I'm liking option #1 the best. I think it ties in with your other fixtures the best and . . . I just like it the best. I'd also be concerned about the glare with #2. I agree with your concerns about #3. #4 is beautiful but I wonder if it would provide the kind of task lighting you want over an island. It looks like it would provide a golden light with that shade. It's very pretty though.

Based on looks, number one is my choice. But it's not just about looks. What size bulb does that one take? Will it be enough to sufficiently light your island given whatever other lighting (cans?) you have in that area?

Our island is 72 x 82, and the advice I got was for one larger fixture vs. multiple pendants.

What we put in gives pretty good light but not entirely sufficient at the front. We do have some cans close by but will (DH doesn't know this yet) be adding another over the seating in the front.

You may find more info by searching GW for other square island threads:
site:ths.gardenweb.com square island lighting

Here's ours. Note backsplash is just poorly photoshopped in, just one of a zillion options we're considering:) Good luck!

Well...for no other reason then I like the added bling and the fixture itself... I choose #4. I think it will especially create impact when grouped in a set of 3. #1 is perfectly adequate too... just, well, (and please forgive me for this) a bit boring. Now if you want the pendants to fade into the background and NOT compete for visual interest; then I'd go for #1

I actually have #3 in the form of a 3 arm chandelier over the kitchen table. Its nice, but I dont think a single light would provide enough light for you.
My vote is #4 - just a little more interesting.

i love your #1 pendant and the #3 is also very nice. would you mind sharing info on them?

I actually really like #4, it ties in with the others without being too "matchy." I'd go with 3 lights, odd numbers are more interesting.

Here were my reactions:

1: Hmm, looks like a space ship. Maybe a retro steam punk space ship.
2: Yawn, pretty enough, but not anything that makes me go Wow.
3: Oh, pretty! Does look a bit delicate, though.
4: Jaw drop. Drool. Bad, envious thoughts followed by swooning and more drooling. I love it. I need it somewhere in MY house.

So, um, I vote for 4.

I covet #4 also, beautiful!

#1 definitely jumped out as fitting in with the family... But I now see the argument for #4.

But, Oldbat2be sure has a good point. How will you configure pendants over such a large and squarish island to look nice and to light it well?

How tall are your ceilings? Ours are under 8' and would never support pendants with rods - or fans for that matter! :(

I would chose #1. Reason is that you have a lot of different things going on with lighting already & I like that the first one ties in nicely with the fans.

I also like the third one but agree that it's too small.

#3 is my first choice.
#4 is second.

I like #1 best. I like the shape of it, and it looks like it may use an adequate wattage to give some decent light. It would also go very nicely with your other fixtures.

I like #4, but it looks like it probably uses small wattage bulb and wouldn't give good task lighting.

Thanks for all the great responses!

It looks like opinions are pretty well split between #1 and #4 based on whether I want the light to blend with the other fixtures or to stand out in the room. At the moment, I'm leaning towards #4 because it is "Blingy". I want to bring in a little personality and a little whimsy and I think the Pottery Barn pendants would be a great way to do that.

I am concerned about hanging three small pendants over our almost square island, because of the visual balance. Here are a couple of drawings I put together to see if that helps get a feel for the sizing. The dimensions of the lights in this drawing are a little wider and a little shorter than the PB pendants, but being a visual person it helps me to see it like this.

I do think we have plenty of recessed lights in the kitchen,, so I'm not too worried about needing super bright lights here, but I do want / need decent task lighting as this will be our main prep area.

I've been waffling about going with one large, two medium or three small lights for the past few months. The lighting store in town doesn't have a lighting designer and I've given up on working with them. I've asked the opinion of everyone in my family...and they are getting tired of this discussion. DH doesn't like anything I've shown him in the large, single fixture options. He really wants to go with two or three lights.

The #1 option is available in a larger size which uses a 100W bulb. It would be safe to go with that, but the more I think about it ... I don't really want safe.

Now I really don't know what to do. In the course of typing this reply I have decided I like the PB pendants and then have decided that they are probably too small to work for what I need.

I have to decide if I'm going to hang one, two or three lights by the end of the month because that's when the electrician is going to be drilling holes. At least I'm not leaving this decision till the last minute.

Have any of you seen a chandelier type of fixture in the style of the Pottery Barn pendant? Or even a larger pendant in that style?

Michoumonster, the #1 light is Kichler Lighting,from the Fremont Collection and the #3 light is Minka Lavery 1730 Series Lathan Bronze. Hope that helps. They are pretty

drbeanie2000, our ceilings are 9'. Not too tall and not too short, but just right for us.

I vote #1 with the other lighting and fans that you have. I would probably do 3 pendants.

Number 4!!!!!! Hands down!!!

Does 4 use a regular bulb, or some low-wattage thing? If it's a regular bulb, I don't see the problem. The glass is clearer than #1, and I think will provide more light.

You could also do 4 lights in a square pattern, I guess. But really, I think I'd stick with 3 in a row.

Can you tell us what lighting will be in the kitchen minus the pendants? The round restoration hardware fixture...where will that be placed?

I am pucturing two larger pendants over your island. However, I am not sure if any you posted are what I might picture.

Do you like latern pendants? Those might be a great look over your island

Here is a link that might be useful: [example laterns[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/montgomery-roth-traditional-kitchen-new-orleans-phvw-vp~29118)

link

Here is a link that might be useful: [chandelier[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/montgomery-roth-traditional-kitchen-new-orleans-phvw-vp~29118)

I like number 4. What is it? : )

raenjapan - #4 uses 60W filament bulbs. Maybe I'll go pick one of those up from the big box store and see how much light it gives off compared to a standard 60W. That might help in my final decision.

aktillery - we will have 8 cans spaced around the island, with 2 more nearby in the dining area. I did paste an image from our floorplan which shows the lighting detail as planned so far. The round restoration hardware fixture will be in the entry, which is beyond the stairs and around the corner from the island. We won't be able to see the entry fixture from the island, but if you stand where the couch will be placed you can see the entry, one of the ceiling fans and one flush mount, then if you turn around you will see the second fan, another flush mount and the island pendants. Does that make sense?

I do actually like the look of those lanterns (the one you posted the link to is stunning) and had considered using a similar one in our entry until we decided we liked the RH Orb better. DH doesn't want to use a lantern in the kitchen because of the glare from the open bulb.

2littlefishies - #4 is the Harlow Pendant from Pottery Barn. It's only $99 which I think is a great price for something with that much style and verve.