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chris_lim33

Fashion Disaster in the Kitchen - Island lighting

8 years ago

I have no experience "refreshing" a loft. I am in the process of building a new island and it is much bigger. It has a special light over it that is now too small. I don't want to part with it and there is no other place for it. It has huge sentimental value and I got it for 90 percent off but I love it. I can move it to centre over the new island but it looks too small and it needs more light for the additional length of the island. I cannot find another or two to replicate it over the island. It is one of those sputnike style lights in chrome.


So here are my options that I can think of:


1. Purchase two simple but modern pendants in chrome in cylinder or cone shape to at least match the metal of the Sputnik light.


2. Since I have high ceilings (it's a loft) and the kitchen backdrop is plain - glossy white flat cabinets going with the odd number and three lighting fixtures on purposely pick two more Sputnik style lights that are different sies and styles but still related. Hang them at different heights like an art installation.


Ideas??? Thoughts? Thank you!!!!

Comments (17)

  • PRO
    8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Hang the light you have in a bathroom...................get new lighting. For heavens sake, : ) Nothing will be "hugely sentimental" when you end with kludge AND dim lighting

  • 8 years ago

    Thanks but the two bathrooms are far too small. I am leaning to the "art installation" now. The electrician is coming so I have to dosomething fast.

  • 8 years ago

    What about recessed or can lights for the other two positions?

    Don't do it like art. Do it like the other two fixtures aren't there. If they must be pendants, go super simple and do hang them at the same height (for the two) and proper functional height. Put Sputnik higher.

    Post photos!

  • 8 years ago

    Recessed or canned lights don't really work in a loft because the ceiling well is all wood. I tried the two pendants but my friend said NO! It was an attempt to be nondescript or like they weren't there - we did them in chrome to match Sputnik but I got yelled at. I just got an email from my friend who is wealthy and she went to her interior decorator for advice and she thought simple pendants equivalent to your canned lights could be one way (sorry I am techno challenged so I don't know how to add photos) but she thought since my kitchen is white glossy cabinets and the island is the feature (the island is a work in progress but I am doing epoxy resin art) that considering Sputnik is not going that the idea of three sputniks in different sizes and heights and styles but same metal would work and be fashionable, functional and interesting. I am hesitant though - three chandelier or features together? So I like your idea. Do it like the two fixtures arent there - my friend says her interior decorator says I need to release my inner artist.


    i am not sure there is an artist inside though?

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Ive googled and seen a number of sputnik lights over an island.. some even with two but in each case, it was the same light and hung at the same height. My fear is that your option 2 will look like a hot mess. A pricy hot mess because not only will you need to buy the lights, but you are having an electrician install them.

    I like the look for a modern kitchen but my choice would be option 1.. or find another location for the light. I know it's sentimental to you but it will be lost in your Option 2. No longer the showcase or centerpiece.

  • 8 years ago

    It is too bad I can't find one or two more of Sputnik to replicate the first one exactly:( I hear you about the hot mess; but a real interior decorator who does stuff for rich and influential people is saying I should do this. I got the original Sputnik for 90 percent off. My friend just came over and she bought two sputnik's - I just wish I knew how to send the photos for you all. One is more classical with crystal balls and the other super modern - minimalist. And really inexpensive. The current Sputnik my special light was around 290 and the two new "friends" come to under $400. Her interior decorator claims this is a bargain for an amazing art installation. I feel overwhelmed. I suppose there are far worse things in life than a hot mess - besides a hot mess to some is art to others. My friend pointed out that many people think Donald Trump is a horrible person but he is the President of the United STates. I am hesitan but I have free professional advice - who am I to say??? You can tell I am not convinced and leaning to option 1.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Well, for heaven's sake go with the advice of the "real interior designer who does stuff for rich and influential people." How could you go wrong? lol

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Well, I didn't guarantee a hot mess lol.. I said it was my fear. It sounds like it's yours also. We can't see what you are considering.. so do what you can to visualize it and then follow your gut. It doesn't matter what is a hot mess vs art to anyone other than you.

