New pendants or keep recessed?

9 years ago

Hello, onto our next kitchen remodel dilemma! Not sure what I would do without this forum! :)
I would love to put 2 medium/large pendants over island once everything is in. However, our current recessed lighting is over the island and not 100% centered.

Option 1: replace 2 recessed lights with pendants. They wouldn't be completely centered. I would need something bright and functional as the last thing this kitchen needs is to lose light. We get natural light for only about 3 hrs during the day and then rely on the recessed.

Option 2: make 2 new holes for the pendants but they will likely not line up with the recessed lights. And they would be closer to the island overhang vs the center

Option 3: nix the pendant idea and stick with our recessed lighting. I can accessorize else where

Sorry for the messy kitchen pic :)

Featured Answer

cpaul1

9 years ago

I would definitely hang pendant lights over the island (all of those odd placed recessed lights do not look good). I would put in two pendant lights and do what is needed to make them centered on the island and patch up the other holes.

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Comments (14)

Dasha
Original Author
9 years ago
Attached are a few more pics (one of the cans was out when I took it). I guess the recessed lights never struck me as being out of place or poorly placed. Now that I want pendants, I'm seeing them in a different light (pun intended).
The problem is if we closed and patched up the 2 cans in the middle (closest to the island overhang) and centered the pendants to the island, the pendants would be way off to the other cans in distance and symmetry. Getting rid of that entire row of recessed lights to make room for 2 pendants is unfortunately not an option, as this room really needs the light.
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Bruce Crawford
9 years ago
We have cans in our K & pendants over the island. The cans are symmetrical w/ each other, but not w/ pendants. Not a problem b/c one's eyes aren't drawn to cans.
simstress
9 years ago
I'd keep the back 4 cans, keep the can in front of fridge, add a can over by mixer and rice cooker. Remove the 3 cans over the island and replace with pendants aligned to the island. Consider also replacing the cans with updated, sleeker LED trims with higher lumens. If you're going to patch ceiling drywall, go ahead and repaint ceiling too to get rid of discoloration above the range. Good luck!
kay kin
9 years ago
would 3 pendant lights connected to one canopy (the part that goes on the ceiling) work? by the pictures it appears 1 hole would need to be covered. hard to tell without measurements.
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Hebert Homes
9 years ago
Add 2 new opening for Pendants, keep recessed, and make sure you switch separately so pendants can be accent lighting if wished, or turned on together, a dimmer would be nice too! Then you don't interrupt your functional can lighting, and they don't need to line up with your other recessed. Recessed visually disappear when you have new beautiful pendants!
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Brenda Direen, Ethan Allen Palm Desert
9 years ago
Pendants over the island are a perfect concept for this room so don't give up on your "hunch". Replacing the cans over the island will provide a beautiful smooth look and keeping those above your fridge, etc. will be so helpful since light is an issue. Good luck and have fun!
Bruce Crawford
9 years ago
Here's K ceiling. You can see 6 LED cans are symmetrical while pendants are centered over ends of island either side of rangetop, hitting countertop in center of each end. My wife is wondering why I'm taking pic of it. Ignore our son's painting & other stuff in LR while he's in transition.
Dasha
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you for the suggestions, everyone!! Hebert, ideally I would like to ADD pendants (as opposed to replace or remove the recessed) so your idea appeals to me. I just don't know how I would line up the pendants quite yet. They would likely be close to the island overhang vs island center. My brother in law (who just so happens to be a master electrician) will come over this week, and we'll toy with the placement to see what is feasible. I may also look into the lights connected to one canopy idea!! Thanks, again, everyone! I will keep you posted.
Bruce Crawford
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
As you can see from my pic, my pendants are on a separate circuit. Both pendants & cans are LEDs & both circuits are on LED-rated dimmers, as is our under-cab lighting. All can be used for accent lighting. As K open to DR, we can dim all while dining. Hebert is correct, the recessed lighting visually disappears. Our cans are on 3-way circuit, one switch on K side of entry wall & other on wall at end of sink wall just off to left of pic.
PRO
Nicola Interiors
9 years ago
Question, do you feel you have enough good lighting in your kitchen? Do you have under cabinet lighting? Why are you considering this option? It seems you are looking for additional lighting so you can add under cabinet lighting, change your current bulbs to brighter (whiter) bulbs and see if that helps first. If it does not, then add pendant lights.
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Dasha
Original Author
9 years ago
Nicola, we have adequate lighting, but I always want more :) My main reason for the pendants would be esthetics - to add visual interest. A bonus is the ambiance pendants can add. We can't, however, afford to LOSE lighting. That's why getting rid of the front row of the cans for 2 pendants is not really an option in our situation.
Dasha
Original Author
9 years ago
I forgot to mention our new cabinets will have under cab lighting so hoping that'll add lighting! And funny, I ordered those same glass pendants but the large size was too big for the island, will be returning/exchanging. We will need to literally hold the pendants up in the space, move them up/down and see how it goes.
rawegg
9 years ago
I agree with Bruce, and I want to add that you should install 3 pendant lights instead of 2 as you have 3 bar stools and 4 recess lights in a row. :)