The electricians are wiring for lights today. We had a consultation with the lighting guy earlier in the week. Overall we are going with his recommendations, but I wanted some input on pendants. I am torn between two options: - Put two large pendants over island, and a collection of minis over the table area - Put about 5 minis over the island and one large one over the table. (Third option - use all minis, two different styles and configurations) I really like these for the large; they are classic, maybe a little boring (confirmed boring - just saw that Maxim calls them "builder basic") The problem is they are 16" in diameter, which would probably be too big for the island (8.5' x 30"), even using only two. Lighting guy suggested minis over island and one large over table. This one from Hinkley is 10"; not exactly like the one above but maybe a little more interesting? With these, I would probably use three on the island These are some of the minis I am considering Clarity by WAC Eden by WAC Atlantis by WAC If we put minis over the island, I was thinking of something like this, four or five in a line If we did this, any of the three minis would work. If we put minis over the table, I was picturing them like this, six or seven grouped on a circular plate and hung at different levels If we did this, I think Clarity would work best (though the more I look at these stars, the more I like them). I'd love to hear opinions, or suggestions for lights you think might look good in the space. I don't have any pictures that would really give a good idea of what we are doing, but here is the layout. The light over the table would be in line north to south with the edge of the door on the north wall; in line west to east with the lower corner of the pantry bumpout The rest of the kitchen will be recessed, all on one switch. FYI -- the second island will be moving south (maybe to Florida if the weather doesn't get better soon!); there will be about 38" between islands; no pendants over smaller one Thanks for your thoughts!

Thank you for all the suggestions. Dawnp-yes please post your pics I would love to see. After seeing the olive branch I went to BM to look at swatch, then I found 'Camouflage", it's a little lighter than Olive branch. I bought it and DH and FIL painted it, I love it. When all is done I will post pics. I think I am going to recover chairs in a black and white toile......cant wait! I don't know what Im going to do with a whole gallon of red I previously bought, but I'll figure it out. I already have the can of muslin for kitchen, I think it ties in well with the dining room paint. Again thanks for all the wonderful suggestions!

I'd consider picking up the light green from the tile for a cool very serene look. Benjamin Moore's Early Morning Mist might be ok but it's impossible to tell in the monitor. Another approach would be a very bright warm color or a bright cool color like aqua. For warmer but more subtle, pick up one of the beige hints from the tile. Or, you could stay with white and keep it to the black and white theme. Just depends on what you're after and what goes with the rest of the house. Lots of possibilities with the scheme --it looks beautiful. Will love to see the final result.

Thank you all for the replies, but man are you killing me! I do LOVE the opinions of everyone posting. My wife and I just keep going back and forth over which one we like the best. I guess that's a good position to be in, since we like 3 of them very much. I'm sure we'll be happy with any one, but it is very hard to make this final decision. Regarding the Glam Coffee, I am leaning towards that one, but in reality it has a bit more brown in it then it show's in the picture. The Fashion Coffee is actually has more silver and seems to pull more from the Raven CeasarStone into it, but it also has a more shiny finish where as the Glam Coffee is more matted. I will try to take some more pics tomorrow in the natural light to see if I can get a truer pic of the color and texture. In the meantime, thanks again!