Fluoro's might look cheap and nasty, but they will last a hell of a lot longer than those dingy little down lights. Along with not using as much power...

Our power bills will be rising dramatically over the next year, so I'd go for the more energy efficient version. Are the LED versions more efficient? Anyone know?

use up lights instead as it will give a nicer ambient light. Mount at around 2m on the posts etc and point towards the middle.

Direct light down with LEDS won't fliter well and will be too defined.

And put a few compact flouros (they look like big downlights) in the eaves

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RS RA
The more people I meet the more I like my Dog!

12.463 1/4 mile, not bad for an old school Liberty [DECEASED]

MY08 Liberty Tuned by STi

R H C P - energy rating is true but reealistically, how often are u gonna use them? Not gonna break the budget. I cringe whenever i see ppls patios covered in fluoros

Haha yeah I hear ya. I must admit I haven't really taken that much notice, but maybe that's because I'm renting and never gave it a thought.

Those lights are an example and the actual ones are much larger - guessing you have never bought outdoor light fittings before as stainless steel is the only way to go.

I have had to replace a lot of cast iron and plastic fittings over the years but the stainless stuff lasts.

the globe might last longer but who cares about that on patio lights. Halogens still get 4 - 8000 hours

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Arguably my Automobile is Awash with Alliteration - Subaru Sti S202

That was kind of what I was thinking, If I lit up the roof with spot lights (as its all white) there might be enough reflected light which would be really soft.

The other Idea was to make a kind of suspended ceiling and put downlights in that.

I'd be interested to see what you end up doing. I also have to organise lighting for my patio. Another thing I want to avoid is exposed wiring/conduit, though I have 5 trusses in total, so running all that hidden wiring could be a major pain in the ass.

I was going to check out One Stop Patio shop in Canning Vale. If I remember right, they had a rail system setup on one or two of there display patios.

I stuck these upside down in my gazebo for effect. but not really good for lighting but great for effect .
Though mine were circle not squares.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/20-DECK-LIGHT...item4837c929af

as for general light, down lights maybe to hard with that sort of roof, maybe fluros down the centre in that resessed part,

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/721753/house/gazebosmall.jpg

If you go the suspended ceiling then i would go down lights as they look the best.

My normal Alfresco off the house i have down lights through it and they look the part.

if you go for fluros, then make sure you change the globes for ones that give off a white light instead of the yellow light normal fluros put out.

I didnt think you would be able to put a ceiling into that sort of structure.

the other idea that could work good is put fluros all the way down each side on the beams and then make up a reflective cover on the underneath of them so the only light comming off is hitting the roof and reflecting down rather than direct light.