As in so many situations, the answer is it depends. What pendants are you thinking of? How wide/tall? How is the light reflected--up, down, etc.? Perhaps a longer, linear fixture would work as well.

See if you can post a photo of the pendants you are considering to get better advice.

Thanks Diana.

I have been looking at cone-shaped, trapezoid-shaped pendants, and love the ones here but want warmer oil-rubbed bronze instead of nickel or black.

https://www.lampsplus.com/products/trapezoid-18-inch-wide-black-pendant-light-with-white-shade__1311c.html

https://www.lampsplus.com/products/hinkley-clarke-16-and-one-quarter-inchw-polished-nickel-drum-pendant-light__921w0.html

Pendant size if TWO, I've been looking 16 - 18" --- I realized that based on the online advice, for two pendants and our size of island, I should be looking at 20" but that seems gigantic to me.

If we did 3 lights, I like something like this:

https://www.lampsplus.com/products/izel-1-light-glass-pendant-oil-rubbed-bronze__9164e.html

I do not like looking at bare bulbs so will not entertain any fixture that is "open"

I have also considered ceramic drop, but want enough light from the pendant to actually make a difference for task.

The style of the home is southwest but the fixtures more modern (less ornate); our walls are off-white; light-medium wood flooring, lots of light, medium-tone wood beams in LR and Den.

For a 10' island I think three trapezoidal pendants from Lamps Plus would work. Two of those would kind of get lost.

A linear fixture like this could work too:

Diana, do you mean 3 of the larger trapezoidal (16" or 18"), or 3 of the smaller trapezoidal (12").

The examples I shared all from Lamps Plus so not sure which you are referring to.

Regarding linear, I had thought about that, but in general I prefer the single hanging pendant (whether 2 or 3).

Thank you so much for responding.

Post pics here of the lights you like with the sizes I almost always like 3 better than two but it depends on the fixture I will say the sink directly across from the range and the stools in the work area would make me crazy . Who is sitting at the socail area? IMO all the slools along one side would be better so abit more info too All this added in comments here DO NOT start another post or we might never find you again , Houzz is having huge issues that do not seem to be getting fixed.

I think 3 of either the 16" or the 18" would work. But you might want to either draw them to scale or make a mock up with string and paper.

^ agree, I think mocking them up works well - it helped me actually see/understand the scale better

if it were me, I’d avoid black down rods - I wouldn’t love those lines against the backwall/hood -

you mentioned ceramic, have the you seen the BTC original pendants out of the UK? we have them, love that there is no hardware/finish

There is also the option of no pendants and just do 4" recessed lights ... to keep your "more statement" hood as the focal point. Hanging pendants will usually stop the eyes from looking/seeing all the way to the back wall and the hood will become secondary.

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. I'm attaching an in-progress photo of the kitchen with island, although no countertop. My camera doesn't capture the wood stain color very accurately, but this may help visualization.

Note, regarding seating, we definitely want a "communal" feeling, vs a "bar" where everyone seated is facing the chef/bartender, Also, because this is a remodel, we wanted/needed to have good flow on the left side of the island (i.e. no seating).

I'm curious about your thoughts now looking at the in-progress?

chispa, you nailed it with your comments on Galilee Lighting. We should all flag their posts as spam.

It’s hard to tell from the photo -does the skylight impede on where a pendant could hang? If it were me I would probably lean toward 3 smaller scale pendants but would need to mock up with string and balloons to eyeball it in person (def not a pro 😅)

Zero pendants. The island is off center from the back wall which is perfectly fine in my book. But between that, the skylights, the wall to the left, and the range hood I think adding one more thing that doesn't line up will put the asymmetry on display instead of your beautiful kitchen.

Thank you @la_la Girl and @azline for your thoughts. This is a remodel and we added on to the existing kitchen (which had skylight on the far left), and so skylight #2 was to provide more light to the whole kitchen space. The skylights are NOT over the island; they are in the walk-space between island and back wall. The idea of no pendants is intriguing; it would be easy enough to add a couple more recessed lights on the ceiling over the island.

I am mocking up some photos now and will upload.

I wouldnt do any. I’d put recessed cans in. It will be hard to center pendants with those giant (and beautiful) sky lights. I have an island a little smaller than yours with three pendants. I never use them. TBH they are kind of distracting when they are on. I use the recessed lights over the island instead. Beautiful kitchen btw!

@rockybird thank you for your perspective, especially since you have pendants you never use. I'm curious though if you still like the "look" of the pendants even if you don't use.

Here is a photo. I honestly think I would be happy if I didnt have them. When I installed them, I thought everyone was supposed to have pendants over the island. The canned lights work better IMO.

Thank you @rockybird for posting the photo of you island. I definitely have been under the assumption/expectation that I am supposed to have pendants. To the point where I'm having a hard time deciding on a Dining Room light (DR is open to the right of the kitchen). It's like the tail wagging the dog. I'm going to ponder the idea of no pendants..... feeling liberated to consider that.