Update: Very old story; all the links now broken. If you are looking for this lighting, you’ll need to google the companies mentioned.
The recessed lights throughout my 1951 colonial-traditional ranch are all in square housings. I also have two recessed lights on the stairs to the basement that are longer rectangles. From my trips to estate sales, I think that square lighting was much more common than round cans in the postwar era, although round was used.
I have searched high and low for replicas of the squares, and the best that I have found so far are the Halo lights in the drawing above. There are several other makers that have similar designs – but this company seems to have the most choices when it comes to lenses, including the cool “Glass Drop Opal Splay,” which is directionally similar to the lenses in the lights in each of my three bathrooms. I also am showing photos of the Nora lights, with both “albanite” (appears to be what we’d call “frosted”) and “fresnel” (or “pressed glass”) lenses. These are also directionally similar to historic lights, which at minimum were frosted, and often included frosted patterns, or a decorative pressed glass shade kind of ‘dropped down’ from within the housing. In terms of overall dimensions, the 8″ square is right on with the Nora – same as mine.
I do have one key issue relative to authenticity: The visible housing for these are all metal (I presume) painted white. As far as I’ve been able to determine – from extensive, obsessive online searching — nobody has them in chrome, which is absolutely positively preferable. If any readers know otherwise, please share!
In case you want more options: Thomas Lighting also offers an 8″ square with what appears to be a frosted shade. And, Progress Lighting has two choices, in 9.5″ and 11.5″ squares (see very last page of their Recessed housings page). I would check with a lighting authority – but I presume you could buy and cut patterned glass to fit, just be sure of fire safety.
These lights are great in hallways, small bathrooms, mudrooms — anywhere, really, with a low ceiling and compact volume. And, they are absolutely classic above a kitchen sink, tucked into the bottom of the soffit. Watch on your travels into midcentury homes – there are some great ones!
I do caution, however, about using them in a larger space in multiples. There is something about a square that stops your eye, compared to a circle. In my kitchen, for example, round cans were a much better choice – actually providing a nice counterpoint to the square room, square cabinets, square floor tiles…and repeating the round exhaust fan, table, and retractable light.
The “right” choice – comes from “eyeballing” the situation. But a starting rule: Small room, one light, go square. Larger room, multiple lights, go round.
Phil Ross says
Pam, and other participants in this thread–
I have done some research since my reply above, partly because I’m trained as a historic preservation specialist who, though I’m not working in my field right now, works with lighting designers and engineers, but mostly because I’ve run into these fixtures quite a bit in the past, and my new house has recessed square lighting that needs some repair and updating. Here’s what I learned:
The first thing to understand is that not all recessed luminaires are equal, not by a long shot. Secondly, many of these old fixtures were designed to spread a cone of light quite widely, and have the photometric data available to prove it. Just because you have a recessed fixture, that doesn’t mean that it can’t be both bright and evenly-illuminating. It’s a combination of superior reflectors and optics that will allow this. Don’t judge a recessed light by the reflector alone if it’s missing the lens, or the lens has been replaced by a piece of cut frosted glass.
I went ahead and registered at the Kirlin site I mentioned above, and found that there are indeed several of the old-style Kirlin square recessed luminaires still available, though not directly–you get them through your local lighting supply retailer. If you register at their site, you will be contacted by that retailer and can view both catalogs and cut sheets for the range of their luminaires.
But here’s the really good news: several of Kirlin’s square recessed fixtures, including the 8-inch and 11-inch versions, are indeed available with the classic art-deco “K-lens,” and the photometry published in their cut sheets show a nice, broad cone of light projected by this lens. If you need to replace a square recessed fixture, you really can’t do any better than this–not only from a historically-correct point of view, but also because these lights have very effective optics, which sadly is something that we’ve lost in the current flood of cheap Asian fixtures. They are not cheap. But there really is no comparison, in terms of function, to ostensibly similar lighting you might find online or at your local big box. As for authenticity, well, you can’t improve on the original!
As a bonus, some of these luminaires are available with modern-standard insulation and gaskets, thus minimizing energy loss.
shannon kenneth curry says
I also have one of these fixtures in my dining area. I’m wondering how much would it cost to replace one lens? I measured mine,s it measures 12″ square.
