I would have lived with the problems, except while I was at my daughter Michelle's home in Ohio she had recessed lighting installed in her living room and family room (including new wiring and switches). What a difference it made. And the all-in-one light and trim element looks great. A BIG Thank You to Mike Turnbull for installing the lights. Mike is my friend, Jan Turnbull's husband and he is an extraordinary electrician. Mike made the project look easy. He used Commercial Electric Recessed LED Trim lights from Home Depot.
When I got home to Florida, I started thinking about correcting my lighting problem. Mike had assured me it would be an easy project...even I could do it. So I decided to go for it. I headed off to Home Depot for supplies. I got lost in the lighting department. So many bulbs, so many shapes, so many decisions. The incandescent bulb was king for 100 years, but now there are CFL, LED, Halogen, flourescent, HID...then dimmable...and I don't even want to go into wireless.
Guess what! Mike was right. The whole project took less than 1 hour to switch out 9 lights.
STEP ONE. Unpackage the two parts: socket adapter and retrofit trim.
STEP TWO. Unscrew the light bulb and take off the housing.
STEP THREE. Screw the socket adapter into the ceiling socket and plug the adapter into the retrofit trim.
STEP FOUR. Squeeze the spring arms together and insert into the slots in the can.
STEP FIVE. Push the retrofit trim into the can. And you are DONE! On to the next one.
Just a few easy steps and it took less than 3 minutes per bulb. The hardest part was the spring arm. And that would have been easier if I had read the instructions (not my style). The final results are great. It is a nice seamless look and the lights over the eating area are now dimmable!
As fun as this project was, I am not sure I want to undertake the 15' ceilings in the main area.
