We have 9' ceilings and chose semi-flush mount for all of our hallways and I'm very happy with the choice. I feel like it accentuates the height and is just generally more attractive. Flushmount is good for 8' ceileings but if you have the room, why not drop them a little?

Nice fixture!

For me, though I like both semi and flush mounts lights in general, in the case of this fixture I would do the flush mount. The center wire being visible wouldn't do it for me, nor do I think the ceiling part of the semi-flush fixture fits with the high style of the fixture itself.

Similar to what Les writes, the drop mechanics (those hooks at the end of the drop bars) and the visible wire aren't very elegant, in my opinion. Looks like the designer just couldn't figure out a way to make the whole piece work together. Even some of the other chandelier-type pieces that popped up on each of the pages showing your 2 options were better designed and looked better.

I'm with Les all the way on these fixtures. I much prefer the look of the flush mount. Very beautiful fixture.

Thank you everyone, I appreciate the thoughts and have to admit, I didn't even notice the exposed wire on the semi-flush mount until Les pointed it out. I did, however, notice the hanging part of the semi-flush mount, but didn't find it to be that offensive to the eye. I guess because I was focusing more on the drum and the crystal balls. With 9' ceilings, I'm not sure anyone is going to see the mounting at the top of the drum, but I'm definitely going to give it a second look before deciding.

Do those of you who object to the semi-flush mount look, do you think the flush-mount version will look lost with 9' high ceilings?

Thanks!

ICG, I think it would depend on the overall space the fixture was hung in which size work best, but then with nine foot ceilings that might not matter either since they are both the same width.

I took a fresh look this mornign without reading others comments first. I didn't even notice the wire until I went back and again read the comments. Normally I don't read them first because they can sway one away from what they might have "seen" for themselves. That being said, today I'm finding I like the semi flush very much. I don't even notice the offending wire and I doubt others would either once installed.

Remember with photos it's so much easier to scrutinize something and find flaws that won't show up in real life.

Justgotabeme, it's all 9' ceilings and other than the height, the two fixtures are the same. I guess in the end I'm more concerned about the flush mount one looking lost. I'm going to have to take some kind of template up to the house on Tuesday to see if the flush-mount looks lost in the spaces or not.

Thanks!

You go girl!
i was just going to say , cut our some cardboard teh size of the fixture, hang it from a string the length it is and stand back. Take a picture and compare the 2 hanging heights.
I did this. It not only showed me one of the fixture widths wasn't the right size for the room,and it made the choice crystal clear on which to buy. It boosted my confidence. So far the fixtures have gotten rave reviews.

When I was talking overall size I was talking of the area of your home the fixtures would be installed in, not the fixtures themselves. In other words the width and length of the room/hallway. If the hallway was narrow the width of the fixture, whether flush or semi flush, could seem to large or if the hallway were extra wide the fixtures could look too small.

Thanks Cheerpeople. :) I went out to the new house and they were painting, so it was looking like a "real" house now, which gave me a much better perspective. Armed with tape measure and my circle of cardboard, I determined the diameter is fine.

But as justgotabeme was saying, what surrounds it makes a difference. The lights would be next to a short wall from the ceiling because the room behind it has pony walls and open walls. But the "pony" wall continues at the ceiling and comes down 17" ish. That means the semi-mount fixture would hang almost as low as the end of that wall, and I'm afraid it will look too crowded. So I think the flush-mount is the way to go. I really do like the semi-flush one, but this area is adjacent to the foyer, which is going to have two very large chandeliers, and I don't want it to be so completely busy with multiple conflicting hanging fixtures that compete with each other!

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate all the help.