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Ive never really liked them. They kind of yell mid-90s suburb community house.

I guess it depends on the style and how theyre used.

The ones in the picture are dated, but they make newer ones with all types of finishes. I have a couple in brushed steel just for artwork and frames on the wall. I prefer them to recessed lighting.

Tacky! So so so so so terribly tacky! They have "modern" ones, buts its still a big light fixture sticking out of your ceiling that is no attractive (like a pendant lamp or something). Don't do it!

I agree with Randy Modern. If they are small, and have a modern finish like a brushed nickel, I think they are fine. I'm actually not a big fan of recessed lighting in older homes. I think recessed lighting looks nice in modern environments, but it looks industrial to me if that's the only lighting.

If you like them, thats all that matters! I don't think that track lighting is "tacky". I've always had a fondness for them myself. If you want them and they make you happy, then that's what's important.

So, this is my question... (thank you for posting it!). They have always seemed pretty innocuous to me and we were going to put them into our addition in our adobe home with wood beamed ceilings, but I keep hearing these gasps of horror from contractors. Our ceilings are at about 14 feet, so I thought a few small strips of tracks wold be no big deal at all. My parents have them in their elegant adobe and you really don't notice them at all. The other option is can lights. The problem with those is that you are cutting a giant hole in the wood ceiling and once that is done, there ain't no going back.

Yeah - pretty dated.

I'm with suzy... it's about what you want. My mom's an art teacher so they've always had a good vibe for me... and I do draw a bit and might actually use them for manipulating the lighting. I'd vote for them above cutting the giant hole. If you have an idea of what they look like from your folks, and you like it, go for it. It is your house, not the contractors'. They're there to do your work, not police your style.

Take a look at some of the zillion options you have for track lighting today. It's downright ridiculous.

I'd say track lighting works the best if you want to have absolute control over the lighting in your room. The amount of easy and instant options to focus, soften, and aim the light are impressive. If you have a lot of artwork in any given room, then it's the perfect way to illuminate everything important without getting a hospital white bright glare.

Heck, maybe builders don't like them because you don't have to call them back if you think a corner of the room needs more lighting installed.... ;)

I think they look better then what is currently in my basement.

It really depends on how they're used.

My parents had them over a bookcase, and they looked just fine - but it went with the decor. They look just fine in a bathroom, too.

However, they might not look good with a more modern decor.

How are you using them? If you're using them over a bookcase or over a piece of artwork, I suggest these:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90105333

Good Luck!

Ones like those pictured are pretty dated, but the more modern ones with halogen bulbs look a lot better. There are both traditional track from brands like Juno which have smaller heads than those old incandescent ones, and MonoRail systems with the heads suspended from thin rails.

The style can be dated but the general idea and uses for track lighting are not. There are certain places to use them and if you are really curious and want to do some research buy an interior design lighting book (there's one that is called Lighting Design Basics and another called Interior Lighting). You can also find a lighting designer in your area to determine which light is correct. It really does matter and track lighting can either pull the room together or completely destroy it.

They're not tacky at all. Are you guys serious? Tacky is a framed poster of dogs playing poker. Not the lights above.

Albeit it might look better to have some high hats recessed into the ceiling but 1) costs more and 2) not practical (or possible) in some situations. (ex. I have solid concrete ceilings).

It's funny how some things are "dated" yet most readers of this site will do anything for mid-century design. Maybe in a few years (or decades) track lighting will be hip.

Until there's a better solution to lighting up large areas and key locations within a room without resorting to table and floor lamps, I'll still keep on loving track lighting.

I hate table lamps, which can quickly lead to clutter and use up prime table/desk space, an floor lamps tend to be either for reading, or lean towards torchieres which often just light the ceiling.

If you're into a minimal style these just don't cut it.

Honestly, my theory on the matter is lighting should, like anything else, work without being noticed or thought of. A room should be well enough lit that I don't have to reach (or even think of reaching) for a lamp to make my workspace more visible. Table/ floor lamps have this "presence" in a room that counter this philosophy.

Ceiling fixture lights are often in the center of a room, leading to dark corners, and recessed cans often have a small focus area, leading to a singular bright spot and darker areas outside of that focus.

Track lighting I prefer because it is both ambient and allows for you to control both the amount of light in a room as well as the area which is lit. The only thought I have to put into lighting when I walk into a room (after initial setup) is to flip the switch as I enter

I think recessed cans are every bit as 'dated' as tracks-- they just represent different periods. Tracks offer much more flexibility and from my experience, the bulbs burn out with less frequency than those used for cans.

Tiny modern track lights are fine - in the right spots. I don't like having tracks marching down a ceiling - but hidden next to a structural ceiling beam, why not?

I have 11' ceilings that I can't cut into and use floor lamps http://www.ylighting.com/olr-rot-drink-f.html - I put them ON TOP of the wall to wall bookcases under my windows, which makes them just the right height. Sure, my loft isn't "modern" but the lighting is very minimal and "clean." http://tribecatribal.typepad.com/photos/house/3living.html

They're not mid-90's, they're 60's-70's, and so period appropriate for a lot of the stuff folks here gush over. P-leaze. Like most things it depends on specifics, and I don't mean the lights: where do you want to put them and why? what is it you need to accomplish, and what are the other options for your cirumstances and budget? (And don't just think other lighting options. You may be able to accomplish what you want by adding another shade of paint to the room.)

