If it were my kitchen, I would do 2 pendants over the peninsula and a coordinating pendant or ceiling mount over the kitchen sink. The rest would be recessed. I would possibly do a sconce on the side of the door, but I can't tell from your pic what is there.

Thanks. Any other opinions?

I would also do two pendants over the peninsula. I don't really see enough room for three. I would do the rest in recessed lights, including over the sink. It looks like it's going to be a lovely kitchen, lovlilynne!

I would do 2 over the island (on dimmers), then I'd put a large ceiling fixture about 18 to 22" in diameter but not too deep (maybe 8 or 10") dead center in the space (on dimmer), and recessed task lighting in the rest of the work areas (on dimmers again).

I dont think 3 would be too many if the pennisula was an island, you would have more room. I think 3 would look awkward. We have 3, 8.5 inch dia pendants over a 7.5 foot island, also same pendant hanging over the sink above the window. But we also have canned lighting and undercabinet lighting. For you I think 2 pendants, I would go bigger than 8.5 inch dia and I would also put one centre ceiling fixture.

A question about dimmers - I am under the impression that you cannot use a flourescent bulb if you have a dimmer. I was hoping to go green with my fixtures (all flourescent), should I skip the dimmers?

Thanks for the advice. I guess one of my fixtures is going back! I wasn't planning on putting a pendant over the sink.

Have you used flourescent bulbs before? If not, try them somewhere in your home to be sure you like them. Just mho.

You can't use CFLs with a dimmer. And there are different kinds - daylight, soft white, and another I can't think of now. Try the differnt ones in your space to see which look best - we went with soft white.

I also would do only 2 and then a coordinating (possibly semi-flush mount) over the sink.

Yes, I have used CFL before - the light is different, you have to get used to it, but I figure we all will have to convert to 100 o/o CFL in the future anyway, may as well get used to it.

Does anyone have ideas on placement? Over ct? Over bar? In the middle?

TIA

Lynne

Lynne,

Yes, you can use CFLs on a dimmer (I have them in my house). However, you need a special CFL that is marked as dimmable -- the majority of CFLs are not dimmable. Also, with the ones I have, I have found that you cannot dim them as low as an incandescent (they start humming). Other than that, they're fine. I imagine that sooner or later, there will be a "new and improved" dimmable CFL.

Is there a way for you to post a floor plan? I have a hard time visualizing the spacing of the pendants in the space without the perspective a bird's eye view would give. My pendants are over a 9' x 45" island, a much simpler space than you have, and I had to sit down with paper and pencil and actually put the "circles" of the pendants on the rectangle of island before I could decide what to do. I've also heard several designers say that if you do a scale drawing and it looks right you can be pretty sure that it will be right when you install something.

Shapco - Yeah! I am happy to learn about special dimmer CFL bulbs - I need them for my ceiling fan in FR.

Flseadog, yes, I have a birds eye view - not great quality, but you can get the picture:

This is just my opinion and I am a very symmetry oriented person so take this into account and I hope someone with design experience will chime in on this. Because your raised bar area is not symmetrical I think it would be difficult to hang either 2 or 3 pendants over your raised bar in a way that would look balanced to me. I would be more inclined to hang one bigger pendant or lantern over the sink and use recessed lighting in other areas to supplement it.

Sorry, I didn't mean centered on the sink. I meant centered in the diagonal area of the lower counter space in front of the bar.

I would put one pendant in line with the middle of the upper wall cabinet where the diagonal counter begins to the right of that counter chair, then, I would put the second one drawing a line back from where the next diagonal begins on the counter to the left of the third counter chair. Hope that helps. I would suggest hanging paper plates with string from your ceiling to get an idea. I think the pendants will look nice over your peninsula and it will be a nice soft light for those sitting at your counter.

Lynne,

I do love your pendants. Mind sharing the brand and where you got them?

I don't see how 3 could fit on the peninsula because of the size and symmetry.

Are the cabinets in? I'd think that once they are in you should be able to tell better where and how many.

Judy, you are right, I think I need to wait until the cabinets are in to see - they don't do any of the lighting until the cabs are in anyway. The pendand is made by Hinkley. I included a link. They are bigger than they look - the 8.5" shade is larger in RL - in my mind, I was picturing more like a 5" diameter, but I'm finding that the mini pendands aren't so mini.

Lynne

Here is a link that might be useful: small pendant

Hi, here is the actual wall that they will be over - that might help.

TIA,

Lynne