Here's an older thread that may give you some ideas...I saw a couple that match your needs. Good luck- it sounds great! Here is a link that might be useful: Previous island thread

It took me forever to decide on the lights over my island. I originally bought some bell shaped pendants but decided they were too generic looking and I didn't want to deal with the bugs and dust inside. I have low ceilings so I finally decided on some semi-flush mounted fixtures from Restoration Hardware. They're 9 inches in diameter and there will be 3 of them over my 12 foot long island. Still need to find something for over my kitchen sink ... >.

I so appreciate you all helping me end my confusion ;-) They are all so beautiful. Now I have added the "do I want glass or metal shades" to my search! I also notice most of you who posted have white kitchens. My kitchen will be a dark stained maple (whiskey black) with verniz tropical granite on the island and giallo antico on the perimeter. I haven't decided on a backsplash yet, but I am doing oil rubbed bronze hardware and faucet, and have white appliances. I have white/beige tile floors. I was thinking I may do a metal oil rubbed bronze light, or a yellow +/or orangeish art glass light with bronze downrods over the island and then Hunter Hamilton over the kitchen windows with the coordinating 3 light chandelier over the table in the kitchen. The kitchen table and chairs and island chairs I was thinking of doing in black to pick up the black glaze on the cabinets, with a lighter cushion on the seat. Any thoughts?

Thank you guys so much - I thought this thread was going to fall into oblivion so I am happy to see responses. One thing I noticed was that both of you have, in one form or another, a free side without chairs blocking access. Today when I was bringing in groceries I thought about how it wouldn't work so well to have to lift things over chair tops to set them down on the table. Hhhhm, gets me thinking. I really like the concept of making it 1/2 "real island" like yours budge1 - and that only uses up 1 side while leaving 3 for seating. And antiquesilver, your kitchen is really pretty. I think the table adds a lot of attractiveness to your kitchen so this is showing me I am on the right path for my own kitchen asthetically.