Just asked the same question at a lighting store. I was told to add the length of the room to the width, and your answer, in feet, was your ideal size chandelier, in inches. That would mean the 22" fixture. However, it also depends on the diameter of the table. I was told that the chandelier should not be less than half the diameter, but not more than 12" less than the diameter. So, if you have a table that is 48" in diameter, your chandelier should be at least 24", but not more than 36". Of course, these are very general guidelines, but taking them both into consideration, I'm thinking that you won't be happy with the 16". We just put a 20" chandelier in a 10x8 dinette area and I'm glad I didn't go any smaller. Hope this helps.

i like it and i think the 2nd of the last two might work with 10 ft ceilings...i think anything more than 40" would be too tall. there are 2 'tiered' chandys that are shorter and, imo something closer to 36" might look more in scale with a dining room... the 2 tiers tend to look 'grander' and provide more light... but of the last 2 you show, i think the 2nd would be better over your table!

Thank you all for the compliments and the additional advice and opinions. I value each and everyone of them. : ) I think we will take a link or two out of the chain and see how we like it. Last night DH and I sat across from each other at the table and I noticed the round metal piece on the bottom was blocking the very top of his head. And we have 6 ft. plus sons and friends who come and eat with us so I know their heads would be a bit blocked, too. Dilly, thanks for weighing in and mentioning the glass top. I will consider it. The grooves aren't as big as the pic seems to make them appear but they do get some dust in them and it can be annoying. But glasses are no problem. Everything sits flush without tilting. profmom, we used waterlox as a finish. It works really well. If I'm remembering correctly, we did 6 coats, sanding lightly in between. We did it out in our garage because the fumes were too strong for me. You do need to do it in a clean, dust free area. I used wide foam brushes which gave a nice smooth application. I believe Budge used waterlox, too. Maybe she will weigh in on her experiences or start a thread and she'll most likely answer. And if you search on the kitchen forum, I believe you'll find more info or someone will find it for you. Let me know if I can be of any more help. I think we will keep the table top for now. Too many other projects to get done and I must say I do like the lightness of it all. It is my favorite room in the house, besides my kitchen, so I sit there in the morning with my laptop, perusing the decorating and garden forums. DH is going to make bookcases for the living room, the kind that have the lower cases out further than the top. The top of those lower cases will be walnut so he'll get to use his beloved wood again. : ) Diana

The first fixture, the arabesque, is from Shades of Light, though I have found on local store websites too. Here is a pic I found of these by the way. Not the same color. Does this make anyone feel differently? These ceilings are probably 9 feet, right? I am reconsidering the size of the orb. I may just get it, but get the smaller one that is 23 inches wide. I may buy at a local place that would let me return it for free! Here is a pic I took today of the large (29 inch) one with my hand in front. This looks like a large (29 inch) orb. Here is our room. The chandelier in the pic is about 24-26 across. It has been pulled up really high during construction. This pic doesn't show the whole wall. It is a weird picture--perspective is off--it is wider... I am also thinking the second option for the island might work--the lantern with the "fretwork." I also found this one on Shades of Light, but might be able to get locally, so again, I could return for free. It is 17.25 tall and only 12 wide. These aren't them, but maybe give the feel: These lanterns look pretty big and the ceilings look like 8 feet...? Is 30 inches the normal distance off the top of the island? I want to measure where i have mine now to get a better idea, but I could use the 17.25 fretwork ones and still have 12 inches from the ceiling. Would this look weird? Here is a reminder of the ones I am now talking about: I have found some other types of lights I like too. Can't necessarily afford all the ones pictured above. That is another thing I liked about my original choices--the prices.