Thanks for the kind words - I can't tell you the AGONY it took to get to that decision! I had mockups with all different lighting scenarios (two pendents, one mount, two drops, the one light, etc.) - and went round and round. Really, the reason I mostly wanted two was because I see all the pictures on here or Houzz where people have these beautiful islands with pendants, but I do think a small island is a different story. You don't want to overwhelm it with too much above, you know? Yes, the time to pick where the lights are going is when they are doing electrical, which is often before you really now what you have planned, and for most, before they have the lights. I actually HAD my lights originally - two lanterns - and did the electric for that, then they put in the island and it was going to be WAY too much over the island. So, they went back in and made it one light, did the drywall repair - and I paid a change order. If you're ceiling is still open, it's easy - once they put the drywall up and have cut the holes, that's when it's a little trickier. Still doable, but tricky. I think you are absolutely in a situation where you can make a change now - and they have to respect it without a change order - if they did not inform you that there were studs that would not allow the lights to be where you wanted them placed. They can't just "freelance" that decision - or they can and risk that it has to be redone (which is usually what happens.) In reality, electricians usually plow ahead while doing all sorts of work - if it's not specified, they'll just work around a stud or problem and pick a spot. GCs usually aren't hovering around so they don't notice it until you point it out. I encountered that with where the four recessed lights that are around the island were going to go - our house is nearly 100 yrs old and there were some constraints there. I wouldn't go into the conversation though without having a good idea if you're going with one lighting mount (for either one light or one lighting mount with two pendants on it) or two - they are going to want to know that immediately. We don't care the stage you're in - snap a pic on your phone and post it. Open ceiling and walls is totally fine - can let us see the space? and do you have your cabinet plan? A nice designer on Houzz mocked up my cabinet plan with the lights that I had picked - the two pendants or the one I went with, and that did the trick. I'd be happy to pay it forward for you. (Come to think of it, I need to track her down on Houzz and thank her!)

Your current set up looks nice; however, your island would look more balanced if you spaced out the lights a bit. If you like vintage-style lights, you should check out our hanging oldage barn lights. They'd look great with your island!

I'd go for a drum shade pendant. It doesn't have to match, just a similar design.

And how LONG will you have the kitchen?? Ten years? divide 900.00 dollars by ten years. I bet you spend a lot more on hair and nails. None that you love in your inspo, would be THREE on your island, you could only do two. It cost just as much to hang something you don't love. Or get something close. to what you love for 199.00. Or 99.00 bucks! . Wjich this is, and you need three as it is 10 inches wide : ) Question is over ten years ..........do you find sixty or ninety dollars a YEAR? TO LOVE THEM. RIGHT SIZED FOR NINE FEET ? You need only two......so its 600.00 dollar deltA, over assumed ten years. This below is close to 400.00