I don't know if I'll get this right, but I think the first one is pretty, but very modern. The cabinets appear to be more traditional and so I'll say #2.

Thanks Brutuses...opinions are what i'm after! ;)
I agree with your statement...I was afraid of whatever I pick being too "predictable" if that makes any sense. I tend to go for matchy-matchy and love when i can get everything to coordinate perfectly...but then I feel like I loose the punch or extra visual interest.

Would the first one look ok, or is it totally wrong for the space?

Wow, your kitchen is really pretty! You did a fantastic job. I really like the cabinets and the granite! As for your lighting, I agree that the first one is much more modern than the 2nd, which is my personal favorite. However, I believe either light would look perfectly fine. One thing that was a deciding factor when we chose our lighting was the color of the globes. We liked the ones that had the more amber colored globes instead of the white. We really liked how they look and the light that comes from them is softer, IMO.

I think I get what you're saying.

Our kitchens have a lot in common. What is the name of your granite? It looks similar to mine and my kitchen is Blonde. :)

Don't know how long you've been looking at lighting. Is what you want, a more updated version of traditional? If so, I like #1 better. Two, while lovely, is a little sweet and predictable.

I think with the sleek lines of your stove vent and the oven, itself, you can get away with a different look for your lighting. Don't know if I'd call #1 overly contemporary but more of a soft arts and crafts.

You could do more contemporary in your room without a problem.

Beautiful kitchen.

I really love your kitchen! Gosh, I wish I would've picked different cabinets. Anyhow, I think either light would work but I also prefer #2. Scarlet makes a good point about the globes too.

Thanks everyone...great comments!!!

Scarlett - Thank you :) the cabinets are the only thing that remains of the original kitchen...we replaced the stove and ineffective OTR micro, took out the raised bar, changed the granite and added the breakfast area cabinets. You're right about the color of the globes..there were many lights I also liked that had whiter globes and I dismissed them very quickly. The color and sheen of #2 matches the creams that are in the granite and pretty soon the backsplash tile...

Parma - You know, I wish I knew what the granite was...the name they gave us was "Scott" which is the name of the owner of the the stone yard ;) I haven't seen another stone like it that i could even say maybe that's it...I'm stumped! Thank you for your compliments and I think I've seen your kitchen in the "Blonde" thread and yes, they are quite similar.

I've been looking at lights practically everyday for weeks. I think that's what i'm looking for...something that's a little unexpected, but I don't want it to look like I closed my eyes and pointed ;) What draws me to #1 is the darkness of the metal. I'll have black leather barstools and there are plenty of dark streaks running through the granite. I hadn't thought of it being a little arts and crafts (which I love) but I see it now that you mention it.
It seems like the tone of #2 would get lost, blend in too much...but it does match perfectly.

Shee - Thank you! Your cabinets are beautiful, as is the rest of your kitchen :) How are you liking your island light?
The globes on #1 say dark cream? So hard to tell online and no one carries either locally.

Would adding my backplash help to rule out one or the other? I plan to use this blend behind the stove and then the coordinating porcelain subways as the field tile with a row or two of a reddish brown accent tile.

Here is a link that might be useful: backsplash

ok...so we're all painted and the lights are up!! Ended up going with the #2 choice. I thought since the granite was so complex that I didn't want the lights to be. They are a nice compliment to the kitchen as a whole and I love them!
The paint color is Spun Sugar - Martha Stewart from Lowes. Very close to SW Blonde but a little deeper.

Thanks for your help!!! :)

BTW, we are changing the semi-flush to a 3 light chandelier for more light and I really think it will look nicer too. Still need to do the backsplash tile and a whole bunch of other things but it's coming along!!!

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little bit of a shadow there...sorry about that
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Wow, I really, really like that light fixture! It looks great over your island and your paint choice really warms up your kitchen and makes it look so inviting. It is amazing what a can of paint can do! I loved your kitchen before, the blue was really pretty but I like the yellow even better! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Scarlet!! yeah, that color did nothing...those cans of paint ARE amazing!! This color really brings out the warmth of the cabinets. I love the lights, they're just the right touch!
Thank you!!

I am going to save your pics as inspiration, if you don't mind. Our cabinets are very similar to yours and, although your granite is a lot different in pattern and flow, it is very similar in color to ours. I am looking for just the right yellow/gold wall color to use in all the common areas in our home. My husband just finished building our home last year and, do to some unforeseen circumstances, we ran out of money before completion of the build. When it came time to paint, instead of doing custom colors as we had planned, we temporarily chose one wall color and one trim color for the whole house to save money. Although we really liked the colors we saw in a custom home my husband was building, once those colors were on the walls in our own home, we knew we had made a mistake. Our home has a TON of natural light and the color we chose, SW Relaxed Khaki, is just too washed out here. Now that I've lived with it for just over a year, I'm now wanting to go a completely different direction. Your kitchen is exactly the direction I want to go! It is beautiful!

Thank you so much Scarlet!! Very kind words. Of course, if there's anything else I can show you feel free to ask :)
I understand...as I said this was a spec house totally completed when we bought it...we had been planning to build for almost a year when my husband was promoted and we moved to Nashville, so everything I planned was tossed right out the window!! ha! But, it's all working out, we were able to make some changes to give it "our personality" and I couldn't be happier. This is the third coat of paint hat has been on these walls (and I also changed the color of all the trim!) and as soon as I started putting it on, I knew it was the perfect color, makes me think of butterscotch!!! It has such a warmth and brings out the beauty in everything else around it. It was builders beige when we moved in...it was everywhere!!! I had it painted BM Grecian Green, a nice sage green, but it just seemed wrong. It was actually the granite that was the inspiration for the whole thing...and I love my granite so I just had to make it right!!

Thank you again for you sweet words :)

Your kitchen is going to be so beautiful..... What color are your cabinets.....cherry? Did you get your light at a chain store?...love it. Be sure to post again when you get it all finished......and I if you want to share the rest of your home, we are always interested in looking at them.
Great Job !

Thank you so much Phoggie!!! :) The stain on the cabinets is called brown cherry...I think the actual cabinets are maple but I keep forgetting to ask the cabinet guy! I got the lights from Bellacor online...they are Murray Feiss "Kinsey". I believe all the Murray Feiss lighting is an extra 10% off until the 31st. There were several I liked, it was a really hard choice.

I will post again...we have company coming for Easter so the tile will have to wait....
I'm just getting the living room back together and I know I have a couple arranging questions I'd like to get opinions on.
Thanks again :)

I really like your new light, it is so graceful. Curves add something lovely to a room full of straight lines and sharp angles, which is pretty much most kitchens. I'll be watching for your next photos -- your kitchen is well on its way to dazzling.

Thank you Oceanna :) You're right, I think that is what I saw too, the graceful curve...it's the one I kept going back to.
The tile will be the hardest part...there are so many choices!! I'm sure I'll be on here asking for opinions about that.

Thanks again...
Hope