ummm..that's weird, all my pictures didn't post!

ok, i'll try again

breakfast nook TODAY with OLD cabinets (that will be replaced with pecan cherry cabinets)
{{!gwi}}

looks into family room with black mantle/white brick fireplace

new kitchen cabinets

New pendant lights we were thinking of getting--bigger than the ones we have now
{{!gwi}}

New breakfast nook chandelier

Faucet/appliances

{{!gwi}}

or do you think these pendants would go better?

I like the first one, with the speckled black frosted glass. Maybe you could do two, instead of three, since they are larger. The first one goes with your granite beautifully.

The way I think of lighting in my own weird way is like this: The chandy is the star, and the pedants are the back-up singers. Need to coordinate, not match. You know, wear the same color dress, but not as fancy as the lead singer's outfit. lol For some reason Diana Ross & the Supremes comes to mind.

#1 might match your granite too closely. And I'm not crazy about the cord. sorry. #2 is better match to the chandy, but the chain doesn't match.

I am struggling how to save photos from the web onto my new computer (don't ask) so, I'll just post some links of 2 ideas I found on a quick visit to Overstock. Might be totally not what you are looking for though.

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Oxford-1-light-Chrome-Mini-Pendant/5555397/product.html

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Titan-Energy-Star-1-light-Satin-Nickel-Mini-Pendant-Light/5555415/product.html

I think you should get what you like. My interior designer (whole house reno/addition) was not helping me pick out lighting (he did the lighting plan, but not picking out the fixtures).

His advice to me was ts - get what you like. Don't worry about matching finishes. He said if you like it when you see a picture or see it among a ton of other fixtures, you will love it installed. Now, I don't think he meant pick things that are totally different styles, but I don't think they need to totally match or "go together". My pendants are bell shaped with chrome or polished nickel accents. I love them. My table fixture isn't up yet, but it's dark bronze.

I think you can't go wrong with either of your choices. Go with whichever one you love!

Rachel

Rachel- what great and wise ( I think) advice....

The choices are wonderful and I agree with beekeeperswife that the first looks too similar to the granite (at least the way the photos go) and the second would be much more interesting. I think they will look great. I havent looked yet at the overstock links so if they grab me I will chime in later but I really like #2.

I still like # 2 best but did think this one might be worthy of consideration?

Here is a link that might be useful: still like yours best but here's another

I started this kitchen reno thinking everything had to match. As I did more research and looked more closely at pictures on the web and in magazines it dawned on me that the styles matched (or more appropriately "went together") but the finishes rarely did.
Now I am totally mixing up my fixture finishes. My pendant over the sink has a darker pewter finish and the chandy over the eat in kitchen table will be a dark bronze. my appliances are SS, my pulls/knobs are a dark grey and my faucet is ORB. Once I let go over the idea that things needed to match I found all kinds of things that I liked :) I also didn't decide on everything in pictures first. I picked out one thing at a time and once I at least saw it in person, or better yet, brought it home I moved onto the next piece.
It made it a lot easier to really visualize the way things were going to look when it all comes together.

With all that said, I like your 1st pendant with the chandy you posted. I would also consider reducing it to 2 lights rather then 3 since the lights look like they'll be rather close together and they're bigger then the ones you have now. (I didn't check any of the lights that people posted links to so I don't know if I like any of them better).

Good luck, can't wait to see what you pick!

Thanks SO MUCH ladies! I looked at the links and love the ones suggested.

I'm finding it so hard to come to a decision!
I'll let you know what I decide to get!!

I'm pretty sure I'll go with the breakfast nook chandy..
what do you think of these pendants? i wanted something a little sparkly, since the chandy has some glass/sparkle to it too.

what do you think?

with this chandlier?

I like the above pendant a lot. Not too matchy, matchy, but definately compliments the chandelier. Your chosen granite is beautiful. What stone is it? I wish I had spent more time choosing my lighting. Our granite goes in on the 22nd and I'm already rethinking my lighting. I like to mix different finishes normally, but our granite is a bit wild (Mascarello), therefore I kept all my finishes brushed nickel and aged pewter so it wouldn't look too busy.
I think your kitchen is going to look beautiful.

jillsee, Yes! I love that one. One thing to consider, if you want light to come out the sides of the globe, does this one do that, or is it more of a downlight? Just want you to think about that in case it is important to you.

But like stacieann said, it really does complement the chandy.

You really only need to hurry up and decide the type and locations of your lighting now. Sometimes it's best to wait until you have things put together more before making up your mind.

