Carpentry and Woodworking - Designing a Wood light fixture

Hi ,
I am designing a lighting system for my home office / study where I want to build a wooden uplight fixture that will be hidden behind the crown molding on top of a bookcase ( indirect lighting for the room).

Because of heat considerations, I am thinking of using about 3 100W-equivalent compact fluorocent 'bulbs' and connect the fixture using a simple plug to a socket behind the bookcase.

Each bulb will be connected through a rocker switch hidden on the bookcase so that I can essentially have a 3 step 'dimmer' ( i.e. start up only as many bulbs as needed)

My questions :

1. Does anyone see any major problems / gotchas / things to watch out for with this setup ?

2. Can you recommend a material to use as a reflector under the fixture ? I was thinking of using the tin sheets used for heating ductwork, covered with a high temperature paint thats used for cooktops.

Thanks for any advice ! I will post pictures when its done :-)

I'd start with undercounter lights, mounted such that they point up

Much easier than what you propose - the low voltage cable to the switches doesn't have to comply with the various codes for 120 volt wiring, no need to cobble up a reflector and no risk of burningthe place down if someone screws a regular incandescent lamp in to one of the fixtures.

Sounds like an ideal application for low voltage halogen "hockey puck" style lights. Three automotive switches should be perfect, and you can probably buy them already ganged in a nice panel at an auto parts store.

Use low voltage rope lighting. I've used it in many of my crown installs, and never had a complaint. Don't even need to really mount it, just lay it in.

It's available at most of the big box home improvement stores.

I'd consider a smaller tube (T8-18") flourescent fixture.They would wourk as well as CF., if you want to pass on incandescent.

Thanks for the great ideas.. I hadn't thought of the possibility of someone using incandecent bulbs by mistake !

I'll explore all those options and report back on how it works out !

Thx, again !