Are your pendants a focal point in your kitchen?
Molly Phillips
11 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (21)
DCkitchen13
11 years agobreezygirl
11 years agoRelated Discussions
Confused about focal point(s)
Comments (12)"maybe someone needs highspeed instead of whining" Be nice. Despite what you might think from watching television ads, high speed internet is really NOT available in every part of the country. Besides, a little empathy never hurt anyone. Freely admitting that I am not a professional landscaper and without knowing how big the space is, my first suggestion to the OP would be to go through and remove at least half of the garden ornaments. I'm not saying you should get rid of them, just thin them out and store them for a couple of months, and if you get to missing the swinging fairies or the verdigris hummingbird, switch them out. Or perhaps you could designate one set for spring/summer (fairies, hummingbirds and dragonflies, etc.), and one for fall/winter. My personal thought on garden ornaments smaller than a breadbox is that tucked in here and there, they make a nice little surprise. Ideally, you wouldn't be able to see more than one at a time from any vantage point; allow your visitors to discover them individually as they walk back with you to enjoy a cool drink on that wonderful blue bench. I'd also paint the all the white trellis either a warm brown to match the arch or the sameblue/green as the trellis in the third picture. To me, the white seems a little "loud" for such a small space. I agree with ajwillys, I'd move the birdbath to the area within sight of the bench (as much as possible keeping hidden from the rest of the garden), and let that be the focal point of your secret garden. Have a few interesteing things to see along the way, but save the big guns for the end of the trail. Altorama, I LOVE those pink roses, both the short one in front and the taller one in back. Kudos to your green thumb. If the taller rose is not actually growing in that terra cotta pot, I think I'd move that out first. Replace it with the tall blue urn that's back by the bench. Okay, I guess I'm done. Just remember, less is more. (says the woman with a 9 foot bottle tree) I can guarantee that all my free advise is worth every penny you paid for it. ;^)...See MoreShow me your pendant lights in your kitchen
Comments (16)Hi boxerpups, I'm glad you like them. I do think they would look nice in your space. I love that they are pretty without being too overwhelming. They are nice and small... which I had a hard time finding something I liked (with the right price because we needed 5). Since we were putting them up in multiple, I didn't want something too big. They are a dark bronze, which I think blends nicely with our dark grayish/black counters. I'm sure you could spray paint them with a matte black if you wanted them to be a true black. Luckily at $19, you could test one. Here is photo of the pendants as they came originally... the original shades were a bit bigger in diameter. The clear glass shades I ended up swapping were also from Lowes for $3. If I remember correctly, they may have been in the section with the glass bathroom shades (on the same aisle as the rest of the lights at our Lowes)....See MoreFireplace as focal point. Why?
Comments (29)pamghatten, what do you see as you enter? Which wall faces the entry? You've got, and are lucky to have, multiple focal points. On a scale of importance, the primary, dominant one is the long wall of bookcases and fireplace. That's a pretty massive unit and makes a big statement in the room. Wouldn't it be a lot less interesting without it? Would you want to, or could you, de-emphasize it in relation to the other elements? And so that they were all equal? You could paint it all out the color of the wall and it would be less obvious or toned down but would still be a dominant feature given its relative mass and scale, as well as textural quality. Often that wall is placed directly across from the main entry where it's on full display. A greeter, so to speak. That's the focal point for your room and you'd be hard pressed to have something else take visual precedence. As the dominant architectural feature, you likely plan your main seating area around it and facing it because its function is handy, it's structurally beautiful to look at, and it contains a warm fire if you use the fireplace. (Personally, a fireplace is a beautiful view for me whether it's lit or not.) It also provides storage for the tv, ever so important in today's world. Wouldn't it be odd to turn your back on it? Or not pay much attention to adorning it? Being prominent, you'd want to put some effort into making sure it looks good 'cause it's going to be standing out whether you like it or not. (A lot of people really