There were a few considerations when deciding to use sconces on either side of the kitchen window. Every case is different and there are many considerations when choosing lighting in your kitchen. In this case the first consideration was purely decorative because while the sconces provide some practical task lighting, they are mainly here to provide ambient light and an interesting decor element. This works here because the kitchen is also served by pot lights in the ceiling for overall and task lighting and there is an abundance of natural light from the kitchen windows during the day. There would rarely be a case where we would place pendant lights over a kitchen sink because you only have 25" of depth between the wall and the front of the counter so they would hang in your "head-space" and be shining in your eyes as you lean in over the sink. Pendants would also come down in front of the window here, distracting from the beautiful view of the garden outside.