I have a 4x6 island and went with 2 smallish pendants. I also have a larger fixture in the adjoining breakfast area/banquette which is from the same collection. If you search my user name, my updated pics show the pendants, white cabs, white marble with brushed nickel hardware and faucet. I'm not sure I caught the breakfast nook light in the pics though. Sounds like you're planning a beautiful kitchen :) I think you should definitely go with the pendants over the island!

Our island is almost exactly the same size as yours - in our case, 30" X 65". One pendant is not enough in my opinion - it will not thrown enough light (you'll have shadows) and it will look lonely up there.

Here is our island from a couple of views (in the first one, the kitchen was not yet finished). These two lights are 14" across at their widest.

I really, really love Vate's pendants! I was so blown away by that granite, I don't think I commented on the pendants last post.

DrJoann,
I'd like to add that I think Vate is right. For your size island, you could go with 2 pendants. If from the same collection as your chandelier, it would add some cohesiveness between the kitchen and banquette.

Thanks guys. What I meant by a single drop was an island/pool table type fixture where 2-3 lights are on one bar. The other option is something like Vate showed.

Vate - can you tell me the manufacturer of your pendants. I love them. Is your granite Cinderella Blue? I just love it & they had some on the website of our supplier. We're going with something called Marinus for the perimeter which, nominally, is black, but reads deep blue like the night sky when you look at it the right way.

Island marble is Alabama White:

The perimeter cabinets will be white of a color TBD. The plan is to make the island a blue so dark that you look at it and say, "Is that deep blue or is it black?", in order to mimic the Marinus.

The backsplash is a marble subway tile that looks much like the Alabama White on the island & looks just stunning with the granite. (Forgot to take pictures of everything together when I had the samples at the slab yard - sigh)

I really think that brushed or polished nickel or pewter or chrome finish on the hardware is the way to go even if it is already "dated".

I'm going to tell the electrician to plan on two pendants over the island. I think it gives me more options than looking for a combo island fixture. For the banquette, do you think I could look at 3-light bowl pendants as an alternative to a 3-4 light mini-chandy? The octagonal ceiling will be stained tongue & groove beadboard. I think the light in that area should be fairly simple to let the ceiling shine.

Also, even though I could potentially match the keeping room fan/light to the light fixtures in the kitchen/banquette, perhaps I shouldn't so that whole area isn't too matchy-matchy.

Lots to ponder.

Thanks for the help - Jo Ann

Thanks - glad you like them! The pendants are from Restoration Hardware, Clemson model:

http://www.restorationhardware.com/rh/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod740064&navAction=jump

They come in 8", 14", and a massive 18" in diameter. There is also a double-hung Clemson, which you might be interested in:

http://www.restorationhardware.com/rh/catalog/product/product.jsp?productId=prod2060002&navAction=jump

If you are interested in Restoration Hardware, look for the outlet stores. I paid less than half of retail for our two pendants (North Georgia Outlet Mall).

Hi Dr JoAnn, I have a similar sized island and similar lighting issues with looking for something to coordinate with a fixture over a banquette in my eating area.

My KD is encouraging me to do 3 (mini) pendants (~6" wide) above the island. I love that look of a pendant trio in other kitchens (with larger islands) but I'm worried that will be a bit busy/dainty? for the aesthetic I'm going for.

I'm not an expert, but I also think you need more than one light above your island. I could see 2 or 3 lights, not just a single over your island.

But, I have to tell you that I LOVE the fixture you posted. Screw finding a light to perfectly coordinate with the banquette light. ;)

Or maybe I'll have to use them ;) A-ha! Thank you for posting :)

LOVING the granite/marble selects! and i agree you should use two pendants above the island. it's so difficult when you've got some guy talking you up and down about HIS preferences ...but stick to your guns and do what YOU want! i've had arguments with every. single. idiot. who walks in my house ...but that's just the point. it's MY HOUSE! ...can you post a layout so we can see the relationship of the island to the banquettes? you know, in your spare time (cough). (!)

