Pendant Reflections

16 years ago

We have a (not so) "great" room in our currently being restored house and I'm stuck on kitchen lighting for two reasons - even though I have a lighting consultant.

1) We have 14' ceilings. Plenty of natural light, but I'm going with soapstone so as not to blind myself with a polished surface. Also, I can't trust my family with marble, so I'm happy to settle for soapstone. Trouble with this issue is how to get light down to the work area without blowing my entire lighting budget in one room? I don't want the ceiling to look like swiss cheese, nor do I want it to look like a pendant farm.

Which leads me to issue #2:

How much are brushed stainless pendants going to reflect in the TV opposite the sink run? I suspect a lot when the TV is off, but is it going to be an issue when the TV is in use? We have an 8' peninsula basically dividing the space between the kitchen and living room and that's where the sink will be located. I seem to remember someone mentioning either pendant reflection or pendants blocking a TV, I can't recall which and I can't find the thread...

We're doing the early American Industrial Grocery Store look so let that be your guide. Dainty pendants aren't going to cut it really. And they have to be a satin or brushed finish...although some days I think about throwing caution to the wind and just going with an historic bronze even if the faucet is brass and the Cornue Fe is brushed stainless and brass and all the hardware in the house is flat black.

It really is difficult to think of *everything* at once. Baths, kitchen, door sets...lighting...

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Comments (6)

User
16 years ago
Check out HGTV's sarah's house website. her latest kitchen has piecrust light fixture pendents from www.thedoorstore.ca
in Toronto. So cute I think you'll love them
jenva2010
16 years ago
Would you consider galvanized steel? Barn light fixtures would be much cheaper, they would look industrial, and they wouldn't have shiny reflections. Also, I can't remember your most current layout -- is it just the peninsula that has to have pendants? Are there walls or partial walls near the other counters that could have wall-mounted lights?
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User
16 years ago
rh lighting solutions radial wave reflector- they have it in galvanized steel but many other finishes colors, brass etc...

http://www.rhlightingsolutions.com/rlm_reflectors.html
Fori
16 years ago
Why not black enameled shades on your pendants? You don't need to go with metal!
amberley
16 years ago
I feel your pain! Lighting is such a HUGE element in any design, particularly kitchens. I agree with jenva- look at barn light fixtures in galvanized. In my mind I can totally see that with your aesthetic, but then again I have been imagining your space in my own mind for awhile from the first time you described the early American Industrial Grocery store look....

Do you have exposed beams/rafters? I have seen some fantastic spaces in old homes with very modern halogen line fixtures that look great.
grlwprls
Original Author
16 years ago
We do have a "false beam" made from some old floor joists where I think I can hide some wiring in there. Between this and the under cabinet lighting...ugh. And good grief, who knew that 4" recessed art light with slot aperture trim could be so darn expensive? I blew through a fifth of my budget on those alone!

The idea of darker pendants may be the solution. Goodness knows, we have a lot of finishes going on: stainless, brass, flat black, historic bronze...I really can go with any finish.