These lights don't work in your house.

Thanks for the notes. Which lights do work then? Trying to figure this out. Thanks.

A for sure
B is too busy just too many lights

I would just put a drum pendant over your table. It looks like you want contemporary, but that doesn't fit your house. Look at the transitional lights instead. Here is a search in that category at lumens. Do you see anything you like?
http://www.lumens.com/drum-pendants/?prefn1=Style&prefv1=Transitional

I agree, B especially doesn't work but A doesn't work either.

I'm attaching a more "drum" looking fixture. And also our current (which we HATE).

If you're set on crystal, i would do something like this. http://www.lumens.com/lucia-drum-pendant-by-feiss-uu329122.html#prefn2=Theme&prefv2=Crystal&cgid=8&prefn1=Style&prefv1=Transitional&tileIndex=1

I personally think you need something more casual. Such as:

http://www.lumens.com/sausalito-drum-suspension-by-troy-lighting-uu151720.html#sz=96&cgid=8&prefn1=Style&prefv1=Transitional&tileIndex=7

http://www.lumens.com/alita-drum-by-uttermost-uu146606.html#start=24&sz=24&cgid=8&prefn1=Style&prefv1=Transitional&tileIndex=16 (in silver-- love this fixture)

Can you neutralize some of the ceiling clutter by painting the vents the same color as the ceiling?
I agree you need a light over your dining table, but your kitchen is a working area. Do you need light anywhere? If not, don't add any.
As for the fixture over the table, please make sure it's centered over the table - it doesn't look like it is. Consider centering the fixture on the ceiling with the table centered underneath.
I'm not a fan of drum lights, but I agree you need something simpler.

We have a similar layout and if I had to do it over again I would have skipped the pendants and just done a chandelier over the table. I like the drum chandelier better, but I agree with Amy Stokes. I personally love the sausalito drum pendant.

Hmm. Unfortunately those are completely not my style. Maybe I could do something with my space (as a whole) to make it less transitional and more modern so the other styles of fixtures would "fit" do you think? Or do you think best practice would just to go with a simple casual drum pendant? I was hoping for more drama. But maybe it just won't "work." I tried changing my wall colors, and some other finished, and did another Pendant. Still not working? So confused now! =)

Really like that drum light!!!

Which one jansgirl?

Karelina - The vents are white (same as ceiling) and the lighting mock-ups are just crude representations built in Photoshoot. =) It certainly will be centered.

You can definitely make your house more contemporary, but it will take a lot of work. For the bocci to work, you need both contemporary and more formal. Look up bocci in the photo sections and study those rooms. It is an extremely expensive fixture, and it needs to be surrounded with furnishings in a similar price point. Otherwise, it will look out of place.

Got it. That makes a ton of sense. It's a bold, dramatic piece, and needs to fit to work. I'm asking the piece to work too hard (like thinking a diamond bracelet will add drama to a sweatpants and a tshirt. haha!

Could something as simple as this work? http://www.crateandbarrel.com/eclipse-antiqued-bronze-pendant-lamp/f35010 (noticed I changed a bunch about the space... hopefully for the better).

Looks great. What are you using to get the pictures? Or are you hanging them each time?

I'm a graphic designer, so I'm using Photoshop. =)

It will work, but it is on the plain side. I think you should find something with the drama you were originally wanting. You can have drama, even in a more casual place like your home. Here are two more that I saw. The first is glass, and it may not work at all, but you might try putting it in the photo to see.

Amy, I like the Z Gallery one you posted. Check out two mockups of that one, and then another one that is similar. Thoughts? (I certainly appreciate this! I was thinking about it all wrong!)

Are you going to paint the cabinets gray? That would look more contemporary.
As for the last two fixture, I like the darker one better. The first one gets lost.

I don't think the z Gallerie fixture works. I can't tell on the second. I think you need something that has metal or texture to it since you have windows on all three site lines.

Printesa - Yes, I plan on painting the cabinets, getting new hardware and backslash, painting the whole space a warm grey, and (eventually) refinish the floors a darker stain. Long term, I'd love to open up our staircase as well. But the dining room fixture we have right now. Ugh. Can't stand it! =)

Thanks Amy! If you think of anything else to "try" let me know. Generally the idea of having metal in the fixture isn't totally my style, but who knows, if it works, it works!

http://www.westelm.com/products/faceted-capiz-drum-pendant-w873/?pkey=cchandeliers-pendant-lighting&cm_src=chandeliers-pendant-lighting||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_--_-#viewLargerHeroOverlay

If you're planning on doing a lot of work on your house, I would wait on a great fixture until you have more done. Not only will you risk damaging it, you may change your mind on what you want once you get more in. In the interim, you could get this light from ikea. I have seen it "hacked" where they spray painted the metal pieces in a matte gold and left the inner part white. It was a show stopper and I would have never guessed it was ikea and under $100.

Got it. So many changes to be made. Just hard to know where to start... and the plan was to start w/ the piece that I hated the most.

Hi Michelle,

I didn't care for A or B they were to busy for the room. I added a different type of Drum lighting from Uttermost as a suggestion. We do carry this Drum in our store.

Fascination, 3 Light Hanging Pendant Light by Uttermost.

Available at the essentials inside, www.essentialsinside.com

The classic appeal of crystal is updated for today's sophisticated tastes, with free falling crystals and a silver trimmed, silken drum lamp shade.

Details:
Height: 22.75 in.
Width: 22 in.
Shade size: 22 in. Dia x 8.25 in. H
No. of Lights: 3
Wattage: 100W
Voltage: 110V
Weight: 22 lbs.

Our price $613.80 free shipping and sales no tax!

Please feel free to contact me at contact@essentialsinside..com

Sue,
www.essentialsinside.com

Also, I would suggest you think about matte brass for your kitchen. I think it will be really stunning against your gray cabinets that you photoshopped. Look at Rosa Beltran Design and Little Green Notebook for some inspiration. I think both ladies have the same style you are going for, especially Rosa.

One option would be the Artemide light fixture. It comes in different sizes. https://www.houzz.com/photos/1190-royal-york-contemporary-kitchen-toronto-phvw-vp~74163

Thank you. All great ideas and advice. I have a lot to think about.

I just posted more options in a new post.