You could think about cable lights which can be placed between the beams and then would almost disappear. You can select whatever fixtures you want...including up close to the cable or you can do pendants to bring the light source closer if you wish.

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And they can be arranged as uplights to brighten the ceiling as well as downlights.

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I have very similar ceilings, the pine with the beams. Love your beadboard cabs too. Along with the white slipcovers on your furniture, that all says "Beach" to me. I'd paint the walls BM Van Courtland blue. Blue is wonderful with pine.

And I'd put recessed lighting in the ceiling.

Here is my room with BM Van Courtland Blue and the pine ceiling

And my low-light LR with the pine ceiling and BM Lenox Tan

Annie, I really like the cable lights in the 2nd and 3rd photos. Hadn't seen it with the cable run through the beams like that before. Like the style of the lights also, and think something like that could work. Thanks for posting the pics!

Tib, I've always admired the pics you post of your house. I really love it, maybe partially because our ceilings are kindred spirits even though I'm in FL and I know you're somewhere very cold with lots of snow. And even though my house is dark, I think the overall feel of it is "Beachy". The blue does look beautiful with the pine ceiling, but I really love the Lenox Tan. New paint colors for the inside will be a project for some time in the future, but right now I can't even read the recipes in my cookbooks without using a flashlight. I don't have anything against recessed lights per se; I'm just fearful of putting large permanent holes in the wood.

OH, my gosh. I owe you an apology. I don't know how I got it into my head you were looking for paint colors! My brain is not aging well at all! Sorry about that.

The cable lites are made by Tech Lighting and Bruck mainly. I think WAC may make some too. They are not cheap but you can start out slowly. Buy the cables and transformer with just a few fixtures to start. Add more fixtures are you go.

Best of luck!

Love the cable lights Annie posted. Annie, as always you come up with the best photos for inspiration!

Thanks, akt!

Love those cable lights!!!!
I can't find it online, but IKEA used to have Termosfar cable lighting.

Termosfar on Ebay

Or cable lighting by Tiella

I found the exact cable lighting on the Tech Lighting web page at http://www.techlighting.com/Products/Fixtures/Kable-Lite/K-Pivot-Head; the very same kitchen that Annie posted is in the gallery!

nosoccermom: thanks for the links. That may be a more affordable option. I think the Tech Lighting system is going to be pricey, but I'll start there.

Showed the pics to DH and he also likes the idea. So now I just have to see if my electrician can do the installation and price the different options.

Thanks so much everyone - I'm excited. And Tib, I will definitely be consulting about paint colors in the future so you were just on the ball.

+1 on cable lights. Smoked chrome conduit might be a similar look. Is that a false ceiling as it appears light is coming through cracks in pic 2 and 4?

I love cable lighting. Annie posted great examples. It will look perfect in your house. Hope you'll come back and show us the end result!

Klem, the ceiling is solid wood but has been coated with something that gives it a slight sheen. That is what is reflecting in some of the pics and appearing as light.

I will definitely come back and post pics when it's done.