Good lighting adds ambience, brightens kitchen

In homes that welcome friends, family and good conversation, kitchens have become the new gathering place. That's why the lighting in your kitchen should be as inviting as the rest of the house.

These tips from the experts at Croft & Little, a lighting retailer, should help shed some light:

* Avoid a single source of illumination in the center of the room. It provides little in the way of adequate task, ambient or accent lighting.

* Track lighting is often used in kitchens and needs to be located much closer to the work surface, not positioned in the center of the room.

* Chandeliers have moved into the kitchen. Chandeliers add a sense of style, perfect for the kitchen that has become the center for entertaining.

* More kitchens are using natural materials or painted decorative finishes; it is therefore best to direct the light at the front of the cabinets to give reflective light to your work surfaces.

To learn more, visit www. croftandlittle.com.

Information courtesy North American Precis Syndicate