Who is your builder? If he's average Joe, he slaps vinyl on everything, so who is he to judge? If he has years of experience, does that mean he was one of those nitwits responsible for popcorn ceiling (worse, with- gasp- glitter) in the 80's?

Do what you want, it's your money, your home.

Everything has its place!

Track lights make great sense in my loft. But I had ones that looked like the ones above and they stuck out like a sore thumb.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/art_chel/495423312/

Then, after a LOT of legwork I finally found a system (monorail) that I settled on.

I worked with Karine at Lamps Plus and she had me pick out components from WAC lighting which is a very well put together low-voltage system that is used by many commercial designers.

Now, it's like night and day!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/art_chel/2695900405/

Those are great, Art.

I have very subtle, small white spots throughout the house. I hope they don't look dated!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3101/2702438028_2bef50dcf9_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3286/2702438062_e381a62113_o.jpg

The ones in the picture are tacky, but there are plenty of cool track/wire light system options out there. Lamps Plus is a good, affordable place to start. IKEA also has some interesting choices.

I'm with Art on this one. Not sure what planet mmh30 lives in but we have concrete ceilings that are impossible to drill into. Even if I could drill into them, I wouldn't put in recessed/can lights. I love our track lights, they go with the industrial vibe of our loft.

I think they look dated but I've noticed that designers are still using them on HGTV, etc.

The ones you are showing are dated looking to me---I have them and hate them to no end.

at work i see a lot of recessed lighting in the newer upscale homes. im a big fan, but im not too sure how i feel about having lots of extra bulbs to light up one room. i guess im an even bigger fan of natural lighting.. oh, well.

Recessed lighting is going to look dated in a few years, mark my words. And all those damned can holes are gonna be a pain in the butt to repair once you're sick of them.

Seriously, Jenny: it's your house, not the builders'. Tell them to stuff it and install the lighting YOU want in YOUR house.

I agree - recessed lighting is gonna look just as dated in a few years, especially in circumstances where it's been deployed just because it's trendy, where a track light would have been the superior option.

A huge advantage to track lights - you can aim them ANYWHERE. That's important if you think the room might change over time - artwork or furniture moves, for example, or the removal of a wall. Recessed lights aren't nearly as flexible.

Cable lights are my favorite lighting solution - easier to install than track and more flexible in some ways. I've installed in many apartments and have several stings in my current condo. They're the easiest and most afordable way to get directional lighting throughout a room, in my opinion.

Would definitely reccomend them to the earlier poster with the wood ceiling.

What's a cable light?

google "cable light".

Anyway, I don't really have an opinion one way or another about the track lighting. I don't know them as a "fad." I think they're useful and come in many designs for anyone's use. They are like ceiling fans. You might hate them, but they are still being installed because people like to have them, and designers are meeting the call by making more of them that aren't as ugly as they all used to be. I thought I hated ceiling fans, and my mother definitely did, but she had one installed in her addition, it's at exactly the right height, and it's perfect for the space.

I think the same thing about track lighting, I guess. It seems dated because they came into use at a certain point and it seemed like the natural solution and were designed at that time. Perhaps it took a long time for the designs to get updated, but there's obviously still a need. I mean, what do the "nots" suggest that performs similarly?

To me, it's just another kind of light you might use, and it depends on your space and what you need lit. They could be tacky and dated, but yeah, I think the canisters would be more regrettable. Saying you shouldn't have track lighting is like saying sconces are no longer in fashion, floor lamps are cliché, table lamps are just. no., overhead lights are for dorks, chandeliers are old-fashioned, and pendant lights - depends on whether it's authentic mid-century modern spaghetti shade kews or IKEA, or some shit you made out of damn plastic hangers or eyeglasses.

Clearly, this site prefers the pendant lamp made out of crap or come from IKEA like everyone else, so I say, DWTFYW. I'm not spelling it out, hon.

WHAT is everyone talking about?? Track lights are fab for a loft, or if you like a sparse, kind of industrial space, say. Geez. You peeps have got it all wrong. Wrongk!

And I sure wouldn't listen to what builders say about what's cool or not...

i have no problem with track lighting. However, in your situation I would look at 2wire tracks. that way you don't have to touch the beems.

Having just moved out of a large live/work space with track lighting, I don't really care for it.

I don't like the word 'tacky'

How better to light stunning artwork? Open to suggestions.

I working for a lighting company that makes a lot of track lighting. While track lighting is not on my favorite list of types of light - I did put them in my kitchen because it was my only option for a lot of light without having an electrician come out.

I have track heads and pendants - they definitely look 100x than the mini fixed track that is shown in the picture.

I put tacky because I rarely see them being used properly. Your lighting should be designed for how you live. If you have art then track lighting to show it off is a good idea. If you need that extra light over your island/peninsula in your kitchen that's a good way to do it.

Just make sure it is always practical. Don't just throw a track on the ceiling and expect it to look great...it's not meant to be a general use overhead light!