Thanks for your comment. Seems no one puts mini pendants over a sink with a valance. I asked the question before the cabinets were installed. Now, that they are in and the valance is installed I am going to put the pendents up as the valance is very plain and very shallow. I will be a new trend setter. I am putting up 2 pendants as the window is in 2 sections and 1 light would hang right in front of the dividing frame. Now the dilema is at what height. Everyone in the family is under 5' 8'' and I really seem to need as much light as I can get to see at night. Susan

Hi~ How many pendants will you want? Are the ceiling lights staying or are you adding cans? Without knowing your color scheme I would suggest a chrome and glass simple light so it doesn't interfere with your view and gives you enough light to work at the sink. Here are some links for a retro look: http://www.lampsplus.com/products/george-kovacs-alecia-39-s-necklace-mini-pendant-chandelier__t0029.html for a clean modern look: http://www.lampsplus.com/products/et2-fizz-19-and-one-half-inch-wide-3-light-chrome-pendant-light__v0701.html and a traditional: http://www.lampsplus.com/products/hudson-valley-pelham-8-inch-wide-polished-nickel-pendant-light__69461.html All have take a 100 watt bulb for great light! let me know what you think!

The answer is "it depends"! Take into consideration your height and anybody else's height in the home who will be using the sink. You don't want the pendant to be in their face. Take into consideration how wide the flare is at the bottom of the pendant. If it's tubular, then it's not going to cast a wide arc of light on your sink area and it should go higher. If it's got a broad flare, then it can be lower. I would draw the height elevation to scale to see visually how the balance will be with the fixture related to your sink/cabinet, and as well double check it by holding the fixture up at different levels before you install it and see what level feels most comfortable. Personally I would not recommend a pendant over a kitchen sink, but rather I'd like a pair of LED potlights to be recessed in the ceiling above for a nice sleek look and good quality of light.

I chose your first option because if you ever decide to change the light fixtures to an island chandelier or another single fixture, the cabinet and sink will be aligned.