The Nostalgia of the Stove Light:
Designing for Emotional Comfort
“Get ready for bed” I remember my parents saying after turning on the light over the old Keefe & Merritt vintage stove. It was after dinner. The dishes had been put away and the kitchen was cleaned. The container of my favorite after-dinner hot drink, Ovaltine was put back in its spot over the stove, nestled in between the boxes of teas- all lined up on top of the stove clock.
This memory captures a snapshot in time, bringing back my childhood experiences when my parents’ O’Keefe and Merrit stove light was the only low-wattage tungsten light that illuminated the kitchen at night after dinner.
Recently, I stayed with my mother who had the same stove and stove light turned off after dinner. The same ritual which was continued many years later conjured up the same feelings from when I was a little girl. Was I the only one who felt this way from this unexpected detail of an old stove light? After some research, I discovered many others share this nostalgia for stove lights. These lights often evoke warmth, security, and comfort reinforcing the notion that small details in our lives are truly the most important things that create a sense of home.
Because I paid attention to this lighting detail and feeling, I connected the dots. Reflecting on these unexpected details can significantly impact our mental well-being. Warm, tungsten lighting used as mood lighting in the kitchen can conjure up warm nostalgic memories and impact our mental well-being and thoughts.
Below: My mom’s Old Keefe & Merrit Stove. She still keeps her spices, teas and timers on the stove.
Today, similar feelings can be experienced with under-cabinet kitchen lighting. Such lighting can signal the transition from evening to night, triggering a winding-down feeling and creating meaningful moments. This exemplifies how good interior design can transform your space and improve to overall well-being.
This memory captures a snapshot in time, evoking the experiences of my childhood when the stove light illuminated the kitchen at night. The low-wattage tungsten bulb under the overhead vent created a feeling I called home.
Recently, while staying with my mother, I was reminded of the same stove from my childhood. I found myself reflecting on whether I was the only one who felt this way. After some research, I discovered that many others share this nostalgia for stove lights. These lights often evoke warmth, security, and comfort.
Subconscious Triggers
To evoke a subtle, nostalgic atmosphere, stove lights or under-cabinet lights can promote warm emotions, whether consciously or subconsciously. This approach to interior design for emotional comfort taps into the psychology of why familiar things are comfortable.
Triggers:
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Warmth and Nurturing: The glow of warm lighting after dinner extends the feeling of being cared for, contributing to relaxing feelings at home.
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Transition to Relaxation: Stove lights and under-cabinet lights can mark the shift from daytime activities to evening wind-down, fostering a sense of calm and peace. This transition is crucial for mental health and well-being.
Type of Light Source
Capturing the essence of the old stove light in modern kitchens involves creating a warm, localized glow that acts as a gentle beacon in the night. The light should be soft enough to encourage relaxation yet bright enough to provide a sense of security. Using a warm Kelvin light source (2700-3000 Kelvin) with a dimmer is essential for achieving this effect.
I like very low profile, slimline under cabinet LED lights with a minimum of 90 CRI (color rendering index) for a truer color . Also, the higher the CRI, the better color rendering for food. An example of undercabinet lighting to use is Visual Comfort / Tech Lighting Unilume LED Slimline
By thoughtfully implementing under-cabinet lighting, we can honor the emotional feeling of the past while embracing the technological advantages of the present, creating spaces that nurture both body and soul as we transition from day to night.
Here’s a great video of the making and details of vintage Keefe and Merrit Stoves by Another Vintage D