Island Lighting - how should it be centered?

9 years ago

We are having our electrical put in this week. We tore down and are expanding our whole kitchen. First I’d like to know if our island pendents should be centered over our island, or if they should be centered in our kitchen between the can lights? Unfortunately our island will not be perfectly centered with our kitchen due to not having enough walk through space around it (I wish it was centered with the range). The island is not going to be the full 7’5” (we are reducing it a few inches for space to walk by fridge) I’m having a hard time loving the layout now that it’s almost done. Any help with lights or layout of island is appreciated. Thanks!

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Hankins & Associates, Inc. - Kitchens and Baths

9 years ago

i am of the opinion that you can never have too much light. If the pendants will be the sole source of light, yes, I'd center. If I were planning this for one of my kitchens, my task lighting (recessed cans) would be centered on the counters (F to B), centered on the windows left and right of the range. Depending on the actual pendants (and bulb), I'd likely have two hi-hats above the island, equally spaced, 12" forward of the counter edge. The pendants in which case no longer centered on the island.

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Comments (7)

frenchtarragon
9 years ago
I think you should center the pendants above the island, this way they are more functional.
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simstress
9 years ago
Definitely center pendants over island. Because you're shortening the island, you could do 2 larger pendants (instead of 3), and put 3 cans aligned over the island. The line of cans should be pulled back a bit into the kitchen. The line of pendants doesn't have to move.

Add a GFCI at DW end of island.

Add under cabinet lighting if not already. HTH.
Kate
9 years ago
Centered over the island just like shown on the plan. It sounds like you have remodel fatigue, you are second guessing every decision in the middle of the night. We’ve all been there! It looks like you are going to have a beautiful kitchen when it is done, hang in there! And post pictures for us when it’s done.
Magi P
Original Author
9 years ago
Kate- I definitely have remodel fatigue. I’m so over it, lol. I’m second guessing every decision.

I’m gonna go ahead and keep the pendents centered over the island. We have 8 can lights that will light the kitchen around the cabinets, so lighting isn’t an issue. Thank you everyone for reassuring my decision. I’m sure I’ll be posting other dilemmas in the coming weeks :)
evanskie
9 years ago
We have a similar set up and wished that we have a can light directly above the sink. The light by your stove will be blocked with you war stamina over the sink and the pendant will not provide enough lighting. Our island is 6'by 8'
simstress
9 years ago
Cans should be over countertops, not over the walkways (except in front of fridge and oven).

Where do you plan to have dish storage? Move DW to left side of sink if it shortens your walk to unload dishes. But if you've always had DW on right and prefer it, then leave it. HTH.