Mikki B says
My ranch home was built in the 70s, but has these 8″ light fixtures also. IMHO they are distracting, energy inefficient and every once in a while let in spiders from the attic. Is there an aesthetic alternative that is energy efficient and keeps out pests without costing an arm and leg in dry walling costs. Please help!
pam kueber says
Not my area of expertise, but when we had a home energy audit, I recall that one of the suggestions was to more effectively seal can lighting like this — from the attic side. Again, as I recall, they used special foam insulation or some such around the lights. Consult with a pro — I don’t think there’s any good reason that spiders should be getting in. As far as can lights in general — I think I’ve read than ANY CUTTING into your attic will cause heat loss to the attic. If you want to be as energy efficient as possible – no cutting in whatsoever, not even for an attic hatch! Again: a pro can help…
Diane says
We recently visited President Johnson’s ranch near Austin, TX. The master bedroom was filled with these and it is exactly what Mr G and I have agreed would look good in our 1965 den. But alas we cant find any.
Any updated links or direction for us to research????
Diane says
Sorry I failed to say which one specifically. The fresnel lens is what we want.
Shelly says
We have a house built around 1950. It has several recessed lighting fixtures. All are square some are 8 inches others are 11. They all have a K in the middle. One of the 11 inch glass covers has cracked. We love the lighting and want to replace the cracked glass. Any ideas on where we might find a replacement cover?
pam kueber says
Shelly, I would think the first place to look is all the places I have listed in this post. They may have replacement glass. Use the search bar and put in the word “diffuser” and I also have post on a place with diffuser shades — that’s what they are called, I believe. Good luck.
Phil Ross says
Shelly, those are Kirlin lights. My understanding is that they pioneered this style in the 1930s. The company is (still) in Detroit and now specializes in medical lighting, so they no longer make these.
Good news, however! when we were renovating my girlfriend’s grandmother’s house in Grosse Pointe, we had to replace several cracked 8-inch lenses and were able to actually source these directly from the company, a mere ten minute drive. This was in 2008.
If you go to http://www.kirlinlighting.com , you can see one of these fixtures on their timeline. The lens is a distinctive square/octagonal fluted design with the central “K.”
You will need to register to see most of the website features, though. Since I haven’t done that, I do not know what you need to do to order replacement parts online, or even if you can do that. I simply called, picked up and paid cash in person.
a_gunslinger says
We have the 19760s square recessed light in soffit above kitchen sink. Want to replace with round contemporary one. I do not want to cut the drywall and replace section just to get the round hole. I realize I will probably need to do this (smile) but just want to make sure on a long shot Im not missing some special fancy square to round conversion lit.
pam kueber says
I have never researched this, a…. Perhaps a good lighting store could help you…
Seth says
Hey folks,
consider using compact fluorescents in those retro housings. I changed all of mine and you can’t even tell. The big problem i find is with the disintegrating foam spacers and light seeping out the sides if the ceiling isn’t plum. Any suggestions?
pam kueber says
Hi Seth, I don’t know about this one… I’d consult with a professional lighting shop…
Susan, aka Kitty Mommy says
Hi Pam,
I realize as I’m replacing lights in my bedrooms that are NOT original to my house that I have square recessed housings that are the same size as the ones you describe having in your post from way back in July of ’08! I am now looking for trims and/or glass inserts for them. I don’t suppose you still have them? I bought some complete kits on eBay a while back, but the electrician I’m working with says they won’t fit and I need to find ones that are compatible with the housing already installed in the ceilings…
Josie says
Hi! We moved into a home about a year ago and the lighting in all the bedrooms is this square recessed lighting. I really don’t like it because it does not give off much light, like it was said above.
My question is can I replace them with a modern light, like one you can find at your local hardware store?
Pam Kueber says
Josie, as this site focuses on new-retro-style-product recommendations and design/aesthetics rather than DIY or fix-it advice, I always recommend consultation with qualified experts for questions like these. Hope it goes well!
Nicole says
I have 2 square recessed can lights that have no trims. There is another that has the trim and it measures 10 2/8 in sq. The holes in the ceiling measure 9 3/8. I’ve seen some 9 3/8 trims on the internet. I have no idea if they will fit though (confused by measurements. is it the hole size in ceiling or the exterior of the trim?). I like the square recessed lights and don’t want to change them. How do I figure out what trim size will fit? Do they still make them in my size? (If I measured right). Any help is GREATLY appreciated.
kint says
Ok, I figured it out.. the old housing is 9 3/4.. oops.