don't care about what things actually look like, but those people probably wouldn't be reading a decor board.) Something like that is also a backdrop for your seating area. The French doors with a view to a pond sounds like your secondary focal point having more visual dominance than the bay window. You might accent it with beautiful drapes (or not for some). Capitalizing on its view from the seating area would also be a high priority for me. Then there's the bay area, likely less dominant overall than the French doors. In terms of not paying attention to focal points, color, for example, is often used around a focal point to highlight it. You wouldn't, however, do something dramatic like paint the French door wall (your secondary focal point) in an accent color. It would compete strongly with the main wall and wouldn't feel or look right. Why is that wall red? And it keeps grabbing your attention in an uncomfortable way. Not much flow. You could, of course, but it doesn't really make visual sense or feel right, does it. Color choices can be scaled to the focal areas, also, as some colors are more predominant than others. If you used red heavily to highlight all your focal points because you love them, it might be a bit overwhelming and confusing. Scaling the use of color, thinking about where you want some emphasis and its overall effect, would work better. For the overall space, scaling the focus throughout feels/flows better, looks better, and is more balanced, orderly, and interesting to look at and to experience. Whether you're aware of it or not, you're probably doing it or seeing it, and it probably affects whether you like or don't like a room or something in a room. All attention being proportioned equally would be pretty flat and confusing. Don't you try for that sort of variety on a small scale, when creating a mantel or tablescape? Focal points and emphasis really do make a lot of effective sense....See MoreToo many living room focal points!
Comments (10)I think you are very much on the right track with your current layout, I would make a few tweeks, place the tv on the wall opposite the fireplace, similar to where you have it but not an angle, put it on a long console that will take up most of the space on that wall, console if possible be floating or open at the bottom, something like the pics below. keep sofa where it's at and then add a couple swivel chairs where you have the current chairs and then possible a couple more smaller size chairs flanking the fireplace, add a narrow rectangular coffee table, some side tables and lighting....See Morerealism
11 years agoEATREALFOOD
11 years agoleela4
11 years agolocaleater
11 years agoitsallaboutthefood
11 years agoblfenton
11 years agofav.auntx2
11 years agoNancy in Mich
11 years agonycbluedevil
11 years agoLinda
11 years agoDebbi Branka
11 years agoMolly Phillips
11 years agomarioncohen1
11 years agoleela4
11 years agoelwydee
11 years ago2LittleFishies
11 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
11 years agojimandanne_mi
11 years ago
Related Stories
KITCHEN DESIGN10 Creative Ways to Establish a Kitchen Focal Point
Here’s how to create a statement-making cooking space with your backsplash, countertop, appliances, cabinets and more
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDES6 Focal Points to Build a Beautiful Interior Around
Not sure what element to make the attention getter in your room? Find some great choices here
Full StoryFIREPLACESMake Your Fireplace the Focal Point
17 Ways to Light Up Your Fireplace with Wall Treatments, Artwork, and More
Full StorySTAIRWAYSThe Up and Down of It: Staircases as a Focal Point
Dramatic, Sculptural Stairways Take Homes to a New Level
Full StoryCURB APPEALEntry Recipe: New Focal Point for a 1970s Ranch House
A covered terrace draws visitors to the front door and creates a modern, interesting approach in a Baltimore-area home
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDESSecondary Colors Create a Punchy Focal Point
See how green, purple and orange bring a room to life
Full StorySHOP HOUZZShop Houzz: Up to 75% Off Statement Pendant Lighting
Pendants in a variety of styles for a striking focal point
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNKitchen of the Week: Tile Sets the Tone in a Modern Farmhouse Kitchen
A boldly graphic wall and soft blue cabinets create a colorful focal point in this spacious new Washington, D.C.-area kitchen
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNKitchen Islands: Pendant Lights Done Right
How many, how big, and how high? Tips for choosing kitchen pendant lights
Full StoryLIGHTINGSource List: 20 Pendants That Illuminate the Kitchen Island
See the ceiling lighting fixtures that are popular on Houzz and find out where to get them
Full Story
Molly PhillipsOriginal Author