floorboards are already up in the rooms above. The trouble I have with the LV lights is that I haven't got a clue how much light they produce!
Any advice welcomed.
Dave