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lilceeja

should I get pendants ?

last year

Debating whether to put in pendants over my island. There are 3 recessed lights but the third is not over the island. Should I put in pendants in the 2 ? Looks like they may be somewhat close together at 20 in apart. If yes should I get smaller ones due to smaller space ?

I am putting in the attached chandelier over the dining table for reference.

Comments (13)

  • last year

    In order to add a pendant or two you'll need electrical and drywall work. Plus painting. I'd do the drywall work to position two led 4" cans over the island on a dimmer. One would be repositioning the third current recessed light out of position.

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    no Id skip island pendant in your situation. Id favour spending a few dollars on a plant stand or something / maybe a valance at the larger window which looks out on the yard [ I think} you have light/ a view / generously sized window there......Id play it up.....not every small kitchen is so lucky. You dont need the pendants.

    your space is neutral..you can easily add some touches .....at /around the large window would be a great value spot. you can easily put a small chair in the corner i think.



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  • last year
    last modified: last year

    DO NOT buy that chandelier. I would do pendants, nothing big, frost glass. IF you go that route by those before chosing the dining fixture. IMO the one you picked out is not it and will give off a bunch of glaring light going up or no light bc you have to have it on a dimmer. Also if you do add pendants there, I would convert the one over the sink to recessed or make it match.


  • last year

    Hm what kind of chandelier would you get then? Definitely need a chandelier over the pendants. One currently is too small and high and doesn’t match decor. It was there when I bought the house.

  • last year

    I included a sample in my photo below. A linear fixture in this space is only going to be seen from the end when you are looking at it. you will not get the effect you are looking for. It will also box in this area. Something round is better.

  • last year

    Hi lilceeja, Your traditional kitchen is beautiful, it makes me long for my 1863 Maine farmhouse. Overhead lighting in rooms with high ceilings can be quite tricky, even moreso when trying to put light over an island. Throw in beautiful cabinets in straight line view, and an awesome VIEW out those windows--you really don't want to "mess with the view." Difficult decisions.


    How much work do you do at the island? What tasks do you complete there? If you're not doing intricate tasks, like threading a tiny needle, or reading the fine print on a small appliance manual written in Chinese, you don't need harsh, direct overhead lighting that you get with pendants. The recessed lights should give you the light you need. Are you dissatisfied with the way the light looks from the recessed bulbs? Does it seem too dim or too bright or harsh? Is the COLOR unappealing? Those blue fluorescent bulbs can be harsh and make you feel like you're still in the office...ugh. Does it seem like there are shadows on the island top? You shouldn't have that as they are quite close together. If you head is directly under one of the lights while standing at the island, you will get a shadow. And if you put in pendant lights, you'll still get a shadow.


    Your ceilings look to be about 8 1/5 feet high, maybe a few more inches? Yes, they are a bit higher than average, but they aren't 10' high. A chandelier or pendants are a great idea to make a 10' or higher ceiling feel a little more cozy, or give a focal point if there isn't much else to look at. They help bring better task lighting to an island with a sink. The only thing you do at the island is eat and perhaps prep food?


    I wouldn't put any chandelier or pendant over the island, it would detract from the view and sight lines, and depending on how tall you are, you might just hit your head on them each time you do any food prep on the island. Try putting in bulbs on the warm white end of the color scale, and put them on a dimmer. If you still need more task lighting on the island for the occasions when you do INTRICATE work there, consider putting a decorative lamp on the counter, or a large glass vase with a couple strings of battery-operated fairy lights tucked inside. It can be a table centerpiece--with the style changed out with the seasons. Those clear glass or plastic Christmas ornament balls piled in a large glass vase, with fairy lights tucked in among the balls would give you extra light and be a great centerpiece.


    the light over your dining table is too high. Try lowering it so that the bottom of the light is 5' off the floor. The light should have a diffuser at the bottom so that the light bulb is not directly in your eyes burning out your retinas. Good luck!

  • last year

    Thanks! Ya I was only looking for pendants for the look. Light wise has been fine for me. I mostly just use the island to prep food. No issues with the lighting. Maybe will just replace the pendant by my sink then with something small and more updated to match.

  • last year

    Your kitchen is lovely and inviting
    Have you thought of doing one bigger pendant over the island
    I did it in my beach house

  • last year

    Thank you. Well I just put in new pendant in my dining area. Was trying to match that. Send a pic of what you did!

  • last year

    Photo

  • last year

    Oh that’s really pretty ! Hm I think it would require more work to move around electrics and drywall tho. My ceilings aren’t that high too. Tbink it looks really nice in your space w the high ceiling.