Recessed lights or pendants over peninsula?

10 years ago

Little by little, we are getting closer on our kitchen design planning. I like a lot of color so we started with all the things that could possibly be colorful and interesting and now we are starting to identify which features are better off fading into the background to let the others stand out.

Today's thought is whether we'd be happier giving up colorful glass pendants over the peninsula in favor of recessed lights for better overall lighting and to allow a pendant over the sink to stand out and a hanging light over the dining table area without it all being just too much. Am I missing a reason why pendants over the peninsula would be more favorable? We will have five recessed lights in the actual kitchen area - 3 along the walkway and and two for general lighting in the "C' area + undercabinet lighting and pendant over the sink. Adding two over the peninsula seemed to add more general light into the dining area and make it all a cleaner design. True?

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10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

I have a small U with dining room on the other side of the peninsula. I think pendants would be too much, but I'd want the lights over the peninsula to be on their own switch with a dimmer.

Today's thought was lighting. Can tomorrow's thought be the diagonal corner cabinet? ;)

You have a protruding box overhead in your primary work zone between sink and stove. They are hard to retrieve items from (as your end cabinets will be over the peninsula). They are dated too, and I see a modern element in the lift doors of your cabinets. I'd do an L-shaped cabinet called an easy reach. Here is one thread that turned up on a search.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3476309/about-the-easy-reach-upper-corner-cabinet

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Comments (15)

Pennie Heath
10 years ago
Our GC recommended recessed lights because our ceilings are 8 ft. He said if I MUST do pendants to do clear glass so it wouldn't interrupt our sight line. So I guess I am doing a few glass ones because I love them.
m_gabriel thanked Pennie Heath
m_gabriel
Original Author
10 years ago
We also have 8 ft ceilings and it was starting to feel like the pendants would be dividing the room too much.
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Karen Eagle
10 years ago
I decided on recessed lights instead of pendants so I wouldn't block view into dining room. I also have 8' ceiling.
m_gabriel thanked Karen Eagle
nyeringa
10 years ago
We have virtually the same exact layout as you. Ww did 2 glass pendants (8 ft ceiling). We tried the pendant over the sink and hated it. Changed it back to a can. We didn't put a hanging light in our breakfast, just all cans so not to clutter the ceiling. All the lights are on dimmers and the pendants are on a separate switch.
m_gabriel thanked nyeringa
m_gabriel
Original Author
10 years ago
What didn't you like about the pendant over the sink, Pk?
m_gabriel
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you, mayflowers. I have lots of things that could be tomorrow's discussion! The easy reach cabinets are beautiful and keep nice angles.
jojo 1355
10 years ago
We did pendants and I love them! It adds a warmth that can lights can't quite bring.
cevamal
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
We have both. The pendants are for eating or "mood lighting" and the recessed lights are for when I need serious light for food prep.

I started to attach a picture and then I realized the one I had handy didn't have the recessed lights installed yet!
lharpie
10 years ago
Functionally I agree with cans over the sink (better bright task lighting) and pendants over the peninsula. I think cans are fine too on separate switches though over the peninsula, as I agree you would have to make sure things match well with the DR lights and aren't too busy. I find coordinating things difficult and prefer to keep things simple myself! I think a pendant over the sink would be more pretty than used commonly, but certainly fine to do. I like having a lot of different lighting options in the kitchen.
jojo 1355
10 years ago
I should say that we have both too (canned and pendants). We got a new dining room fixture that is the same style, different finish and bigger. Both from the same RH line.
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Jae V.
10 years ago
vote for canned lights.
Janine Sewell
6 years ago
I am in the midst of a remodel and it has turned into a huge mess! Had to fire contractor after 3 months. I had first planned for pendants over the peninsula but in order to hang them centered I could not open the end kitchen cabinet! So, decided on recessed on a separate light switch. I LOVE my pendants so I had the electrician hang it over sink. My kitchen is half done and a mess so the jury is still out. I have a small kitchen opening to great room so the Recess does open the view and make it look bigger. We shall see.
rubymango
5 years ago
How did it go Janine? Everything sorted out?
Kristy Hammond
2 years ago
This is the exact kitchen layout I have. What size can lights did you do? I have 6 in pancake lights in my kitchen and just want to add two more over the peninsula. I don’t know weather to do 3, 4 or 6in for sizing. Any Advice for me?