A Remodeler’s Guide to Canless Lighting in a Mid-Century Modern (MCM) Home

As we started renovating our mid-century modern home from the ground up, lighting quickly became a top priority. After years in a Chicago condo without overhead lighting, our move to Northern Michigan made the value of well-planned recessed lighting an exciting design opportunity to dive into. While I’ll always love a good lamp, thoughtful overhead lighting brings balance, clarity, and an instant sense of warmth — particularly on gray, low-light days.

---

Start with Intent (Always)

Every room in a home has a different job, and lighting should support that — not fight it.

• The kitchen needed bright, functional lighting because it’s a true work space

• Living areas and bedrooms needed something warmer and more relaxed

• Bathrooms needed clarity without feeling harsh

• And certain spots — sinks, beds, artwork, and our brick fireplace — needed intentional accent lighting

Starting with intent helped avoid over-lighting (or worse, under-lighting) and made every decision feel purposeful instead of random.

---

Recessed Lighting Layout: Where Function Meets Design

Once I knew what I wanted the lighting to do, I moved on to layout. I looked at ceiling height and room size, then used standard spacing guidelines to determine how many recessed lights were needed for general illumination.

From there, I layered in accent lighting where it made sense.

To keep everything clean and visually calm, I used a laser measure to make sure lights were perfectly aligned — especially in areas where they run in straight lines or frame architectural features. Every location was double-checked with a stud finder so there were no surprises hiding above the drywall.

It’s a little extra effort up front, but it makes a huge difference once the lights are on.

---

Why I Chose Elco Lighting (and the Koto Canless System)

Because this was a full remodel, flexibility was key. Elco Lighting stood out immediately because they offer solutions for both new construction and remodels — including traditional housings and canless recessed lighting.

Given our ceiling conditions, I chose Elco’s Koto canless LED system, which is designed specifically for remodel applications. It delivers strong light output, excellent color quality, and a clean, modern look — without requiring bulky housings in the ceiling.

From a design perspective, it also felt minimal and timeless, which is exactly what I wanted for our MCM home.

---

What Actually Makes Lighting “Good”

Modern lighting isn’t just about brightness. There are three key things that really matter:

• Lumens — how bright the light is

• Color temperature — how warm or cool it feels

• CRI (Color Rendering Index) — how accurately colors appear

CRI turned out to be especially important. In a home with natural wood, tile, and warm finishes, low-quality lighting can make everything feel flat or off. I targeted 95+ CRI, which Elco offers across many of their products, so colors stay true, warm, and natural throughout the house.

Once you see the difference, it’s hard to unsee it.

---

Elco’s Modular System (A Remodeler’s Dream)

One of my favorite things about Elco’s system is how modular and straightforward it is. Each light consists of three parts:

1. The power pack — connects to standard residential power

2. The light module

3. The trim — the visible design detail that “frames” the light module

In most residential spaces, there’s very little reason to use 6″ recessed lights anymore. A 4″ trim provides beautiful general lighting, while 2″ lights are perfect for accents and focal points.

For this home, we used:

• 4″ lights for general lighting

• 2″ lights for accent and feature lighting

Everything was finished with round white trims for a clean, cohesive look. One bonus: for flat ceilings, the power pack and light module stay the same — only the trim size changes between 2″ and 4″. That made ordering and installation much simpler, but was not intuitive (at least for me)!

---

Dimmers Are Not Optional

Lighting design doesn’t stop once the fixtures are installed. Nearly all of our Elco lights are dimmable, and choosing the right dimmers is just as important as choosing the lights themselves.

Elco provides a dimmer compatibility list, which helps avoid flickering or jumpy behavior. Using the correct dimmers ensures smooth control from a soft glow to full brightness — especially important in living spaces and bedrooms.

Trust me, this step matters.

---

Installation Overview (Simpler Than You’d Expect)

With planning complete, installation was refreshingly straightforward:

1. Finalize placement using layout marks

2. Drill pilot holes after confirming no obstructions

3. Cut ceiling holes with the appropriate hole saw

4. ! Run wiring from the attic with power turned off at the breaker ! This step is crucial, if you do not turn off the power prior to installation, you can easily ruin both the light module and your dimmer. I learned this the hard way so you wouldn’t have to!

Elco’s power packs make wiring simple with clearly labeled, color-coded connections. I also recommend adding a cable clamp for strain relief, even though it’s not included.

Once wired, the light module twists into place, snaps into the trim with spring clips, and pushes cleanly into the ceiling. Clean, secure, and done.

---

Final Thoughts

Choosing Elco allowed us to design lighting around how we actually live — not around construction limitations. The flexibility, color quality, and clean installation made it one of the most satisfying decisions in this renovation.

If you’re remodeling and want modern recessed lighting that feels intentional, polished, and livable, Elco’s canless Koto system is absolutely worth considering.

