Finally fixed our gloomy kitchen, sharing what actually worked

[actonpendarves]

We finished our kitchen lighting update last month and I wanted to share because I was nervous about getting it wrong. The old setup had two harsh downlights that made the worktop shadowy and the room felt cold no matter what bulbs we tried. I found https://kitchenbathpaloalto.com/energy-efficient-lighting-options-for-modern-homes/ while searching for something else and it pushed me to try warmer bulbs plus a separate task light over the sink. The difference is honestly bigger than I expected and the kitchen feels calmer in the evening. The one thing I'd do differently is put the dimmer switch somewhere easier to reach because ours is behind the kettle. Has anyone else had that issue and found a simple fix without rewiring?