I used to grow Lithops and other mesembs and some dwarf cactus in my mid-town apartment, I used bookshelves that had 2-ft banks of fluorescent lights screwed into the undersides, and had the plants within 2-3" of the lights themselves - if the distance were any greater the light is not enough, you can do this for small species like the ones I mentioned, but something more leafy like bursera will not look very good under anything other than HID lamps, which are not practical in an apt. I also kept a small fan running 24-7, it built up black soot in about 3 days after cleaning it, just think of what the NYC air is doing to our lungs. There's nothing wrong with a sunny windowsill, you don't need supplements as long as you get about 3 hours of sun, just be careful not to knock the plant off! I used to go to the NY Cactus & Succ Society meetings, they were every other month on E 72nd, but it was mainly older folk, I did not fit in to that crowd and it was pretty lame.

The work plane of 30 inches (2.5ft), is the height above the floor where the footcandle and beam diameter measurements are taken. The column in the middle with the additional heights, refer to the height of the ceiling where the light is recessed. For an 8ft ceiling, you get a measurement of 37 fc and a beam diameter of 5 ft, when measured on a flat surface 2.5 ft above the floor. The answer to your question about the diameter of the light at eye level can be extrapolated depending on your ceiling height. However, I am not sure the answer is a relevant. This will only tell you whether you are getting direct downlight from the fixture on your head. Note also that the beam of light from the fixture is not entirely uniform. As the spec says, the intensity of the beam is only at max in 50% of the beam directly under the fixture. The intensity of the beam will diminish as you get to the edge of the beam diameter.

If you don't mind doing a little research and if your electrician is cool with it you can save quite a bit by getting lighting materials online. The first electrician I got a quote from wanted to provide materials and they were not exactly what I wanted plus he wanted an arm and a leg for them. The electrician I went with had no problem with me providing the materials. For many of the materials the difference between online prices and local retailers is huge. The cans I decided to use were cheap Halo 6" cans. I ended up buying them from Lowes as there was no significant savings to be found online. However, the Cree LR6 LED fixtures I put in them were $78 each from an online retailer which was a big savings over anything local. For under/over cabinet lighting I bought CL2 low voltage wire online and he installed it. Good wire is incredibly cheap online and incredibly expensive locally. I also bought the transformer and led light strips online. He installed the transformer. I installed the strips which consisted of screwing in a few little clips and plugging them in. Again, big savings - especially if you know where to get the LED strips from. He wired boxes for my island pendants. I got the 12V fixtures online and hung them myself. Again, pretty easy to install. I ended up with nicer and more efficient materials at a much lower cost than I was first quoted.

Certainly, combining different types of lighting fixtures like pendants and sconces can add layers and dimensions to your kitchen's lighting scheme. However, there are a few considerations to keep in mind: Scale and Proportion: Make sure that the pendants and sconce are proportionate to their respective locations as well as to each other. They don't have to match exactly, but they should look harmonious within the space. Style Consistency: The pendants and sconce should complement each other in style. Whether your kitchen leans towards modern, traditional, or somewhere in between, the lighting fixtures should reflect that. Functionality: Consider what tasks you'll be performing under each light source. Pendants are often used for tasks that require focused light, like chopping or reading recipes, while sconces can provide softer, more ambient light. Make sure each serves a functional purpose in addition to their aesthetic appeal. Color Temperature: Keep the color temperature consistent between the pendants and the sconce. Mixed lighting can create a disjointed feel. Control: Consider installing dimmer switches for both the pendants and the sconce, allowing you to control the lighting according to your needs or mood. Spacing: Be mindful of not overcrowding the area with too many fixtures. Make sure each light fixture has enough space to shine without overwhelming the others. If you keep these factors in mind, there's no reason why you can't successfully incorporate both pendants and a sconce into your kitchen lighting design.