OK ladies, what do you think of these fixtures. I changed my mind AGAIN lol. This chandy/ceiling mount fixture is PEFECT. The pic doesn't even do it justice...went to Lamps Plus & saw this as I was picking out our led undercab lighting & knew this would fit right in.

The other ones just hung down too much, and was a tad too busy since we are working with a small space.

The shade actually is a very pretty & sparkly silver which is not the same as the pic! it is just beautiful IRL, the picture makes it look ugly.

the designer there suggested the stainless & slim pendants, again the space is small so that's what we are thinking

here are the pendants
we both liked them b/c they are slim, and will compliment the silver breakfast nook chandy and all the stainless steel we have. again--we are working with such a compact & small kitchen the designer, dh & i thought it was perfect.

What is the name of your granite? I really like it.

I like the very first pendant with that chandy and this last stainless pendant. I like the longer lines and simplicity of those two pendants as well as the color (cleaner/brighter) with the chandy.

To me, the ceiling mount looks more like a bathroom or possibly an entry/hallway fixture. Unless your ceilings are very low and your table very high, I would think it would look awkwardly high. The black, glass and stainless just strike me as perfect for your kitchen and adjoining family room. Looking at them again, and especially if you think the first glass pendant is too much like the granite (not for me -- but if it is for you), the stainless might be a great choice. Look at those two together. And you can adjust the hanging length/height of any chandelier.

Yeah, I like the first one too but since DD does her homework every night at the breakfast table we definitely need more lighting. DH was also worried the black shades would obsure the light even more.

Our breakfast nook area is TINY,and really the footprint is so small. Our ceilings are 8 feet, so I'm leaning towards the last last chandy (that looks more like a bathroom fixture lol).
It's funny b/c IRL when I saw the fixture it took my breath away & again looks so SPARKLY and elegant...it actually has a glam silvery shade-it looks ugly in the photo!
I'm told a lot of people are buying the fixtures now with the shade/pendant for breakfast nook areas. Especially those with limited space like us. Here is an example--not our shade though!

this pic shows what the shade looks like, of course it has crystals on the bottom, not those mod looking bubbles, instead.

some other pics with the drum shade chandelier. looks like nate berkus has one in his breakfast nook too

Here is a link that might be useful: pendant chandelier lighting

OK, I do like the silver shade much better -- but two questions:

1) have you verified that there is more light in this fixture -- often these types don't have much light output and

2) can you put a longer down rod on that if the one it has is too short? The one with the circles shade appears to hang down considerably more than the one you are thinking of. It is the size and height that bothers me - not the big round shade.

Those last photos all show something larger than what I pictured from the earlier photo, but they are also hanging at a reasonable pendant height -- not up a few inches from the ceiling.

BTW -- I have that faucet. :-)

thanks ginger0314! granite is persa avorio..not exactly popular on here but after looking at every granite out there fell in love with it.

our back up choice was biano antico or delicatus. since our kitchen was small and dark we thought a lighter granite would look best.

lascatx,
the drum shade chandelier has the same wattage, but will give off more light since it has a light shade.

I'm thinking (hoping!!)I'll be OK with this type of (drum chandy pendant) fixture. From what the lighting designer told at Lamps Plus, and just researching off the web, informal breakfast areas typically have the "pendant" style lighting fixtures. Especially for low 8ft ceilings, and small breakfast nooks.

Here is what I found from one designer for breakfast nook areas ~
"However, there are also plain chandeliers and this is more likely what you will find in the breakfast nook lighting situation. Breakfast nooks are more informal than dining rooms so simple light fixtures are best.

Another type of light fixture that is sometimes classified as a chandelier, but it really is slightly different is the pendant light fixture. This common breakfast nook light fixture is also sometimes called a drop light or suspender. This style has a single light fixture suspended from the ceiling.

That fixture can have multiple light bulbs inside it, but there are no arms each with their own light bulb. This light fixture is most popular in the breakfast nook because it is simple and easy to match to
any d�cor. A third option for breakfast nook lighting is recessed lighting."

It shows this type of pendant as an example, that is suspended from the ceiling ~

Here is a link that might be useful: informal breakfast nook lighting

Here is how our breakfast nook looks today--excuse the mess, this was taken after drywall/french doors were installed. we have a tiny chandelier that is hiked up really high (due to our low ceilings) and IMO looks funny!

More I think about it, the pendant style probably would look best!

jillsee, the sheer shade chandy you show is a semi flushmount. It will be way up at the ceiling. Or, are they able to get it for you with a chain so it can hang lower?

