Installing lights in bedrooms/living room

https://www.wmagazine.com/story/tom-ford-overhead-lighting

Wow apologizes for the grammatical errors in my first statement...wrote this somewhat late, but yes if I was Tom Ford I would just pay people to hold lanterns in my condo and follow me around (jokes aside!) A serious question, if I need to file a permit to install light fixtures with no power in the ceilings.

Do i need to file a permit to install light fixtures with no power in the celing* (oh man)

Is there room in your ceilings to run wiring or are they concrete slab? If later, you either have to run a soffit or drop the ceilings 3 inches. Some people run soffit around the perimeter of the room and use recessed lighting.

A simpler and much cheaper solution is to use 2 powerful (2500 lumens or higher) wall mounted UP light only sconces installed at 6.5 feet or higher but at least 1.5 feet below the ceiling.

Permits will depend on your building requirements. Most people would not get it.

Later = Latter

If all you intend to do is run raceways across the ceiling to a surface mounted box, then sure perhaps in most buildings you could get away with that without any permit. If you are going to drop the ceiling to install recessed lights, there are few buildings in which you could do that without a building and electric permit. With modern LED lights, you need only drop the ceiling by a few inches to accomplish this. Pricing is impossible to say, depends greatly on where you are, and will be all over the map. If all you want to do is put three surface mounted boxes on the ceiling and surface mounted raceways across the ceiling, I would assume $4-500 per room. On the other end of the spectrum, if you are going to drop the ceiling in three rooms and install, 20-25 recessed LED lights, three switches, three transformers, there is a few thousand in materials, and thousands more in labor.

I second 300_mercer's suggestion of uplighting.

One of my favorites: https://www.ylighting.com/surf-micro-led-wall-sconce-by-artemide-ATDP242779.html

Two of those in each room would provide more than enough light, without the hassle of dropping the ceiling.

Is a permit required? Ask your managing agent. Either way, have the work done by a licensed electrician.

These one are little big. I like Belfer Sconces which are smaller, very discreet and powerful. You can get them in high lumens LED as well.

This one with line voltage. There is a lead time of 8 weeks.
http://belfer.com/products/sconces/ws-7215-led-120v/

Lamps don't have to be controlled standalone. You can use a Lutron system to control all (or groups) of lamps using wireless wall switches. Then Tom Ford can come to your parties.

Wow very cool,

Thank you for all your help! I will see what my building manager says and report back :)

Photos of your apartment/ceiling would help.

Generally an electrician would be able to handle any permitting requirements. I wouldnt trust this to "building super" etc.

We added wall sconces and overhead chandelier in a room (prewar) where no previous wiring existed for those things. It was completely handled by the electrician during our general reno and the only thing that caused some complication was channeling for the overhead without harming the room's existing decorative 'wedding cake' molding. Your contractor/architect should be able to figure out any necessary permits. For an electrician it's a pretty straightforward job.

You could drop the ceiling 2-21/2 " and install recessed lights. Not the cheapest option but the best

Still waiting to hear back from management on this, but we can't post photos on SE, but it is for the property

https://streeteasy.com/sale/1296127

I cant really judge from those photos, but do you actually have 2-3 inches above your windows/ac etc to even put a false ceiling in?

(or are you planning on a reverse box style for window shades etc)?

And yes you cant upload photos to the forum but you can post links to google photos etc.

Belfer Wall sconces will be minimally invasive as you have very nicely finished space.

I had a licensed electrician come and spec out everything for me. He said he would do all the work for $600 bucks as long as i can provide the light fixtures themselves, so I would assume we are good to go to install the lights, including re-patching my walls. Regarding 'false ceilings' are you referring to recess lights? My electrician came and tapped on the top of my ceilings to say there seemed to be enough space to drill in 2-3 inches to install the lights. I would also not be opposed to reverse box lighting ('traditional' room lights - https://www.wayfair.com/lighting/pdp/zipcode-design-ellar-3-light-flush-mount-w000875056.html)

Also the Belfer Wall's are looking more and more appealing. I am just going to have to think about what I personally want.... Recess lights,"Traditional" lights or the Belfer Wall's.

If you have room in the ceiling, one center light (gives you an ability to decorate and have powerful light for cleaning etc) and some recessed lights which can be tilted around perimeter to light up art work and as wall washers. If the room were to be very large (more than 400 sq ft) I would add 2 Belfers as well.

http://imgur.com/gallery/YsTZwv2

Photos... Apologizes just moved in offically yesterday so the place is a bit messy

Congratulations on your new place!

We did it last year.
Contractor used a router, cut concrete ceiling, placed BX cable and electric boxes, plastered, sanded, painted ceilings, installed light fixtures.
No permit, no licensed electrician.

Thank you!

Around how much if you could drop the ceiling 2-21/2 " and install recessed lights in each side of the living room up to 6 to 8 recessed lights?

Hi BKhomebuyer, may I know what is the name or phone number of your licensed electrician? because I want to get an estimate on my apartment as well. Thanks!

Hang tight, blue toothed electricity is just around the corner :)

Bluetooth electricity?? I don't mind turning on a switch :)

@Studio4Sale could you forward me your contractor?

@Studio4Sale could you also forward me your contractor as well? thanks!

I wrote a detailed scope of work and put it up for a bid.
Contractor should be insured.
No shortage of contractors at angieslist.