Thanks for suggestion. I was thinking about having a chandelier, but I have heard that a fan is almost a necessity. The room is going to be used for a dining room as well as a sitting room, so I feel I need some kind of light over the dining room table, but the table is not going to be in the middle of the room, but to one side... Any suggestions? Also do you have sconces? I want to have free wall spaces...

katieleabrown86 - thank you for the photo - the blue island looks lovely - and I really like your chevron backsplash. alley2007 - i wish i had just one main prep area and could isolate the marble. unfortunately - the island gets heavy use all day (lunches/breakfast/baking/laundry folding (don't judge!), etc.) and the perimeters is where I do all the chopping / slicing/ dinner prep. I had a wakeup call this morning when I came down and my husband so graciously made coffee for the day. Unfortunately he didn't see (or care) that the coffee pot also overflowed/spilled all over the countertop - under the coffee pot, and about 8 inches to the side of it and a few inches before. I wish I could say that was a one time thing --- but I have had to clean that up many times before since he never "sees" the disaster. I think that was a not so subtle message that I might be asking for trouble with the marble. :( My tailspin continues…..

yes, par 16 will absolutely work. you can get them in spot 10 degrees i think, all the way out to a wide flood, so I would look at what you are trying to light, how far it is from the can, if you are going for general room light then i would stick to a 30-40 degree spread .. but buy a couple of floods too and try them out side by side vs the more narrow. Baffles are really beneficial when needed but with an 8ft ceiling, I think the light bulbs stand a pretty good chance. if you want to retrofit your existing can to low voltage, you can buy an adapter from nulco, nora or probably others the adapter screws into the existing socket and houses the transformer, has leads and a socket for an MR16. the elco trim you are looking at uses a line voltage MR16, not my favorite, less options on the bulbs in degree, and they have a shorter life span. Ushio mr16 have long been my favorite, and have a rating of 10k hours. The Eurofase trim is using a GU 10 bulb...worst IMO ..mr 16 option there is in respect to which is the best re par bulbs, they ARE halogen so it IS halogen, the diference is not color wattage etc, its typically really about what you are trying to light and how to get the light to the artwork lets say. https://www.gordonelectricsupply.com/p/Nora-Nlk-2600-Lo-Vtg-Retrofit-Tfmr/6460105?gclid=CjwKCAjww5r8BRB6EiwArcckCwk6RfGzR_v-s_oMnCG9Oxa8Tx-EQM-bOWAOuxESbXiXnG6XsDhcvBoCKJ4QAvD_BwE https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/4007/NORA-NLK2600.html?gclid=CjwKCAjww5r8BRB6EiwArcckC5Gu2WLYZWn-SeUqJH0X_0F1xAXu4fyBVIUCsRfvSnEsYigPQ8bmzxoC_EcQAvD_BwE https://buyriteelectric.com/products/nora-lighting-nl-470-4-fully-adjustable-elbow?variant=31370662379623&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&gclid=CjwKCAjww5r8BRB6EiwArcckC_8H0tXT8_eZZuAPhCAiBQzT_YNIxMs7owSzcVUEhISajI09BN4c-BoCdK0QAvD_BwE

I’ve lived in 2 lofts with high ceilings- one at 14’ the other at 15’. Loved them and prefer them to my little small roomed 8’3” ceilings now. The lofts were open spaces, didn’t have issues with cooking smells (just need good exhaust), was able to heat just fine (in NYC and Boston). These were in old buildings- former 1880’s fire house and 1900 factory respectively. Sounds bounce around in a high ceiling space, so it’s good to make sure you have plenty of rugs, soft furnishings and drapes to help muffle sounds. Long drapes are gorgeous against tall windows. Giant walls mean you have excellent space for giant art, tapestries, rugs on the walls…. Can’t wait to see what you come up with. Please keep us posted!