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melissa_thomas_blaeser

Help! Off Center

Off center ...

if I move the left pendent in to frame the hood the lights themselves will be more centered over the island to the right, making the island look to short on the right.

I don't think I can make the island longer on the right at this point, though I had wanted a longer one when the house was being built, I think it had to do with the quartz being a full slab length. The island on the right ends just before the last drawer.


What are my options to correct this annoyance!

Comments (31)

  • PRO
    9 years ago

    I feel like the two pendants bring attention to the symmetry of the back wall cabinets. I'm wondering if three pendants would bring in some asymmetry to the space. It might also block the back wall a bit more visually and annoy you less. The only thing is the current pendants (which are lovely) might be too large to add a third. Not certain it would work but might help to distract your eye.

    Melissa Thomas-Blaeser thanked User
  • 9 years ago

    thank you both Glo and Patricia!

    After posting it did occur to me that the island is just not centered :-( and I agree the fixtures are likely too big for a third. A linear fixture is likely the best option. I am so bummed I didn't see this earlier. I guess I'll live with for a bit and see just how much it bothers me.


  • 9 years ago
    Sorry off topic but your kitchen is beautiful!! If you don't mind me asking what Quartz did you go with and what is your backsplash. I am in the middle of a kitchen remodel and looking at Quartz to resemble marble for my countertop. There are so many choices out there! Thank you :)
    Melissa Thomas-Blaeser thanked Jennifer
  • 9 years ago
    Gorgeous kitchen! The only time anyone might notice the off-centre lights is when they stand in that exact spot where the picture was taken. The lights are beautiful. First try to live with it because every new kitchen has a bit of " I wish I did this or that".
    Melissa Thomas-Blaeser thanked Kicksychick
  • 9 years ago
    i think the lights look fine. no need to line them up with the wall cabinetry. it matters for lights to be correctly spaced over the island. plus no one is going to stand and measure where the lights are. your space looks super!
    Melissa Thomas-Blaeser thanked Wendy H
  • 9 years ago

    Beautiful selections! Don't stress about it. Most visitors to Houzz would trade their firstborn for your kitchen.

    Melissa Thomas-Blaeser thanked chiflipper
  • 9 years ago
    Jennifer, I made a last min selection on the quartz bc they couldn't get my original pick in stock on time. That said I don't know the name but I'm happy to get the name for you. I'll find out a post soon.
  • 9 years ago
    Jennifer, sorry you asked about backsplash.... it's standard subway tile in Carrara marble.
  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I agree that no one will notice (at least I never would & I'm a little O C D). In any event, your kitchen is beautiful.

    Melissa Thomas-Blaeser thanked Bailey R
  • 9 years ago

    I think it's fine. Even if the light were linear you'd see it won't line up centered over the range either.

    Melissa Thomas-Blaeser thanked C F
  • 9 years ago
    Don't laugh, bag one of those chairs. See if that helps. But basically, forget about it. It's fine
    Melissa Thomas-Blaeser thanked Jeff ginsburg
  • 9 years ago

    As has been noted, the island is not centered with the cabinets, the sink is not centered in the island, and no one involved was centered on the aesthetics of the room.

    *Things don't have to be centered to look good.*

    But things that look like they should be centered, but aren't (to a reasonable degree) can often be disguised by introducing asymmetry or "busy the eye" with details.

    For example (only), a pot rack suspended over the island, so that its centerline (CL) is between the CL of the island and CL of the wall cabinets would intro. asymmetry and the various pots would busy the eye.

    IE. (only), surrounding near & right sides of the table with a raised counter top & bar stools would, in effect, add mass to the right of the table and obstruct the sink's location, visually. The overall width of the island would be more centered on the cabinets.

    Melissa Thomas-Blaeser thanked acroteria
  • 9 years ago
    Building on the last 2 comments....could you try moving one of the bar stools over to the right side replacing the low stool? And take another picture?
    Melissa Thomas-Blaeser thanked rocketjcat
  • 9 years ago
    The pendants appear to be centered on the wall (taking in account the doorway).
    Melissa Thomas-Blaeser thanked nmp19
  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Ok let me give all a try ... thank you for the many thoughtful ideas. My heart sinks a bit when I consider the money already spent and I want to try and minimize additional spend.

    acroteria, to your point of no one being focused, not entirely untrue ... while I agreed to the sink being off center for the functional purposes of fitting dishwasher, micro etc in the island, the rest well lets just say it's probably another post but in hindsight when doing a custom build of a home you should hire an interior designer and not JUST assume the builder is the designer, lesson learned on my part. I love many things about my home but there are things that I think a designer would have caught sooner - as well didn't help that right in the middle of this my husband was diagnosed with cancer - so correct no one was focused, it was a get it done kind of thing. Oh well, such as life right!

