How much light in a kitchen?

[aftereight]

Need a new pendant light for the kitchen. Will 1x 100Watt (or equivalent) be enough to adequately light a 12 ft square room in the evening? Spotlights sunk into the ceiling aren't an option.

If it won't be enough I'll have to look for a fitting with multiple bulbs,which I didn't really want..

The thing about pendants in a kitchen is they cast out the light in such a way that if you are standing at a counter coking, you are most likely blocking the light from the pendant. I suppose it depends on how high the pendant is and if you can have under couter lights to light up your work areas. In a normal room, I'd think it would be fine, but not sure in a kitchen.

Could you get someone to hold a lamp with a single bulb in position so you can see if you think it works?

I don't think it will be enough, you need "task" lighting which will light different areas. If you can't recess spotlights into the ceiling could you get ones set on tracks that you can swivel to light the different parts of the kitchen?

Is that the only light you will have?

If so I have to say I would go for a multiple light option, ideally with directable lights. You really do need decent light for chopping and washing up.

Alternatively, if you don't like multiple bulb type fittings, could you look into installing under-cabinet lighting so that the worktops are lit? It's not that pricey IIRC. If you had that then a single ceiling light would be ok.

You could go for a round fluorescent tube in a flush fitting, they light up the room so brightly it won't matter about directions. We had one in a previous house, it was about 300W equivalent, really bright. Sort of like these and they take this sort of bulb. And they are fairly low energy.

Thanks, good point about food prep and having my back to the light, hadn't thought of that.

I'll probably have under cupboard lighting, but am now thinking may need additional/alternative ceiling lighting - thanks for all the suggestions (and answering my v dull question in the first place!)