18" round....

Two 18" pendants is not too much for a 9' island. It sounds just about right. Those are such pretty lights too.

But wow, wow, wow, what is that 3rd slim yellow pendant you showed? I love that. Not so much for you ... but for me, lol.

I was concerned with the width, but 16" would be a 1/3 of 48" and these are 18" so I think it's okay.

The link to the one you like is here. I like it too, but don't know if it goes as well with "my" kitchen.
http://www.lampsplus.com/products/verona-collection-yellow-mini-pendant-chandelier__65652.html

Gorgeous kitchen you have planned. I really love the second pendant with the yellow lines. Your kitchen aid cover slays me. Too cute!
Renee

Something about the vibe you seem to have says more schoolhouse fixture instead of the first one. I like the pattern and color of it just not the modernity with the retro/vintage/cottagey direction you're headed.

Remind me...what's your project status? I want to keep track. :)

In looking at the inspiration kitchen, I would also vote schoolhouse...but you know better whether you'll have a nod to the 2000s in your kitchen, and if that's the case, then the other is also great. I'm not sure on sizing....but I do think that two of the first pendant would make quite a statement visually - mostly because the pattern is so bold (and pretty). Maybe try to blow a couple yellow balloons up and hang them from the ceiling on string to approximate the size?

I love all the yellow you're planning...can't wait to see it come to fruition!

I also like the school house with the yellow band. Too cute! I don't mind the first one at all, but it has a noticeably different vibe to it.

When I was selecting pendants, one thing I failed to consider is how the light would emanate from the fixture. I was more focused on how many, spacing and whether the look was right. Mine have frosted glass and when I first fired them up, I was shocked at the amount of light that came out horizontally, filling the mid-space brightly. I had gotten them not so much for general room light but for illuminating my peninsula. I hated them, until I put in lower wattage bulbs (something I rarely do) and they looked much better. At least they're open at the bottom and enough light makes it downward.

If I were doing this again--and I might replace the pendants, or not--I would have instead gotten something with a downward light. The point being, it's one thing to like the look of a pendant and hang balloons and what have you to test the size, but the nature and spread of the light is everything and you need to mock up something that will reveal that to you. Otherwise, just hang a shade and be done with it.

Sometimes bigger is definitely better. I would almost wait to see how the project turns out. Big pendants can be awesome statement pieces, but they do take on a life of their own. I love drum shades, but you do need to watch for impact on the space as well as how much light it is producing. With the diffuser on the bottom, I am also wondering if you are actually going to get more indirect light bouncing off your ceiling than direct "task" lighting on the island.

BTW, you HAVE to throw in some punches of red to accent that gorgeous yellow. You won't want to stop cooking with all that energy flowing around you! :)

Thanks everyone-

hosenemesis- I can't wait to use the KitchenAid cover! I found it handmade on eBay!

breezy- We've been getting other estimates the last few weeks but hope we will be starting early summer.

jalsy6- Thanks!

linelle- Great points! That is why I was wondering how the first light would work. The sides are totally opaque but wonder if I'll get good work light through the bottom. For that matter, though, would the schoolhouse light be any better for work lighting?

rosegarden1- Also, great input. Thanks! Red scares me a little with yellow-- I think that stems from McDonalds! lol

I actually love the first light better but I do like the schoolhouse as well. I know the schoolhouse would go great, but I like the bigger statement of the drum. I thought with a stainless fridge and other more current items in the kitchen it would work. I have often seen lighting give off a different vibe than the rest of the kitchen. I think it brings the kitchen a bit more into the 2000s.
Also, I'd like to use some wallpaper like in the inspiration photo and I think that pendant echoes that pattern well.

The striped pendant is adorable too. I wish these things were like outfits that you could change from week to week : ) That one is 12" wide. Would I still do 2 or 3???

We have 2 large pendants over our 9 foot island and they look great. We have a venthood in the middle and they would look wrong if they were too small.
I like the first choice and schoolhouse fixture with the yellow. If the schoolhouse was bigger, it would be my first choice.

Thanks, dianalo!

I just looked and the Butter Schoolhouse Pendant does come in larger globes (14" and 16" -- which look the same but are larger) and different bell shapes. The bells come in 5, 6, and 7" shades.

Would you take a look for me? Can the bell shapes be used for pendants? I assume they'd give good work lighting...

Here is a link that might be useful: Butter Colored Shades

Fishies: I think you're on the right rack with the 7" bell. We have the 16" Rejuvenation globe that is your second choice in the OP, flushmount in a bedroom. It's perfect for that application -- large enough to have some visual weight, casts a nice overall glowing light. But as linelle mentions, I think a downward-focused light will be better over a peninsula, better task lighting. The globe would be good as flushmount or pendent general kitchen light or over a sink. Since the bells are bit smaller diameter, could you do three over the peninsula? FYI, I think you'll love the Rejuvenation schoolhouse series. You can tell the stripes are hand-painted (we have red and yellow ones). Plus, they're made in Portland instead of China! We've always had excellent in-store and online service from them. Good luck.

Just saw this fun video where Rejuvenation staff switches out different size schoolhouse shades on the same kitchen pendant. Gives you an idea of the cast of light, different visual weights, etc.

Here is a link that might be useful: Fun schoolhouse shade video

miz- thanks! Fun video. : )

I'd love to find hear if anyone else has experience with the schoolhouse OR drum pendants over island/workspace and how they disperse light...

If It's Bell, It's Swell!!!

Gary

Fishies, the smaller shade with the open bottom is maybe a better solution for over your island. You will still have a LOT of light go through the glass. If you need overall light in that area, it might be fine. If you really need good downward task lighting you'll get a whole bunch out the sides. I loved that video, but just looking intently at the brightness hurt my eyes.

I have 2 enormous lanterns over my island, which is similar in size to yours, and goodness, those puppies put out a lot of light! Between those, my recessed lights, my UCLs, and my breakfast room chandy....I think you could perform surgery on my island! I am not a serious cook and was pretty much going for the lantern look, so I don't know if more directed pendants might be better for cooking...but from my experience, I wouldn't worry about large pendants not putting out enough light, even if the light is more dispersed rather than focused. Can't wait to see your pretty yellow kitchen!

Thanks everyone!

nini- that's very helpful! I looked at your kitchen again and so love it : )
Did you ever decide to change your island top to waterlox?

Hi Fishies!
I have decided for sure to change it...I just haven't done it yet! Another day, another dollar, you know! :)