design dilemma: pendant lights in the kitchen

March 1, 2016

Today I’m back with another reader design dilemma (check out the first installment of this series here). This one’s from Katie, from the blog Isn’t That Grand, who recently bought her first home and is working her way through renovating each room. She’s currently working on updating her kitchen and has hit a road block called indecision. When it comes to renovating, design and decorating I’d say we’ve all been struck by the indecision bug a time or two, right? What’s troubling Katie? Kitchen lighting issues. #thestruggleisreal #firstworldproblems

Reader Design Dilemma - Pendant Lights over the Kitchen Island

Katie has already started with her kitchen reno by painting most of the cabinets a really pretty dark grey. You’ll have to head over to her blog to see the full before in order to truly appreciate the full on awesome power of paint in here. This grey looks fantastic, and Katie has fun plans for her kitchen island. She also plans to remove the decorative wood valance above the sink. But first she wants to nail down her lighting plan because her current kitchen has zero overhead lighting! Crazy right? Did the people who lived here before her cook in the dark? Or maybe they gave new meaning to the ol’ early bird special and only ate dinner before sunset? I just can’t imagine cooking in a kitchen with no overhead lighting, but I digress.

Katie’s main question is about whether or not to add pendant lights over the island. She plans to add recessed can lights throughout the kitchen and is waffling over adding cans or pendants over the island. Her main concern is that pendants will block the kitchen from the attached dining area creating a closed in look when what she’s aiming for is an open kitchen and dining space.

I say, go for the pendants! I’d bring in two over this island. I think adding pendants over the island will really bring home that updated look Katie is wanting in her kithcen. Lighting really is everything, and is a relatively simple and inexpensive way to update a space. Plus, I think with the right pendants her concern of closing things off will not be an issue at all. I can understand the concern she has; but going with an all glass or low profile style pendant will create interest, update the overall look and feel of the kitchen, without being a visual barrier to the sightline of the dining area. Here are a few of the options I pulled knowing that Katie likes that industrial farmhouse look.

lighting options for pendants over a kitchen island

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,

Okay so admittedly number 5 probably won’t work in Katie’s kitchen. I don’t have her island measurements, but I’m thinking two of those over her island might be overkill. However, I just had to include them because I think they’re so cool, and I’m sure there’s a modern industrial farmhouse kitchen out there that needs these stat. If Katie’s wanting to go for a bit more of a modern farmhouse feel, I really like option 3.

I think the white enamel paired with a hint of copper is such a great look and will pair nicely with the grey cabinets. Plus the low profile will be understated yet interesting. Options 1, 2, 4, or 6 I don’t think you could go wrong with, although I’d say number 2 will make the biggest statement. I know 1 and 6 are really similar, but 6 has a more modern feel being that it doesn’t have a chain. All of those options will look great and being that they’re all glass that open feeling Katie likes will still be there. Best part is every option I pulled is less than $100!

This is a terrible mock-up, you’ll have to forgive my lack of photo editing skills, but this gives you an idea of what option 3 would look like.

They would add just enough interest without taking over the space. And I don’t know all of Katie’s plans for her kitchen, but these particular pendants would look amazing with a white subway tile backsplash and dark grey grout.

SO what do you all think? Should Katie opt for pendants or can lights over her island? And which pendant style light do you prefer?

If you’ve got a design dilemma weighing on your mind and would like a fresh set of eyes to help you flush out ideas, submit it here —-> Carmel@ourfifthhouse.com. I would love to help you brainstorm!

Thanks very much to Katie for submitting her design dilemma. Good luck with your new home! Can’t wait to see what you decide!

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Say you used one of these pendants over your island. Then, what should she do over her table? That's where I get stuck. Not sure how much to coordinate.

Carmel!! Thank you so much this post and your input! I love the glass fixtures you picked out and think they'd keep a nice open feel to the space. I will definitely keep you posted with what we decide.

I love the clear glass options but after experiencing them in my own home, I would have a hard time choosing them again. That are super hard to keep clean. Dust easily and visibly builds up on the clear glass. Maybe you're more diligent when it comes to cleaning than I am but just my two cents.

Not a fan of clear glass near a cooking area. Nightmare to keep clean. So I like your option of the metal, not sure about the style though.

I would definitely choose something clear; #1 would be my first choice. I think it goes with the space, keeps things open, and is in par with the design. With some paint on the doors and under the island, this room could be super cute!

I'm a chandelier person, so I always tend to lean toward placing them over the table. If she could find one with the same finish and some style of round globe type glass to coordinate but not be too matchy matchy, I think it would work.

Yes, over the island, and definitely #2, two of them. They would bring a modern and sophisticated touch and perfectly match with the grey elements!