Here is the layout as I have it in my software. Reality is a bit different because it wasn't quite framed this way, but this plan is close enough. There is a barrel arch to the great room and then another barrel arch through to the dining room with a small butler's pantry. It's still just framing, but we were amazed at how lovely the barrel arches look. the octagonal ceiling over the banquette and the double vault in the keeping room are also just framing, but you can tell how nice they will be.

This is a 3D rendering which is the view from the cleanup sink (the one along the wall). The materials aren't perfect because I don't have a decent white marble or stained beadboard, but it gives a sense of the space. So, there would be either two large pendants or an island fixture with 2-3 lights over the island with the chandelier at the banquette (can't see the seats from this angle). Also, there is a ceiling fan/light in the keeping room.

I'm at the frantic planning stage where I don't have to have everything nailed down, but they are ready to do rough ins, so if I change my mind on some things then it is the "ka-ching" of a change order down the road.

Kate - you must be getting close if your kitchen is going in. Do you have a move in date, yet? Our builder's schedule shows us being done at the end of September. Oy!

Jo Ann

Haven't installed lights yet, but have installed the fittings in new ceiling. For better or worse, have called for 3 pendants in front of 3 windows on one wall and 2 matching pendants over parallel peninsula 6.5 feet across the working kitchen from it. Have also ceiling lighting.

I am now wishing I had considered a single pendant fitting as your electrician has counseled. That way, you can bring in variations via a multiple light fixture or a single light one. I'm stuck with the two fittings.

Seeing your kitchen, my big question is...how important is that island? How important is the view to the area beyond it? If the view is most important, go with something that has minimal visual weight. But you don't want a cold, hostile light over the island, either.

"Have fun stormin' the castle..."

drjoann>>>Do the RH outlets carry most of the lines or are they for discontinued merchandise, etc.?Can't speak for all of them, but the one in Georgia carries discontinued, returned and surplus merchandise. They don't carry a full line of anything. Finding two matching Clemsons was just luck. Of course you can call if you are close and ask them what they have.

The island is a baking center with a lowered height & marble top, so it is pretty important to me. I'm only 5'2", so I may end up doing quite a bit of chopping there, as well. Also, it stores pots & pans on the range side and has open shelves to display my Staub French ovens on the other side. When I stand at the island, I will likely look toward the view out the banquette windows when I look up. The rendering, posted above, it what DH would see when he turns around from slaving over the cleanup sink.

Vate - thanks for info. I don't think I would want to take the chance that I can't find two of something at the RH outlet.

I guess I should post this question over on the decorating forum because that is part of the issue: what kind of look do I want for a kitchen that is trying to be a slight twist on a classic white kitchen? The Kichler light I posted above is super cool, but is it too "industrial" looking if I want to use a toile for Roman shades for the banquette windows, for instance?

OK, time to do some more pondering & then storm the castles. GGG!

Jo Ann

HereÂs a pendent from Troy lighting that has a little of everything Âmixed finish and a little classic with a little contemporary. A nice little mix! IÂm not sure if the sizes are right for you but Troy has some other nice things.
http://s1004.photobucket.com/albums/af170/jterrilynn/ideas/?action=view&current=troy.jpg"; target="_blank">

I would definitely go for more than one. Our island is a similar size and we had purchased 3 mini pendants and actually thought about not putting them up afater we put the island in...but since we had purchased them we decided to go for it. What a difference it made! I too like the "odd" number if you are going with smaller pendants

I just opened this thread as a thread that deals with lighting so I could add this off topic observation...

Have just spent quite a bit of time on Lighting by Gregory website, which has some really good prices on a number of pendants, which must be on the ultimate mark-down. Haven't looked at other lighting types, but this might be the moment to order a chandelier, too.

Go to the Clearance button and click away! (not sure if the 4th of July discount also applies, but heck, why not try?)

Here is a link that might be useful: Click on Clearance in Lighting by Gregory website