I think recessed or "can lights" would work well there. Since there is already a light there, it won't cost a fortune to run wires to the cans. I have them; they have a white rim and are not that noticeable. You can also have very short mini pendant lights which wouldn't hang down too low. We used only the fist rod for the mini pendant over the sink so that it didn't obscure the view through the window. We used 2 rods over the island for the mini pendants which hang lower but aren't in the way since the island is wide enough never to bang into them.

I'm in EXACTLY the same boat as you, only we tore our whole kitchen out. I also don't want anything hanging down over our peninsula. Those cabinets drove me nuts! It is going to be sooo nice not to have to dodge around them anymore to see people on the other side!!

Thanks, forgottensong. Do you mean have these lights right over the peninsula and then should they be scattered over the rest of the ceiling?

ritamay, isn't it great! We are seriously thinking of putting the house on the market in the near future, so we want to make some changes (we had some water damage, which led to this) but don't want to do anything huge/expensive -- just a little updating. I'm sure the new owners would want to do whatever...

Well now the cabinets came down low am sure. Any new hanging lights would come down maybe half of the height? So u wont lose the new open feel.

Fluorescent - Maybe just replace the cold white with warm white? Could be a cheap fix that does the trick.

I don't think you'll lose the open feeling with hanging lights if that's what you'd like to do. We removed hanging cabinets over our peninsula and did hanging pendants and it's not even comparable in terms of openness IMO. In fact I rather like how it helps to visually separate the kitchen from the dining room.

Before:

After:

Pictures say a thousand words don't they? :)

This reminds me of that Seinfeld episode where this carpenter installed hanging cabinets... funny.

Thanks, olga. Your new space looks beautiful!!!

Maybe I will consider a few pendants (2 - 3?). The counter top under them will be 7 ft long.

Another post had a great suggestion (Sorry I can't remember who - getting old stinks!) to hang balloons to gauge pendant placement. I am a very visual person, so to me that was a great suggestion. I appreciate your hesitation to block some of that open space, but some pendants are quite small in profile and can also be a nice place to add some personality. As far as the recessed or can lights, I just installed them in my kitchen after tearing out the fluorescent fixture and bulkhead and love them. We have a lot of lighting options with a few small recessed lights behind a valence over the sink on a separate switch, two pendants over the island and undercabinet lights which will be used in combination for most small jobs. The can lights will be used primarily when I am really busy in the kitchen and then I love them. If you really don't like the look of cans, there are plenty of flush-mounted light fixtures in different styles and finishes to suit your space.

ps. great start on your project. can't wait to see it complete - keep us posted.

I also took down the cabs over my peninsula, and did recessed lights instead of pendants, and would do it
again. I think it's a matter of personal preference.

olga - great transformation!

celiaanne I think either recessed (can lights) or pendants would work great. The pendants actually highlight the height IMO rather than block the view.

You could could consider some small/slender pendants over the peninsula and a semi-flush mount or flush mount in the kitchen to replace the fluorescent. You can see in olga's picture that her DR and kitchen lights are different styles but being white don't fight the red pop of the pendants.

The balloon idea is great so you can see what you think of something hanging in that space.