you are dealing with idiots.

I suspect Ed may be right.

The usual problem would be that there is a ceiling joist in just the wrong place--to wit, right where the box needs to be. However, there are a couple solutions to that.

First, if there is enough room in the canopy of the light (and it appears that there is), then the electrician should be able to install a "pancake" box that is about the depth of the drywall. The rub here is that you can only do that if the volume of the canopy is marked on the canopy. (I know, that sounds rather nit-picky, but that's what the code says.) If you have a nice inspector, he might let that slide... (or not). (Or an inventive person might get out his stock of laser-printable Avery labels and label the canopy him/herself.)

Another possibility is that there are "saddle" boxes that are designed to straddle a joist, for this purpose. That should get you quite close to where you want to be; however, with those you have to be dead-center on the joist. So your choices are dead-center on the joist, or to have a standard box against the side of the joist. One of those options should get you to within less than and inch and a half of where you want to be.

Your guy is probably just being lazy, and doesn't want to cut into the drywall so that he can install the appropriate box.

Wow, I didn't know there were "saddle" boxes that are designed to straddle a joist.

We're going to have the same sitution in our M.Bathroom ... there is a ceiling joist dead center on the French doors going into the bathroom ... right where I'd like a light or ceiling fan (can't decide which). DH said he could head off the joist (that part is new construction).

NapaGirl,

Here is one example:

Here is a link that might be useful: Raco saddle box

No... there is nothing wrong with the light - the light is exactly where it should be... centered. These idiots just can't seem to install the island centered!! DH says it "looks fine" but it is off centered 2½ inches to the left. Am I being too picky with it off 2½ inches? I realize that not every ones table is 100% centered.. but I would think this island would be centered under the light.

no, you're not being too picky. stuff like that can throw off the whole feel of the room. when things are out of proportion, off center, and spaced incorrectly, it makes a room feel awkward and unbalanced. make them get it right.

You ARE dealing with idiots and where is your light from? I LUFF it! Please post details (including cost- I may just be in lust...)

Well, I am going to keep my ground and make them re-install in again (4th time). Granite top is due to arrive on Tuesday.

Thanks Lady. I have to say - it is more beautiful in person then on the web. I think it is my favorite fixture in the whole house. I search the internet for the best price and found it at 1800lighting.com The price appears to have went up a little, so not sure if they currently have the best price - but they do have a 10% discount going now. Final cost with sales tax I paid (I am in FL) was 459.00

here is the link
http://www.1800lighting.com/scripts/item.cfm?itemsku=1%2D973%2D2%2D234&manufacturer=Savoy%20House

I am curious. You said you don't have the granite yet-will there be an overhang for seating on one or more sides? If so, is that perhaps part of the problem? Having the light centered over the island base vs over the island top would be different. Perhaps they are confused over where the center is because of this? Seems like they should have been able to handle it but who knows. Maybe you need to clarify-as in-mark the floor"place island here". Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

The easiest way for them to do this might be to cover the island with paper and mark a + where the center is. Then use a plumb bob to find the spot above that is perfectly over the +. If the island isn't in then mark the + on the floor (then do the plumb bob thing) and make sure the island installers then center the island under the light.

hockey, no seating - it's just a rectangle center island.. I just don't know how the cabinet companies installer can be so dumb - especially since it was already address 3 times.

here is a picture from a couple weeks ago:
{{!gwi}}

sue, yes - seems like that is a prefect way - they should know this!

You're not being too picky. Don't leave their sides until they get it right.

My husband and I went round and round about our dining room light. He thought it should be centered in the room. I designed the house and KNOW that the light was being installed over the table. No matter how much I explained and showed him on paper, he truly did not understand nor 'could see' in his mind's eye what the end result would be. He is just truly challenged visualizing some things. Lighting placement was one of the issues we struggled with building this house.

And our electrician struggled with viusalization, too. It was horrid. How he could install lighting for a new home was beyond my patience. I had to stay with the electrician constantly. If I was not around, he would ask my DH a question, who never gave the correct answer.

I don't think you are being too picky at all. Something being off centered drives me crazy. At one point I had an electrician put in a hanging pendent above the sink and it wasn't centered. He said that there was no way to do that (can't remember reason). I ended up removing the pendent and fixing the ceiling because i couldn't stand it being off centered.

That is ridiculous - the light is there, the island is there, it should not be that difficult. This kind of thing would (will) drive me insane. sue36 has some great advice - maybe you can do that yourself and then measure from a perimeter cab to show them where the base should line up.

PS. That light is gorgeous.