Ditto. I have a chandelier (from my mom's old house – the only thing I asked for when she was moving) I have glass pendants over my island and the only thing coordinated between the lights is they're both silver in tone – but the dining room chandelier is blue pottery with pewter and the kitchen lights are nickel. My cabinet pulls are also a nickel (matte). Not matchy matchy but they go together….

I agree with you about adding pendants or the island, I think it would help modernize the space a bit.

Additionally, I would paint the bulkhead above her cabinets the same color as the cabinets. It would give the illusion that the cabinets go to the ceiling and would bring some much needed height to the space!

Carmel – thanks for those light (brands & websites). I'm starting to look at replacing sconces in my living room and Claxy has some great options on Amazon that I found when I looked up my favorite light from your list, #6! We built our house in 2001 and a lot of the fixtures we used were leftover from other uses – the LR sconces came from one of my dad's houses and while perfectly fine, have never been my style. Their time has come…. 🙂

DEFINITELY pendants! I like options 1 and 2 the best!

Pendants all the way! I like #6 but I agree that the ones Carmel picked with the enamel shade will be great in a farmhouse kitchen!

Yes, I think a chandy that coordinates but isn't too match-y would be great.

Thank you!

I love using the swiffer 360 pads to dust lighting and other things that aren't within reach. I've had glass pendants before and didn't think they were too bad……my struggle is ceiling fans! Gah….they're always dusty around here!

I think there's enough distance between the cooktop and the island where these lights will hang for that to not be an issue. But I really like the metal ones. It's hard to do a mock-up with a half completed space, but I think once the island is painted they'd look fantastic.

We had a similar dilemma and I used pendants over the island and cans in the eating area. It creates a nice separation between the 'cooking' area and the 'eating' area. It looks fab!

Thanks Carmel for all the lovely tips.

I agree, pendants! If the sight-line is an issue, the ones that are more clear would also help with that issue… or it seems like it would! I wish we had an island in our kitchen, pendant shopping sounds like so much fun… there are so many options now for affordable prices!

http://danielleandco.com/blog/2016/design-around-bold-sheets

I do like pendants but I'm biased as I have them in my kitchen as well. My only concern would be the clear light fixtures and clear bulbs – I prefer soft white lighting – the clear lights I tried in my house and found they tend to cast shadows and draws the eye where it should not go. I do like that #3 is streamlined and doesn't detract but I'd lean more towards #2 (without clear class).

I love the gray cabinets, and subway tile is classy and timeless but I would not use an accent color for the grout. Maybe I'm just having a hard time visualizing it, I'm admittedly a more visual person.

Those barstools are fabulous!

I think #4 would look great with the bar stools. The mock up in the picture is a bit overpowering to me and makes the space above the bar look heavy.

Since I was so focused on my love of farmhouse pendant lights, I hadn't considered a chandy over the table – interesting idea! Time to start thrifting 🙂

Great point on the glass! And, I love me some swiffer pads for dusting.

Painting the soffit in an AMAZING idea! New cabinets aren't in the budget and I'd been trying to figure out what to do up there (tear it out, put bead board up to add height/make it flush the the cabinets, etc.). Painting it dark had never occurred to me, and I LOVE it. I'd also like to do a full backsplash of white subway tile.

I definitely can't wait to get the subway tile up! Thanks for the barstool love. I ordered them from Target and then arrived the next day. If you keep an eye on sales and use your Red Card, you can get them for as little at $75 for two: http://goo.gl/CixysJ

We are currently building and have an island, plus a spot for a chandy above the table. We purchased three of the linked pendents below in the ORB finish. I love that they are light looking, see through, easy to clean and a bit rustic. I debated pendants just like the option #2 however I worried that with grease or other splatter on such a large glass light it would show very easily. I also worried that I would always be cleaning them, who wants to eat under a dusty lamp? Not me! Just another option if you are looking for one! If you happen to find a chandelier that coordinates to these, I would love you forever!! Haha!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/12666442680448002/

I love pendants in a kitchen, but I really don't think she needs them. I think it's the configuration of the kitchen, and the way the island relates to the rest of the kitchen. I think pendants might be too much. I think lots of recessed lights and under cabinet lights would make a huge difference.

Just bought 6 for over my kitchen sink from your site (I hope it's affiliate linked!) We're slowly changing out every light in this home to match our style and it's taking forever but with each light I get a little happier!

I would really try to get an idea of what the lights would look like with actual bulbs in. I had a friend who did this in their kitchen in Malaga, and they didn't think the brightness and width of the lamp would make a difference, but they did and they ended up going through a whole bunch of lamps before they found one that was practical!

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