    My only remaining comment is that rich and influential people aren't immune to hot messes.. nor are designers. :)

  • 8 years ago

    If you can't do recessed what about simple led surface mount? They give off an amazing amount of light in our house. You don't mention how high your ceilings are or the actual size of your island but one, or two if the island is huge, flanking your sputnik light might work. If your ceiling is extremely high the light might diffuse too much by the time it reaches the counter. We need more details to really help and photos are not difficult. If they are on your computer you can get them here easily with the photo button below.


    These lights are both chrome and sleek, might work with your light but there are others that are even more 'pancake' in style with a small bezel available in multiple finishes. Depending on what your ceiling finish is, you could paint the bezel to match and make them virtually disappear leaving your one light as the star.



  • 8 years ago

    Without photos, it's really impossible to comment. Chris, there's a photo button underneath your comment field. Use that to add a photo.

  • 8 years ago

    Dang. Sorry the photo is on my phone and I can send it as an attachment but don't know how to download it on my comupter:( Thank you everyone for being so helpful. The island is 8 feet long by just over 2 feet. Ceiling is 14 feet high - not super high but fairly.

  • 8 years ago

    Chris if the photo is on your phone you can put it here in the thread. Just click on the photo button at the bottom of your next post. It will take you to where photos are stored on your phone and you just pick the one or several that you want to show.

  • 8 years ago

    Try to figure out how to attach the photo..would be immensely helpful. Really hard to picture otherwise, thus to comment

    the fixture, the island, the space

    I'd tell you how but I don't have a Smartphone, so challenged in a different way. lol

    ah. send it as an attachment to yourself. then download it. then attach it by clicking on "Photo"

    or some people do screenshots and attach it like these

    (inner artist is always there.)) .artists risk, and they also know where to stop..so it's not about whether you have an inner artist or not, it's about what art preoccupies you. and almost everything at some point might border art. or so I think.. )

    okay after I was talking to myself..have you checked all sorts of vintage lighting?

  • 8 years ago

    ah, DLM gave much more clear advice..great. can't wait to see it

  • 8 years ago

    Hey Gang! Thank you for being so nice to me. I understand how useless I am. I managed to send it to myself as an attachment in an email. But can't figure out how to download it or send it from my phone - its just in photos.


    All I can say is Sputnik is in Chrome and has about 21 arms for lights. he is about 20 inches in diameter. I have another one now that is about 24 inches in diameter and another that is 16 inches in diameter. EAch one is on the same idea or concept of Sputnik an all are in chrome. One is very minimallist - simply spindles and 7 lights (the large one); the small one has round glass balls at the end (clear) with six lights. and the original Sputnik has 21 arms.


    The original sputnik will go in the centre according to the interior decorator and we ill us about 12 to 14 lights with "dummy" balls in the other ones. Everything is LED to prevent too much heat from being generated. The larger Sputnik light will go on one side and will be medium height with the small one on the other side being the highest. The reason for larger Sputnik mid height and on the leftiffacing the window is that it is darker on that side whereas the wall is close to mini Sputnik.


    Between the three lights there is plenty of light for the island and some reflecting to the living room and dining room.


    I am still nervous. But I already have done weird things. My living has Jetson like furniture with chrome bases and rolled arms. The coffee and end tables are all chrome - yep all chrome. The island chairs are also all chrome - tractor seats. I took an inexpensive look from Urban Barn and had them chromed at an auto place.


    My dining table is a thrown out Sunday School table top that I added Ikea legs and did layered infused metallic epoxy resin (silver and gold) including leafing, micah flakes and sparkles for lack of words. Since the dining room is close to the kitchen in this loft I have just ordered 4 eiffel chairs in clear acrylic with the metal base. To save space I made a black padded bench that stores under the table for when I have guests.


    I have tried to keep the metals to chrome and stainless steel. I have done 4 large paintings in my favoruite colour turquoise (shades of) that add to the art gallery effect. My friend said the only issue she has that I didn't sign them and they look like they could

    be prints the.


    I didn't realize design work is so much stress - function, aesthetics and so many rules made to be broken lol.



  • 8 years ago

    Do any of these sputniks cast adequate light for a peninsula?

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