Look for a fixture style called "semi-flush", which is taller than a standard flushmount and usually somewhat dressier-looking, but shorter than a conventional chandelier or pendant. You don't say what style you're looking for, so it's virtually impossible to recommend something specific, but there's a wide range of styles out there from dripping-crystals to ultramodern. Rejuvenation.com and schoolhouseelectric.com both have a bunch of pretty semi-flush fixtures with groupings of small pendants on a single mounting so that you can avoid accentuating that popcorn the way you would with an uplight version - at Schoolhouse they're listed under "pan chandeliers".

Hi I chose the Schuler cabinets from Lowes. I think the quality is outstanding and Lowes was easy to work with. This is my third kitchen in 5 years so I do have some experience. I would choose to use Schuler again without hesitation. I also wanted to let you know that I just asked for the 10% off my cabinet order. They had to approve it through a manager but it was not a problem. I just let them know that I was not going to order the cabinets until I received the coupon in the mail. So they gave it to me without the coupon. It saved me $2500; basically paying for my advantium Important things if you use a lowes KD....Or any KD for that matter... Lowes KDs are usually beginners. My KD was great but I am sure there are some bad ones too. You will need more than average understanding of the process. Bring copies of the appliance spec sheets for the KD to keep. That way there is not any confusion. Bring all measurements, elevations etc. Recheck your measurements several times before you order. Learn the codes so you can check everything. My Lowes KD gave me an old spec book so I could work on my design at home. It is really not hard to do. Bring pictures of your space. Anything like that will help the KD get a visual of your space. Also bring pictures of things you want in your kitchen. For instance, I wanted a hutch looking run of cabinets. It saved time describing what I wanted. Order extra fillers. they are cheap. It takes 2 weeks to get extras if your installer makes a mistake. You can go in Lowes in between your visits and sit with the spec book. Don't count on them to cover every detail. My KD missed a few things because she didn't order the modifications correctly. Schuler can do more modifications than most cabinet companies. But it costs a lot. If you are doing a lot of mods- you will likely be better off with custom. Depth mods usually add 15%. End treatments another 15%. My herloom finish was an extra $5000. It can really add up. Good luck.

I also thought of that Kathy Ireland fixture..:) I have it saved as well the diameter is though smaller than what you were looking for..not that it makes it a "no"..but I remembered you wanting a bigger one you can though, besides contemplating the overhead lighting.. a) go for sconces. besides lamps etc. they're higher..gives a different feel. b) consider installing a skylight. totally changes the perception of the ceiling's height it is a personal preference..and a matter of what one's accustomed to. I grew up having overhead lights. True, our ceilings were much higher then.. Together with that, you should do the best with the space you've got I broke the rule of "no overhead lights with standard ceilings"..where I could of course..I'm happy I did-it breaks the expanse of the ceiling..brings more interest..you're less concentrating on that "oh my ceilings are low" but every room is different. some are square, some are rectangular....some are darker, some are naturally lighter..take your own unique space into account say, in the master that's kinda long, we installed a skylight...put a pendant in the corner, over the sitting area..installed sconces...also have table lamps of course in DD's room that's small and already has a skylight, we didn't hardwire anything, but I bought this vintage wall chandelier..a long sconce, essentially..it's not overhead lighting yet it looks like one...:) that brings the feeling that chandeliers usually give..and what's important is the feeling. The feeling, you can get in many ways, as I've learned... In other rooms that are either smaller or somehow more conductive to have this overhead lighting, I went with flush mounts or semi flush..it looks totally fine. They're all on dimmers-we saw to that..and there are other lamps in the rooms, table ones next to beds, and floor ones, and sconces..so you don't rely on this overhead light only..but you have it. You have layers of lighting, and it gives you all the flexibility. And you control the feel and the function..which is obviously a very good thing. That taught me there are no rules set in stone..you look at your room and you see by what means you can get the feel and the function you're after. And if it's a mix that's the best of course.

I guess it depends on what one's used to Standard 8' ceilings here were a challenge to me in our new house, because it was the lowest ceiling heigh I ever had. I'm not from the US and other countries I lived in had a different standard that was higher ceiling(maybe due to metric system lol). Growing up in the older part of a very old big city-ceilings were even higher. But I loved the house a lot and was willing to work with whatever it had. And it had 8' ceiling everywhere but the entry(which by the way was altered by the previous owners to become higher) and the living room. 7 in the dining but during remodel we were able to raise them up a foot. My way of handling the thing was: a) a thought of crown moulding-previous owners put it in their master bath(tiny supermodest space really)-but I swear to you it looked at least a foor higher than the adjusting bedroom. this thought never became reality though because expenses grew and had to give up on some things. crown moldings were the first to go. lol b) skylights. previous owners had installed several and they drastically change perception of height and space..for the better. so we installed another one when we had our addition built. It also helped to break rectangularity of the room..we also didn't put a door between it and a master bath but left arch opening between them (the toilet got its own small room of course). Otherwise we'd be left with extremely boring room that's too long, too dark, and doesn't inspire any desire to stay there. Giving it more depth and light helped tremendously c) and very important as I agonized over it. Painting the celings the same color-or the color that would look like the same color(which was, in our case either 50% or 66% percent of the initial formula), as the walls. The lines blend, you don't have this feeling the ceiling is about to fall on you. I'm 5.4 so not tall at all..but I can be sensitive to spaces, and sometimes weirdly sensitive. Part of my physique. Lol. d) ditching some common rules. I did install central fixtures where it made sense, and pendants, and sconces..and it took attention away from the lower ceiling, because now you had something interesting to look at instead of calculating ceiling height I have table lamps and floor lamps too, so layers of lighting. I read so much about it all and was in that state of don't do this and don't do that..until I became very tired of it and just took from all this reading whatever I deemed helpful and disregarded everything else. Freedom! now your ceilings are lower, and your kitchen sounds challenging. Regarding kitchen-Kitchen forum is (justly so) considered the best in the matters of planning and advice on everything kitchen, so post your plan there and I believe you'll get many helpful thoughtful answers, regarding layout, workability, etcetera They are very sensitive to specific needs of specific person/family in a specific kitchen, and your plan with dimensions and if possible photos of the space will be very helpful to them to suggest things specific to your kitchen tailored to your needs/wants/budget etc. If you ask very general question it's great when you just want to have an interesting discussion. But if you're willing to get specific advice, and often very good one, I highly advise Kitchens forum. Just copy-paste your question there, and add even a basic rough plan with dimensions. And several pics to show different walls and how kitchen connects to other rooms in the house. I remember myself daring to ask on some site that had this option "Ask a designer" a general question "What do I do with low ceiling" and I got a very kind but very standard answer to paint everything white. It's okay, one can paint everything white of course; especially works well with high ceilings, architectural moldings, and in Paris lol), but didn't provide me with any insight. Sorry for the long post!