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HELP! - pendant placement for kitchen island

16 years ago

Need help figuring out how many pendants I need and where to place them over my kitchen island. The island has two levels - bar height for dining (8'11" x 3'2") and counter height for main sink/dw/prep (6'9" x 2'). There are skylights above the counter on the right wall plus a full wall of windows (no upper cabinets), so there is plenty of daylight.

Here is the floor plan:

{{!gwi}}

We'd like to use these pendants over the dining area ( 7-1/2" across, 50w). The seating will be three on the long side and one on each end. DH wants 5 pendants with each centered over where the dinner plate would be. Is this too much? Will there be weird shadows or glare on the plates?

{{!gwi}}

These pendants are for over the sink (4" diameter, 50w). Again, how many and where should they be placed? The sink is SS, so I don't think I want one centered directly over the sink. What's the best way to light this?

{{!gwi}}

Any thoughts are appreciated.

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Comments (4)

lmhall2000
16 years ago
I think there would be too many pendants in that space...I think it would work to use 3 of the pendants you (larger ones) centered over the eating area...and one recessed task light centered over your stainless steel sink...you could also use two recessed task lights and center them over your counter space on either side of the sink....you don't want more than 3 hanging pendants in that area...way too busy. Love your layout, it's very similar to a remodel we're doing right now! Please show pictures! I'm using 6 recessed cans in our space...we have one wall that is 12 feet (fridge in same place as yours) and another that runs 11 feet...so I wish we had the space to add the counter height bar, we're just using the sink/dishwasher and storage on other side then extending the bar out in an arch for seating. I'm using a hanging double light over our bar area instead of pendants...but I love the look of 3 pendants with the size bar you have! What sink are you using? We got an Elkay that is 24 inches wide and 21 inches deep..it looks very big but hoping it will work in that space..your island sink looks as big, too! :) Would love to hear how you're working the venting in the island for the dishwasher and disposal...

Tara
andstev
Original Author
16 years ago
Tara - Thanks for the feedback. No pics yet, we just finished demolition and are down to the bare studs. Ceiling is exposed beams (1735 house), so can't do recessed cans over the sink. If I center a pendant over counter space on each side of the sink, do you think the sink itself will be too dark?
Sink size was a big issue. DH fell in love with a 33" x 18" Whitehaus, but I'm going for a 30" x 18" Frank Pro (we have a 33" sink base we are reusing). I am a little concerned about the depth (fitting sink, faucet, soap dispenser and air switch), based on things I've read here, but I have room to cheat the countertop, by narrowing the bar level island by an inch or two if I have to. Something to work through with the granite guy and plumber. Not sure what you're refering to re: venting sink/dishwasher - plumbing is coming up through basement underneath and I've given up all the undersink space for that. It was the same where we had the sink previously, so no great loss. Would love to see pics of your kitchen.

Andrea
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Hi everyone, I've been a long time lurker and occasional poster on this site and always find excellent suggestions here. I was wondering if I could have some advice on where to place pendant lighting over our kitchen island (with raised breakfast bar area). We ordered 3 pendant lights but am not sure where we should hang them. I'm attaching a link to the floor plan of my kitchen for reference. The island is sort of a stretched L-shape, so the placement is causing us some confusion. Specific questions I have are: 1) Do you center the lights over the work/prep area or over the raised bar area? 2) How high to do you hang the lights (how much space between counter/bar and bottom of light?) 3) Do we spread the lights out or have a closer grouping of 3 lights on one side of the l-shape? If the shorter grouping, which side - sink side or the other side? 4)How far apart do you place the pendants? Thanks so much in advance! DB Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen Floor Plan
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I don't have pendents or recessed lighting - so no help there, but if you don't have under cabinet lighting, add that to your list. My under cabinet lighting is the most helpful lighting I have. At a guess, I would say 2 pendants over the island, but your lighting store should also be able to help you. It depends on what you use and if your recessed lights light up the island - then pendants aren't necessary. Change out the track light over the sink for sure.
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I'm not an expert, just enjoy home decor and design. Your kitchen is beautiful. I have a similar cabinet color scheme, stainless appliances, bronze hardware. I choose bronze hardware and pendants because that's what I'm drawn too. I like the warmth of bronze. I read all the time about mixing metals. I'd suggest keeping the same style though. For example not a modern pendant in your traditional kitchen. Good luck and enjoy.
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ilitem
16 years ago
You could place single track heads on the beams for the light over the work area since you can't used recessed lighting. This works well and doesn't interfere with the hanging pendants. We have done this on several jobs and it has turned out great. this would allow you to illuminate the entire work area. I would be sure to have them placed on a separate switch so if they aren't needed, the are off.
andstev
Original Author
16 years ago
ilitem - Thanks for the feedback. As it turns out, we are going with track lighting over the sink.

We had some changes to the floorplan, which cut the 12" overhang on one side of the island, in order to fit our dining table and chairs in the adjacent space. Since we are putting a chandelier over the dining table, it was starting to look like a lighting supply showroom.

So we picked the chandelier and then matched the island pendants to that. Much simpler (and cheaper - since we already have track lights we can use over the sink).

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Thanks for your help

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