Lighting oddity

my layout is mostly in an alcove off the family room on the lower level of our split foyer (worst house design EVAR). i say most of it is in the alcove because three feet of the right lobe and 6 inches of the left lobe are not. the alcove has a drop ceiling with two pot lights.

i have thought about mounting track lighting bars to the drop ceiling framework, and i think that might solve 90% of my issue. but there is the three feet that goes beyond the alcove and it is fairly dark. i haven't come up with a solution that will really address the lighting problem and not look be an eyesore in the room.




right lobe - three feet into the family room. the vertical moulding is the edge of the brick facade for the fireplace (which never gets used, it's a heat vacuum that we would like to toss an insert into at some point). notice the pot light location. there is about 4 inches of room above the first tile - there is a steel I beam there. between the beam and the pot light is a wide duct and water pipes to the kitchen. these items prevent me from installing pot lights, but do not prevent me from mounting track lights.

so the big issue is what to do about the very dark section on the right side. i want the scene where it comes out of the hidden staging to be an homage to the tunnel and bridge at Maryland Junction and that will require it to be well lit.

here is the Maryland Junction scene i have in mind

 

My recommendation, FWIW, is to keep the pot lights for the alcove; they seem to do a fairly decent job of taking care of things in there. Perhaps replace them with newer LED units with good diffusers; it may help spread the light around more, and reduce heat/electric use.

For the lobe, I'd hit the local big box store and look for a small-ish "decorator" track lighting kit that has some eye-appeal as well as 3-4 good strong spots, something like this: http://www.homedepot.com/buy/lighti...ixed-wire-gimbaltrack-lighting-kit-51679.html.

Then mount the track here:



Aim all of the lights at the lobe. With most of the light coming from the same general area, the effect should be quite natural-looking. Plus the lights will be up and out of the way, as well as easy on the eyes.

 

the pot lights would stay, i would have to replace the dimmer if i went with LED's, not a real issue, i have already moved the box to another wall. i actually have a 44" three head track light i got from a layout tour in PA several years ago and was planning to do exactly as you described, put it on the bulkhead but... the powers that be weren't into it. i might be able to talk her into it if a say another person had the same idea

the pot lights aren't doing the job, it is very dark on the left lobe - i have only a ceiling light in the family room and it provides a harsh side light that is annoying when standing in the layout area due to the shadow from the wall...



i will put in a small track light bar and with it i can focus the light to exactly where i want it to spotlight the various industries.

 

Try this link http://nlandsc.blogspot.com/2011/06/let-there-be-light.html

 

begun the process of installing a track lighting bar along the bulk where David's drawing suggested - great minds think alike i just needed to convince my wife it would be done to code. need to finish the install this week so i can see what the heck i'm doing