If we do what's expected, we end up with a house that looks just like every other house. My advice is go for what makes you happy, and don't worry if you're fine-honing it for years to come, as you may well be. If you want to mix styles, try to find something the rooms or furnishings have in common, like colors, shapes, type/tone of wood, or something that can tie them together somewhat.

The chances are strong that if your house makes your heart sing, others will love it too.

don't plan to go overboard with it at all. DH and the boys just won't go for fussy, crystal chandeliers in the kitchen (KWIM). I would like chandeliers, but more of a rust or iron look.

I don't think that kitchens in country houses in France have crystal chandeliers. Iron, rust, any kind of dull metal, would be more in line with what I imagine.

I agree with oceanna. Every room should have at least one thing that you woudn't expect. That makes your home infinitely more interesting.

I actually had bought some lights before I changed my entire kitchen plan. It was to be medium light brownish cabinets with a painted black island. Now we are doing cherry and a light painted island. The pictures don't do these much justice. I LOVE the table light.

{{!gwi}}

I bought two of these from the same collection for over the island
{{!gwi}}

This light is from the collection too and I skipped over it because they all say a rust finish (looks matte black to me) but this light was textured & I didn't think of mixing the rust and rust texture finishes. I really like it and I'm thinking about a possible exchange
{{!gwi}}

What do you think of those with a white/cream island and these
{{!gwi}}

Very nice - it will make those candles on the chandelier look custom to your kitchen (brown and cream). I love the last fixture.

I need to learn to trust my instincts more & do what I like!

I could've written the same post as I've been wondering the same thing so am curious to hear the responses of others. When we remodeled our house last year, my taste was definitely transitional and my new kitchen is what I'd call transitional--everything cherry. It is open to my family room which currently has a mix of oak (being phased out) and I just "temporarily" moved a vintage maple drop leaf table there that belonged to my grandmother. I keep thinking I'll get rid of this table (and the 5 remaining chairs), but the chairs are all solidly built which we use around the house--desk chairs, arm chairs, etc. so now I'm wondering as I phase out the oak, it I should look for more vintage/maple style pieces to match or keep it cherry as in the kitchen.

I've decided to do a vintage/antique duncan phyfe style living/dining room, but just added a pair of french style arm chairs and plan a new sofa, so guess I'm mixing it up--but wood is all mahogany so I'm hoping that's the unifying factor in it all. I doubt many will know the difference since all they'll see is the wood is the same. What I don't want to do is mix up Queen Anne and Duncan Phyfe so I'm avoiding any Queen Anne additions.

One thing I realize and see written here plenty of times is that decorating is an evolutionary process and tastful rooms are put together over a matter of years--with fine tuning.

As for your chandelier choices, I'd go for either of the bottom two as I don't think the little shades would wear well in a kitchen with all the grease, dust, etc.

Thanks for the responses! The shaded chandelier will be over our table in a seperate nook area that is open to the kitchen area. Then, I'll put two matvhing lights over the island. I'm looking at using the two lighs in the last picture. Hope that makes more sense.

where did you get cahndelier #2? I love it! I'd like to find out the dimensions.

I love this collection of lights too. I ordered almost all of my lights from Bellacor.com. They have great customer service and will price match. This collection is made by World Imports and is the iron works collection. Now your making me want to keep it. It is so much nicer in person.