Lebwhite: Sure - The pendant is Uttermost Marcel pendant in the Metallic Champagne finish. Lighting Showplace also sells one in a Copper finish that isn't right for my kitchen but still intriguing to me. Here is another picture of it in the store. This is the bigger version (12" high). The one I'm getting is the Mini version (7" high) which I have not seen. I've actually been thinking it will be too small, but I know the large is too large, so hopefully it will be perfect. Until I saw that one I was going to order this one below from Martha Stewart Lighting Textured Mercury Glass Pendant model P1132WBZ. I liked the curves / ripples and its reflectivity. However, the fabric in the Marcel pendant seemed to bring some softness while still being reflective. ccoombs1: I'm not at all sure about that Sharp Insight range. My rationale is: I use my microwave a lot more than the big oven, and I'd really like the micro off the counter. I also use my Krups toaster oven a lot more than my big oven. Ex: Over 2 days when at home, I'll use the Krups ~ five times and the big oven maybe once. My cooking pattern is cook or BBQ the proteins in big batches over the weekend and then focus on veggies during the week - in the toaster oven or the stove. I'd also like to get the Krups off the counter, but don't know how to do that. ccoombs1, thanks so much for the pics of your beautiful kitchen! I'll look for Delicatus when I go granite shopping this weekend. Anyone have recommendations for specific granite yards / fabricators in the Tampa area? My email should be visible in my profile if you'd prefer email. auchmedden, thanks for your feedback and link to the granite site! re: >> Would you consider a counter height bar with stools on the peninsula for seating? Or maybe a raised bar with stools which would hide the kitchen mess from the den? Yes, good points. Would it be possible to add that in a "Phase 2" type of approach? (I'm guessing it would be more expensive than a 27" round table or so) Also just because I really was sooooo hoping I could find a way to fit something circular and attached into the kitchen. (so that one person can look out on the porch while having coffee, etc) If you imagine the kitchen as just a 11 x 15 empty box (which it will be when I take out all the existing cabinets), is there a way to fit it in ?

Johnliu, point well made. However, when you have a small kitchen, the neat/tidy pot rack utilizes space that would otherwise be vacant. And it can look pretty darn good doing it too. It is just a very utilitarian accessory for a busy cook with limited storage space. LIDS are always an issue. I have several decorative metal plate racks which hold 4 plates each. Purchased from Mobile Fixture here in Alabama, and they are a restaurant and kitchen supply store. I was able to put some of my flatter lids into the plate slots, and now finding the right size lid for the job is not such a noisy problem. Here's my current pot rack and IKEA utinsel bar. I admit this is overkill and sloppy, but we are nibbling away at a kitchen redo, and everything has to be somewhere. And here is the current state of affairs in the back porch which will one day become part of the kitchen redo. Note on top of the left M/Wave where the orange enameled pan is, those are lids and racks in a wire plate rack, forget where that one came from. And then here is the regular metal plate rack used as a lid rack for the time being. When I redo the kitchen, a built-in table with a countertop will be installed adjacent to the range. IKEA makes the one I will buy if I cannot use the s/s topped piece you see under my current pot rack. I already threw out the old range, and we're now cooking on this Waring Pro 2-burner hotplate. It works for us. But you should see how my hubby's friends shake their heads when they learn I threw out the stove!!!

Down to the wire...hehe. I second Kate's request for a photo or a rendering of the kitchen. In my new build, which is almost done, we decided to go with 2 larger pendants over our 4 1/2 ft X 7 ft island. We had a really difficult time finding pendants that met our criteria and size needed. Our pendants ended up being about 24" tall and 14" wide (see link), and the two of them look great from afar even though our island is not yet installed. What kind of pendants are you looking for? Have you found something you like? If its time to decide, it may be easier to do a chandlier for wiring purposes. If you have the pendants in mind or ordered (and don't have to search), that makes the pendant route easier for you.

Hi namarie, if you are considering this fixture please check it out in real life if you can. You might want to see if you would be able to later swap out the bulbs for 60W equivalent LED filaments so that it will be sufficiently bright to work at your island -- shouldn't be too bad since there are only 6. The look of LED filaments seems to be improving quickly. Good luck!