Here is mine:
{{gwi:1553433}}

hmmmmm....i might need to return it then. darn it! i don't see any chains in the box.

i like your fixture beeskeeper!!

Perhaps not your style, but perhaps somebody else's and might interest you...
Capital Lighting has a series of silvery gold finish pieces that I really like in our local Creative Lighting store. 'Winter gold' is the color, something like slightly tarnished silver or the look of beat-up mercury glass that some others have posted. Worn silver leaf. Warning: they ain't cheap. I'm considering one for my ceiling in dining room to light a walkpath near chandelier but I would have to forego eating in restaurants for a month or two

This warm silver finish would pull the warmth of your new wood cabs into the eating area without really introducing a brass color and would not fight against the stainless and silvery things in kitchen and adjacent rooms.

Many of the fixtures have a rectangularity within the curves that is in that first chandy you posted. Don't rush through these. Take your time--bring each up and really look. Some of these hanging ones have diffusers, which are good for lighting over a work table. They have a formality and also a modernness.

Here is a link that might be useful: Winter Gold finish on Capital Lighting products

ohhh...love those florana! we don't have that store next to us, bummer!

ok, i'm going to return that fixture, you guys know best lol.
how about these? they sell them at lamps plus

or

i know, it's going to be a pita to clean huh?

beeskepper, where did you get the hanging drum style pendant? i'm hoping to find one like that, only a little smaller!

hey jillsee, here's the story of my chandy. I bought the actual crystal chandeliers (yes the one over the island is the same, different shade treatment) and I hunted forever trying to find a chandelier drum shade that I could add. One online store had them but they cost a fortune! So, I went to Wegotlites.com. I went to the chat window and was able to chat with...I think Clarissa, she is so helpful. I sent her a picture/link to what I was looking for, she did some research and found it. (It wasn't listed on their website) It wasn't cheap, but it was much much better than the price at other online store. Maybe $150? Can't remember exactly. She is really helpful, and if you contact her, tell her you missed the 10% off sale they were just having, and see if another one is coming up.

Regarding the 2 recent ones you posted....the first one looks a little "off" to me. I think that piece between the chandy and the chain looks like the plate that usually goes up on the ceiling.

Good luck.

Beekeeperswife knows what I'm talking about -- it's a height/proportion thing. I like her fixture and think it looks great. I think the existing fixture over your breakfast table is too high and if you can't extend the one with the silver shade, it sounds like it would be similar or even worse. But before you give up on that one, if it is the right diameter and you really love it, see if it can be extended. It doesn't have a chain, so it looks like it would need to be a down rod, which is essentially a metal tube that would probably be treaded on one end to screw into the fixture or have some other attachment mechanism. The lighting shop should be able to tell you if it can be done.

I agree with BKW about the first of the most recent 2 photos -- it looks like it was supposed to attach to the ceiling and someone put a chain on it as an afterthought. The second one is very different and dramatic, but I'm not sure it's right for what you are describing.

I would take your time finding light fixtures. All you need right now, as pointed out above, is to know how many and where they go. It will be easier to see what you will really like as other tings go into the kitchen. They will be one of the last things to be installed, and they don't usually take long to get. Take your time.

thx lascatx and beekeeperswife,
yes--i will hold off for now.

i'll take a look at that rod thing to see how long it is. you think if it comes down more, and not a flush-mount style close to the ceiling, it might be OK?
I love the chandelier--perhaps if it doesn't go in my breakfast nook i can use it for dd's room.

I think it is possible, although I probably still prefer the first fixture -- have you seen that one lit? If you have an alternate use for the silver barrel shade one though and really love it, I'd be inclined to keep it (unless it is too expensive) and just figure out where to use it.

Looking at those stainless pendants again, make sure you can get a wide enough beam of light from them to light the area and not just create little spots on your peninsula.

Well, DH & I finally agreed on the breakfast chandy.
It's ordered & I'm DONE. IRL the chandelier is beautiful, trust me! The lamps plus actually sold out in the store so we ended up buying their display model. What I especially liked was the shade had a really pretty carmel veining (can't see it all in the pic!)throughout that compliments our cabinets so well!

The website sure has a crappy pic of this lol.

latcatx pointed out the mini pendants will probably be too narrow-we got the 4" access in ss so that , in addition, with the chandy, will give us plenty of light in that breakfast nook area. The other smaller pendants had crappy reviews, and these new ones we got had great reviews so it's a good thing we switched.
thanks to everyone for the suggestions!