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[Roger2561]

Hi all - My home is a 1930'sish post and beam style home.  In the living room and dining room the ceiling beams are exposed.  There's approx. 4 inches of foam insulation between the beams leaving about 4 inches of the beam surface exposed.  Presently the only way to have light in the living room is with 2 small tables lamps.  When I am hosting a gathering I like to have more light in the living room but I'm unable to do so due to only having 2 small tables lamps.  Anyone know how I can attach lights to the ceiling/beams without it looking too gaudy and out of place?  I'd like to have any surface mounted raceway blend in with the color of the beams.  Your suggestions are most welcome.  Thanks.  Roger 

[hondaracer2oo4]

Got a picture of the beam in question?

[juddspaintballs]

Wall mounted sconces?

[hoardac]

You can make wood covers for your beams with a similar wood then hide your wire behind that, they make slim electrical box to minimize the depth you need. Or you could use some 12 volt led and just use a bottom board on the beam with slim lights mounted into that board they make all kinds of shapes and sizes.

[artbaldoni]

LED Remote Driver 12v lighting. Easy to blend in small gauge wire runs at your beams.

[mlappin]

I have a friend that’s done a lot of remodeling on older homes. He has taken a router, routed a groove in the beam then cut a slim piece of wood to glue in over the top of the romex, its noticeable of course but not near as much as trying to hide wire. He’s also trimmed over the beams and cut a groove in the back of the trim for the wire.

[Roger2561]

I hope the pic comes through to give you an idea what my ceiling looks like.  Keep in mind those beams are as old as the house and hard as granite.   

[slimjim]

Do you have access to the beams from above and drill down through them?

[Roger2561]

Do you have access to the beams from above and drill down through them?

Slimjim - Unfortunately I do not.  There's an apartment up there and I doubt if my tenant would like it if drilled through their floor.    But, man, that would be so easy to do if I did have access.

[hondaracer2oo4]

What are those trim pieces on each side of the beams? Ontop of the ceiling drywall.

[Roger2561]

What are those trim pieces on each side of the beams? Ontop of the ceiling drywall.

Handaracer2004 - Those piece are only for show and to cover the seams that are present between the drywall and beams.  I got lazy and didn't want to take the time fill the seam with compound. 

[RSI]

What about running LED tape on the sides of the beams? You could put a small molding under it if you don't want to see the leds.
Here is what I am talking about. https://www.ledsupply.com/12v-flexible-led-strips
There is similar products on ebay for a lot cheaper but I am not sure how good those are.

[hondaracer2oo4]

Can you peel that off, run some bx cable in that pocket, drill a 3/4 hole in the beam up above the height of where that molding covers and the. A corresponding 3/4 hole vertical up into the beam to bring the power down to a light fixture?

[Roger2561]

RSI - That's similar to what artbaldoni suggested and it appears to be the simplest solution to the problem.  Only, instead of attaching it to the side of the beams (I'm trying to keep them as authentic as possible) I think I'll stick them to the trim pieces that run parallel to the beams. 

Marty - I had thought of using a router but I didn't want to do anything to deface the surface of the beams.

Hondaracer2004 - I've been trying to steer away from using BX or Romex due to the difficulty of trying to drill the holes through the beams without destroying the dry wall.  I may have to but I hope I don't.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.  I'll give this project a bit more thought and see what I can come up with.

Roger   

[artbaldoni]

There are all sorts of rustic style, low voltage lights available. Use your Google-Fu. Flush mount and pendant style. I think it would be easy to disguise some 18 ga. wire to run along your beams and even make a drop down the face without being very noticeable.
https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHBD_enUS730US760&biw=1242&bih=603&tbm=isch&sxsrf=ACYBGNTjfOfhrO0Sf3-_r2--hwZIwJNz5w%3A1579006150681&sa=1&ei=xrgdXqCdKYiztQasq4q4BA&q=rustic+low+voltage+led+fixtures&oq=rustic+low+voltage+led+fixtures&gs_l=img.3...118199.121123..122026...0.0..0.112.959.2j7......0....1..gws-wiz-img.......35i39.yPIdF60A64Q&ved=0ahUKEwigmNalkIPnAhWIWc0KHayVAkcQ4dUDCAc&uact=5