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Light above island - How far to hang?

15 years ago

I normally frequent on the decorating forum but it was suggested I ask here. I did search this forum but nothing came up so I apologize if this question is asked a lot. I did search online and found a variety of answers.

There's seating on one side of my island. I'm 5'1" and DH is 5'10". Don't know if that means anything or not. Island is 3' tall. Is there a standard for light hanging here like there is the kitchen table?

TIA!

Featured Answer

idrive65

15 years ago

We "eyeballed it" and ours are 28 1/2 inches above the island. If we had high ceilings, big fixtures, or brighter lights we might have gone higher.

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Comments (6)

igloochic
15 years ago
I couldn't find a standard when I was to light hanging so I just eyeballed it. As it turns out, it's about 36" off of the counter surface. It sheds plenty of light but does not get in the way.
User
Original Author
15 years ago
Igoo - 36" to the bottom of the fixture?

I love that light! Where'd you find that one at?
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lucypwd
15 years ago
I have 3 small pendants - the bottom of the pendant is 27 1/2" from the island. The pendant itself is 4 1/2" long and about 3" wide sort of a mini globe.
chachashea
15 years ago
My designer mentioned different heights depending on whether or not there was seating. I seem to remember the recommended height for counter seating was 66" from the floor to the bottom of the fixture. And maybe 72" if there was no seating.

The old standby of a balloon on a string allowed my husband and I to hold our "fixture" at different heights to see what looked best to us. We went with 66" from the ground for three small pendants. Hopefully it will look good when they're intstalled in a few weeks.
Buehl
15 years ago
I would ask this question on the Lighting Forum... I remember reading either here or there (quite a while ago) about how to determine how high a light should be above a surface as well as how to determine the appropriate sized light fixture. Unfortunately, I don't appear to have saved the info.

Good luck!

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