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Glowy, ambient, flattering—these are the qualities we look for when shopping for lighting, and track fixtures almost never embody any of these characteristics. High school plays and Lowe’s, on the other hand, more quickly come to mind. But Juniper, a purveyor of architectural lighting systems, is out to give it a new reputation. At the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in May, the brand debuted its newest collection, Multiverse, which features ultra-low tracks that hug corners seamlessly and can hold up to 15 miniature magnetic spotlights that can be rotated and repositioned practically any way you want. The pieces, which start at $250, come in a wide variety of prefabricated colors and finishes (from satin brass to sunny yellow), but you can also paint right over them for a custom touch. 

While Juniper won’t begin shipping the Multiverse line until later this summer, we’re already seeing track lighting pop up in renovations. The kitchen appears to be the It place to mount these fixtures, probably because it does a wonderful job of providing bright, direct lighting that’s ideal for chopping, dicing, and other cooking tasks and because it keeps reno costs down (you don’t have to call in an electrician and drywaller to cut into your ceiling). Here are a few ways to use it in your space.

Bring Some Shimmer to a Black Kitchen

“I wanted the kitchen to be packed with drama,” designer Lauren Svenstrup says of the kitchen in her Chicago loft. Mission accomplished, thanks to the all-black cabinets, quartz countertops, Venetian plaster backsplash—and the glamorous brass track lights that shine down on it all. 

Combine It With Island Pendant Lamps 

In his circa-1841 countryside home, Montreal-based interior designer Luke Havekes faced a dilemma that many old-house owners must: leave your lighting exposed or hide those beautiful beams behind Sheetrock. Havekes sided with the former. But leaving it all out on display doesn’t mean you’re limited to track lighting. He placed the long strips on the beams and then installed three pendant lamps within the recessed area over the eat-in island. So what if you can see some cords?

Balance Out the Newness With Some Old

A matte black system, like the one pictured above in designer Christopher Kent’s Chicago apartment, automatically makes a kitchen appear new, modern, and builder grade. Incorporating a salvaged wood island or patinated open shelving will keep your space feeling homey.