---

My Lighting Shopping List

Here’s the lighting setup we used throughout our remodel. (I’ll update this section with direct links so readers easily source the same products if they’re planning a renovation or lighting glow-up!)

(Links coming soon)

• Elco Koto Canless LED Light Module – 4″
  Used for general lighting in kitchens, living areas, bedrooms, and hallways

• Elco Koto Canless LED Light Module – 2″
  Used for accent lighting, artwork, architectural features, and focal points

• Elco Power Packs (Canless Driver)
  Compatible with standard residential wiring

• Round White Trims (2″ and 4″)
  Clean, minimal finish for a cohesive look throughout the house

• Compatible LED Dimmers
  Selected from Elco’s dimmer compatibility list for smooth, flicker-free control

• Cable Clamps

• Drill Attachment (for cutting the ceiling holes)

If you’re here for the first time, welcome! I’m Jana Bek, an Ann Arbor, Michigan based interior designer with a lifestyle line of home décor, textiles, & lighting. I have a love for bright colors, bold prints, and designing spaces & home décor that help transport you to your dream destination.

I’m so excited to share our refreshed living room reveal with you today! My motivation to update the space was our need for additional seating, especially since COVID has had the family mostly at home this year. In the photos below, you can see how much area between the living room and kitchen went unused.

In updating the room, I wanted to go bold with colors and patterns, and I “shopped our home” for all of the fun art and decor to pull the things together. I also had curtains made to replace the odd roman shade. For more insights behind the planning process, head to last week’s post here.  

Two pieces from two of my go-to art sources (Artfully Walls and Bridgette Thorton), perk up the lead-in wall to the living room. Our cornflower twist lamp “talks” to the  graphic Schumacher wallpaper in such a happy way.

Twist Lamp / Floral Art / Abstract Art

The two key pieces that were integral to transforming the space were the stunning Panthera rug, and elegant Milly sectional. The rug increased the width of the living space by 6’, enabling us to add both a small sofa that borders the kitchen, and the new larger, curved sectional sofa. Now we can comfortably seat seven people, whereas before, even four felt pretty tight. For everyone out there with an open floor plan, from big to small, it’s really the rug that builds the foundation for the space!

Sectional / Rug / Artwork / Lamp / Coffee Table (similar) / Fabric / Olive Pillow / Tibet Pillow

How sensational is this Panthera rug? It’s even more gorgeous in person! I’ve always wanted to incorporate an animal print rug into our home, but they can tend to overwhelm a space. The subtle chocolate on cream pairing is such an elegant take on a panther pattern, and it’s available with a built-in rug pad to boot! 

The Milly sectional is just as comfortable as it is beautiful, and cleaning up the occasional spill is a dream! After ordering five white performance swatches from Frontgate, my husband and I landed on the Sunbrella Linville linen. We love our last sofa (it’s headed to our lower-level media room), but the sectional is almost 2’ wider so it’s much more spacious for family lounging and entertaining.

Artwork / Lamp / Coffee Table (similar) / Side Table / Fabric

Speaking of new, I’m so excited to share our Jana Bek New Moon lamp! I was inspired by earrings I spotted on the host of the Spanish version of “Nailed It” for the shape (isn’t it amazing where you can find inspiration?). It took almost sixth months for us to get it right, and I’m so happy with its sculptural design!

New Moon Lamp / Olive Pillow / Tibet Pillow

More of my favorite art really amps of the space. The graphic Arte Maison circle series, and a little square nugget from Gina Julian, replace the television that we rarely used. Our champion lamp rounds out the vignette and adds necessary illumination in these dark fall evenings.

Art Series / Lamp / Mini Art / Brushstroke Jar

The space feels so happy and vibrant now, and our family is delighted with result. I’m so looking forward to finally hosting some small family holiday celebrations in this happy room!

A special thanks to Marta Perez for her beautiful photography, and University Flower Shop for their stunning floral arrangements! The paint color is Cornforth White by Farrow and Ball.

For additional inspiration, follow me on INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST!

If you’re here for the first time, welcome! I’m Jana Bek, an Ann Arbor, Michigan based interior designer with a lifestyle line of home décor, textiles, & lighting. I have a love for bright colors, bold prints, and designing spaces & home décor that help transport you to your dream destination.

This fall I decided to refresh our living room. I’ve always loved the design, but it lacked seating; especially since COVID has had the family mostly at home this year.

The constraint was our rug. When I first designed the space I was sure that any rug would prevent the adjacent French doors from opening. I also feared that extending the rug in front of the doors would look awkward. After years of living with a smaller rug, I finally realized how much it was impacting the space. In the photos below, you can see how much space between the living area and kitchen was not being utilized. After triple checking the measurements, I was confident that a larger rug would enable us to increase our living space by 6’ in width, plenty of room for additional seating that would border the kitchen. So, the hunt for lower profile rug options commenced!

