Penninsula lighting - why is it so impossible to decide?!

11 years ago

Quick rundown of the remodel for you to visualize my space: (Demo starts Monday!)

Shaker style cabinets, painted dove white
Granite counters in white ice (see picture - creamy white, with with tones of silver, charcoal and mocha)
Kitchen Aid SS appliances
Oak hardwood floors
Polished chrome hardware, Gilmore bin pulls & knobs
Walls, painted in BM Solitude (a greyish blue)

I have an 87 inch penninsula and want three pendant lights to hang above. I *THINK* I"ve narrowed it down but need your final input. I have liked the idea of black hardware for the lighting to break up the white, and to play off the black chairs I plan on using at the penninsula. Here is what I like, for using black: Either traditioanl (outdoor) onion lights like these:

Traditional Kitchen design by Philadelphia General Contractor Pinemar, Inc

Or these, which have a black stem and white drum shade:
http://www.lightinguniverse.com/mini-pendants/z-lite-200-charleston-mini-pendant_g1056264.html?isku=8157481&term=Charleston&linkloc=searchProductItemsImage.

And if I go with either of those - then maybe just recessed lighting over the sink? Anything else over the sink might fight with them?

Or - go with polished chrome - more industrial. Using this one for over the sink: http://lightnleisure.xolights.com/piccolo-pendant/SKU-ite_item_number-340701

And three of these for the penninsula: http://lightnleisure.xolights.com/one-light-chrome-mono-point/SKU-11UQ7

I know I've posted about lighting before but I had to step away from lighting decisions for awhile because I was getting too overwhelmed.

Demo starts Monday so now it's really decision time.

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Comments (12)

rebeccamomof123
Original Author
11 years ago
Opps, here is the granite picture...
scootermom
11 years ago
Hi Rebecca - I know nothing about lighting but your granite is gorgeous. Reminds me of cookies & cream ice cream. I am a peninsula person (still have a 1960's-70's kitchen though) and will follow your remodel with interest!

I like those onion lights. Will they be too bright? I guess you'd have to use the right kind of bulbs to make sure they aren't too bright.

If you wanted to go with something that matches your hardware more, I prefer the Piccolo one. Not sure I'd mix that with the other one for over the sink (maybe that's not what you were suggesting).

For over the sink, I'd go with something simple, either cans or something small and ceiling mounted rather than hanging, assuming that you don't want your sink to be a focal point.
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rebeccamomof123
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks, scootermom! Yes, I'm in love with my granite. It is my favorite part of the kitchen so far.

I liked the onion lights too, and when I asked a lighting specialist they said they'd work - but that would offer more ambient lighting versus task lighting aimed down. So many nuances to this whole lighting thing!

I think I will stick with can lights over the sink. Why complicate things further., by trying to match, right? And with my layout, I think the sink is too close to where the other lights are going so they'd fight each other versus complement. (see layout attached).

So if I've narrowed it down to the onions versus these, which do you all like better?

http://www.lightinguniverse.com/mini-pendants/z-lite-200-charleston-mini-pendant_g1056264.html?isku=8157481&term=Charleston&linkloc=searchProductItemsImage
cathy725
11 years ago
I feel your pain! I think the Charleston ones will provide better task lighting, but like you I love the look of those onion lights. I think you need to go with the task lighting.

My reno should start in a week or two and I haven't decided on pendants either. I know I need task lighting also.
rebeccamomof123
Original Author
11 years ago
Hey Cathy - aren't you the one that offered to be my "reno buddy" ?? It's fun to have someone else on the same schedule with me. Ours starts Monday (eeek, gulp, breath!!!) I think your light suggestion is also what my gut is telling me. I'll be sorry if I don't go with task lighting. I like the Charleston's a lot so I don't feel like I'm settling - but I did love the onion lights for more of a statement. Maybe I will find another place to use them elsewhere in the house - or outside on a decking post of the new deck my husband PROMISES to build me once the kitchen is done.

All I can say is, start packing your kitchen up gradually. I way under-estimated how long it would take to pack up my kitchen. I"m also cleaning everything as I go, combining spices that I have multiple of... Yesterday was trash day and we filled about 8 bags full of "junk" that we do not want to clutter up the new kitchen with. I had all my medicine tucked into a kitchen cabinet - so it was a good chance to review all the expiration dates of everything and PURGE!

Out with the old - in with the NEW!
kaysd
11 years ago
I love the onion lights. My second choice would be to use the Piccolo pendants over the island.
localeater
11 years ago
I love the onion lanterns, and your granite. You kitchen is going to be great. I do agree with the lighting person and Cathy725, the onion is better for ambient light and the Charleston is better for task. If the peninsula is your primary prep space go for task lighting.
cathy725
11 years ago
Yep, we're reno buddies!!! :)

I have already packed up some of my kitchen. I "thought" we were starting earlier but our GC is waiting on a few things and prefers to have major items in hand (which I understand) before starting.

I had to pack up my dining room also, so I've been doing a lot of packing (I'm getting new floors in the DR, LR, etc). Hopefully I'll be ready when he is!

Post pics of the process. I'll do the same when we finally get started! We can race to the finish line (you will win, because we are doing other things and will be full of dust for several months, I'm sure)!

Oh, I love your granite, too. We will be the light and dark kitchen renos, because my granite is Volga Blue--almost opposite of yours!
impasso
11 years ago
ONION!!! So pretty, and makes a beautiful statement - contrasts so nicely with the white kitchen.
Laura517
11 years ago
I feel your pain! I know you like the onion pendants but are concerned about task lighting. I met with our electrician this week regarding new home lighting. When I asked him what I should be looking for in lighting for our island, he said the brighter the better. I guess I was hoping he would give me a magical number for the size of my "future" pendants. Anyway, it made me realize those stylish 60W fixtures I was checking out online probably weren't going to cut it. I do realize task lighting is important- are you going to be prepping or cooking at your peninsula? If not, go with the ambient lighting that makes a great style statement!
And as for recessed over your sink, yes I agree with you. The hanging lights can compete with each other and be more of a distraction.
eam44
11 years ago
In case it makes you feel better for passing on them here, the glare from the onion lights would have forced you to keep them switched off most of the time. Clear bulb + clear glass shade = rough on the eyes.

Someone should start a post on lighting glare. So many beautiful fixtures are rendered useless because of it...
rebeccamomof123
Original Author
11 years ago
My penninsula will likely be used most for things like packing lunches (I set up an assembly line in the morning since I pack 4 lunches a day) I also think it will be a popular homework and quick meal spot for the kiddos. My kitchen operates like a Disney dining plan;) Two "quick service" meals a day and one "sit down" - which will be at the dining table open off the kitchen.

I do LOVE those onion lights. It's so true though, not all lighting is meant to provide actual funtional light. While stylish and really fun looking, I'd probably be sorry not to have better task lighting over my main counter area. The specs on the light say it takes a 100W incandescent Edison base bulb.

Demo starts tomorrow so it will be a few weeks before the electrician is ready to install pendants. I suppose I could wait and see how the room looks with just the recessed lighting first, to dermine if task is necessary or if I can get away with just ambiant lighting with the onions.

Penninsula lighting - why is it so impossible to decide?!

Comments (12)

rebeccamomof123
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scootermom

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Penninsula lighting - why is it so impossible to decide?!

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