  • 9 years ago
    Give yourself some breathing room. Its nearly impossible to focus when your husband's diagnosis is on your mind 24/7. May God bless you and take care of you both. My son was diagnosed with a brain tumor and I had to have a large tumor removed in my breast all in the same month. Since I could not control the big things, I tended to try to completely control all the little details in my life. In the grand scheme of things, sit down in that beautiful kitchen, have a cup of coffee and take a few minutes for yourself. Make an attempt to reflect on at least ONE blessing. Good luck to you.
  • 9 years ago

    Your kitchen is magnificent! I love all of your choices. I am currently building a home, would love to know what appliances you went with especially the cooktop or is a range?? What size is the cooktop? 36 or 30 inches? Also I'd love to know the name of the quartz countertop color. Thank you!!

  • 9 years ago
    Nmp19, thank you for kindness and perspective all so true. I hope your health and that of your son are better now.

    Everyone's ideas and opinions have been helpful !!
  • 9 years ago
    Avogelsong, thank you! I have a msg into my stone person for the name as soon as I get the name of the quartz I'll post.

    Appliances are thermador. Cook top is 36, as is double oven(I think but can confirm) so far here is what I think about thermador.

    Ovens as other reviews have said are a little loud. I don't notice too much bc the kitchen is very open hard to tell from this pic it but spills into family room where TV is on quite a bit so I think it makes the sound less noticeable :-/.

    Cooktop is fine has this thing with simmer you'll need to get used to where it relights itself so it makes the snapping sound of the gas coming back on every so often.

    The dishwasher, my GE profile was better everything dried perfectly and it was 100% quiet. This one is not super loud but my GE you literally had to touch it to know if it was on.

    Micro drawer in the island no issues, nothing stands out good or bad.

    Fridge I really like a lot. Hope that's helpful.
  • 9 years ago
    Oh sorry last comment .... love love love my facet. It's the kind you touch to turn on / off. I recommend the feature. I share that for you folks doing your kitchens it was one of the items I'm glad I spent a little extra on.
  • 9 years ago

    Thanks so much for your quick response!

  • 9 years ago

    @Melissa, In my comment, I was not including the homeowner. It's a pet peeve of mine when sub-contractors come in, do what they're told (or not), without questioning things that may not be quite right. The designer, plumber, electrician, and cabinet installers all had a chance to notice and say something...just to make sure symmetry wasn't an issue. Personally, I don't prefer symmetry in most things. I go more for functionality, comfort, and visual balance. If it might look like I'm going for symmetry, when I'm not, I try to do something to dispel that notion.

    Melissa Thomas-Blaeser thanked acroteria
  • 9 years ago

    in truth, i think it *is* the 4 black stools that are doing it. try 3. or 4 that are less contrasty.

    your fixed finishes are finished, dont worry about them another moment. now its just time to try to fool your eyes with balance of non-fixed items.

    Melissa Thomas-Blaeser thanked Judy Mishkin
  • 9 years ago
    Can you try moving one stool to the short side of the island?
    Melissa Thomas-Blaeser thanked rocketjcat
  • 9 years ago

    Ok so moved the bar stools the light is not great in the pics but they are blue (unimportant, Lol). Added another photo showing where the kitchen table will go b/c maybe having another element in the room will "distract" a bit. The table has not arrived yet but it's at the right side which seems to the side most are favoring to add "weight" to the room for balance.

    one bar stool to the right

    Just 3 stools


    open space where table will go

  • PRO
    9 years ago

    Already from being farther back and having 3 stools on the front of the island, it's much less noticeable! And since you'll typically be on the other side of the island, using the kitchen, you probably won't notice it that much from day to day :) Best to you and your husband...

    Melissa Thomas-Blaeser thanked Lisa Williams
  • 9 years ago
    Your kitchen is beautiful. I'd leave the stools so you can seat more people in your kitchen - enjoying your space with family and friends comes before aesthetics! I'll probably be in the minority here but if it was my kitchen I'd move that left pendant over to be centered on the cabinet next to the stove. That is what's throwing you off Visually. My guess is they throw plenty of light so it won't matter they aren't centered on the island. Also the island has a sink off center (which I like) breaking up its symmetry so to me it won't matter that the pendants aren't centered over it if that makes sense!
    Melissa Thomas-Blaeser thanked kim k
  • 9 years ago

    Jennifer & Avogelsong: Quartz Counter Tops

    The counter tops were a last minute switch b/c they didn't have my orig in stock, so looks like the stone co. never noted what the change was to, just my uncharge :-). So oddly I was recently out the other day saw a quartz that I am 99% is mine, its the LG Viatera Rococo. Good luck!!

  • 9 years ago

    Thank you so much!

  • 9 years ago

    This may already have been suggested, but i would add an additional pendant in between the two uou have