Annie Selke is one of my favorite sources for beautiful and durable rugs (this will be our third from them), so when I discovered their new Panthera rug, a natural-hued take on a panther print, I crossed my fingers that it would work as the foundation for the room refresh. After ordering a sample, I was thrilled to see that it was just thin enough (even with its built-in rug pad!) to fit under the doors upon opening. Always order a rug sample, or the smallest size available, to review before purchasing the larger size you need. Then, if it doesn’t work out, you aren’t tasked with returning a massive, bulky package.

With the rug solution at hand, I delved into finding a larger sofa that would more comfortably fit three.

Another item on my design “wish-list” has been a curved sofa, I love how they soften up any space. There are many options out there these days, but I always opt for performance fabrics (that’s why our other white sofa has stayed white for 10+ years)! Low and behold, Frontgate recently launched two curved sofa options and they have one of the best selections of performance fabrics in the game! Usually the Milly sofa would have been my pick, but I decided to go with the sectional option, because I knew it would serve for family lounging better. Great design needs to be functional and beautiful.

My design approach is to start with beautiful, neutral hero pieces, then to layer on the color and pattern with exciting art and accents. I’ll be “shopping” our home for the remaining pieces to punch up the space, here’s a round-up of a few items that I know will be making the cut!

Artwork / Lamp / Coffee Table (similar) / Side Table / Fabric / Pillow

The space coming together beautifully, and I can’t wait to share the reveal with you next week!

For interim inspiration, follow me on INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST!

In recent years I’ve fallen in love with creating flower arrangements. Whether it’s to add an extra layer of love for house guests, or simply because I spy the most beautiful peonies at Trader Joes, I find it so relaxing to try my hand at making an artful arrangement. 

I’ve learned a few things over the years, but I know I’m no expert! So when I need the help of professionals, my go-to local source is the University Flower Shop. Their team of talented women craft unique and truly inspired arrangements!

I recently worked with them on the florals for my One Room Challenge. My plans, coupled with their creativity and thoughtful insights, resulted in arrangements I would have never dreamed up! They were the perfect finishing touches for my dining room. 

I learned so much in collaborating with them, and I’m excited to share my tips on how to work with your local florist to ensure you get the right look while staying on budget and on time for your event. 

---

one

First, reach out to your florist a few weeks in advance to ensure they can accommodate your timing, especially in light of COVID. Giving extra time is also important during the busy holiday and event seasons.

two

Email photos of the space along with dimensions of the vessel(s) you’re planning on using, and dimensions of the furniture your arrangement(s) will be placed on.

three

Send any additional information or inspirational imagery you may have. The more specific you are, the more they can understand your vision. For me, this also included a description of the feel I wanted to achieve in my dining room. My descriptors were romantic, ethereal, and with a nod to nature. 

four

Send a budget (or range) if you have one. 

five

If you able to, give your vessel(s) to your florist as soon as you can. After I provided my floral shop with the above details, I dropped off my gorgeous new vert vases so they could work with them as needed.

---

This little bit of prep work led to the best floral experience I’ve ever had!

Here is what I sent them (what a sensational dining room by Suzanne Kasler, right?):

Dani, the owner, and Clare, another expert floral designer, pulled inspiration that was so much more exciting than what I had sourced.

Here’s what they dreamed up:

Their options were exactly in-tune with the aesthetic I was hoping to achieve. After consulting with Clare, it was like a light bulb went off. My initial ideas for the peonies could read as heavy and would take away from the ease of the space, whereas their arrangements had had an effortless lightness that was beautifully airy and romantic. After we settled on the cost, they were off a-running.

Their service blew me away. I was set to pick up the flowers the day before our shoot, and Clare texted me photos of the first arrangement that morning for my feedback. We then had a quick face-time and I suggested some tweaks, we finalized the budget, and they wrapped up the arrangements. Even better, the exchanges actually resulted in me paying a third less than the initial budget I gave them!

The first photo that Clare messaged me was stunning, but we realized (given the face-time check-in), that pared-down arrangements would be a better fit in size, so these were what we moved forward with:

And here is the end result from the shoot, I could not have been happier!

The process may sound tedious, but the extra effort is so worth it! A little planning will help you maximize your budget, get the exact right look for the occasion, and in my experience, it turned what could have been a stressful last detail, into incredible fun!

I hope you find these tips helpful, and stay tuned as we are going to craft a follow-up this post on how to best source flowers from your local grocer, and how to make them last!

Located in Ann Arbor?

If you’re located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, I highly recommend checking out University Flower Shop. Their florists create truly one-of-a-kind arrangements that are tailored to your vision and event.

VISIT THE SHOP