Blog: Classic and funky – lighting a London townhouse
Finalising the lighting in a challenging scheme in Central London; a classic Georgian townhouse and a modern mews house.

Linear lighting can be used for a wide range of lighting effects and uses ranging from creating a subtle glow of light to being enough task lighting to prepare a meal and cook by. There are a number of LED profiles making it easy to incorporate in to joinery or stair treads for a neat seamless flush fit. With higher output, IP rated and colour changing versions available there is a lot of reasons to include linear in a lighting design scheme.
Whether the joinery is of classic or contemporary design adding a line of diffused linear LED not only highlights the contents on display it can also make the piece of joinery an eye catching area of the room and a cleaver way of adding to the overall light levels of the room.
With joinery there are many ways to light the shelves or unit, you can mount at the front edge or back edge of the shelve or vertically up the side. There are a number of profiles to choose from so there will be one to suite the thickness of the unit and if there shelves are 'chunky' enough you could have two lengths of linear one lighting the shelf above and one lighting the shelf below.
As an alternative to downlights using linear LEDs you can create a wash of light up on to the ceiling. Either recessed in a coffer detail or mounted discreetly on to a beam perfect for pitched ceilings or light wells.
Lighting the pool coffer shown here we used an IP rated profile suitable for a pool environment. As it was the main source of lighting in the room we used a higher output LED to get the higher throw and punch of light.
Examples of coffer and surface mounted LED linear lighting from our projects.
Adding linear to under cabinet wall units in a kitchen is a good way of getting task lighting right where you need it. If you have space between the top of the cabinets it is an ideal place to surface mount some linear LEDs and add to the overall lighting effect of the room.
Like wise under a cooker hood it is a good alternative to the traditional spots with an even coverage across the hob area.
Different size and angled profiles available it allows you to choose the most suitable for the application. The profiles can be recessed in or surface mounted behind downstands. A slimmer profile is easier to recess where some deeper profiles diffuses the LEDs more and there are angled ones which fire the light back and across.
With two shelves mounted above the sink in this kitchen we used a slim but high output LED linear profile recessed in the bottom shelf to provide enough light to do the daily tasks such as washing up. On the top shelf we used the same method to light the trinkets displayed.
If the staircase structure permits rebating a recessed linear profile in to the underneath of the treads it creates not only functional light it can also create a stunning visual effect.
Linear lighting in a handrail or the underside of the staircase is another use for the versatile profile.
With the appropriate IP rated fitting you can add linear to an exterior lighting plan or garden design. Linear fitting can be used add a low level line of light under a planter or seating areas, edge light a path or border, light external steps or highlight water feature details. In an outdoor kitchen or BBQ space, linear lighting can be used for task lighting.
Linear LED doesn't always have to be a straight line of light. There are many types and sizes of linear profiles including flexible ones which allow you to add fun statement shapes and lines of light in to a design scheme. Adding a splash of colour can be easily achieved using linear LEDs and if you have to control system in place for example Lutron HomeWorks QS you can add to the design effect by introducing colour changing.