I have a similar size bathroom, and I just have a light fixture above the mirror with two 60 watt bulbs, and it lights the room well. The previous owners just had a single 60watt bulb which barely lit the room.

After a ton of research and communication with the manufacturer, which is amazing at answering my questions (if you get connected to the technical person), my conclusion (or rather their conclusion) is that I could use the TCP 20w 10120 dimmable (not the 23w in recessed lights) again the 20w which gives 1200 lumens (almost double the 650 lumens I have be seeing lately). I can get it in 3500k white which I now find good in a white kitchen (previously thought I could only live with a 3000k). I can add their 201M3027M mini aluminum refector which you slide over the spiral cfl and then add the separate ventilated len 10R30PV. Plus I would buy the TCP dimmer that they make and recommend with these bulbs. All this makes an expensive (around $30), industrial 10,000 hour bulb with high lumens that is dimmable. How the lens will look, I don't know. If anyone is using this bulb let me know. Another alternative is the 1100 lumen GE Gunura 15000 hour bulb (non-dimmable)3000k. This bulb uses very interesting technology which is very expensive and drives the price to around $32 at conservationmart com. The sales person there seems to be very nice and tries to be helpful. Bob

I appreciate your replies. I have been rereading them to absorb as much as possible from your recommendations. A couple of comments: Shannonplus2, you have renewed my interest in 5". I thought I could only go up to a r20 in 5" but after your post I found I could use r30s, so there is no reason to go with 6"...still checking this. You are the second person who mentioned Alzar. I really want to see them to understand why everyone likes them. The "clear" got me. Are you saying the highly refective is good. I tested one and found it really shot out the light, but I was using a pretty strong bulb. Janwad, If I use a cfl, the watt (65) restriction doesn't really affect me because even a 100 watt CFL only uses 23 watts. The real issue is how much heat the ballast on the bottom of the bulb can take. In a can the heat , although a fraction of that produced by other bulbs (except LEDS) might become too high for the CFL. I tested the heat on 3 spiral CLF bulbs and compared them with the manufacture specs. None passed. The heat was not high, but it was too hot for the ballast. I spoke with bulb manufactures about this. One even told me to drill holds in the can at the top to get the heat out. Of course there should be no insulation contact. The bottom line is only CFLs that are authorized for recessed cans should be used. The can thermal switch might not trip because the heat is low but the ballast may stop working. I found 2 cfl bulbs that get the light I want that I will be trying, that are OK for recessed cans. One is $32 (and it is not dimmable; the other is a $23 dimmable. Both give 1100 lumens. Thanks for the info about the fixtures you have. Maria and coffeehaus, thanks for the info about the LEDS. Fern4, Sam's also now carries LEDs. Check the lumens and color. The Cree gives 650 lumens, can be purchased in standard 2700k and, my preference because of a white kitchen,the 3500k. The CRI is 92 which is amazing,it is supposed to go on instantly and is dimmable to 25% (but I don't know if it needs a special dimmer). But darn is it expensive, but it should last a very long time. Alot of manufactures are working on LEDs on. I may switch if the price goes down. Here is a question to you Cree owners. It appears that the trim and reflector is built-in. Is that correct? That could save money which would help justify the bulb. Thanks again for your posts. Bob

Kiwi, the last one you linked IMHO, is one that solves many of the problems yet for me it is out of bounds for budget. I initially was not going for the silver/chrome family as I wanted some contrast, but I finally bought a chandy that I need to coordinate with. Going back to what BeesNeeds said, so many factors have to be taken into account. It is a very frustrating process, especially if you forget to take scrupulous notes while searching and have a strict checklist of what you need. I initially look at bulb type and will only consider LED or LED adaptable, then diameter, max wattage, whether there is a reflective material for the interior, whether it is opaque with some transparency and/or upward openings, and if there is a diffuser. My island is black walnut and sucks up light so it is imperative I get this right. I chose a cluster of clear globes for over the dining table so that dictates that I need to continue with a globe shape or similar. Though they are glass, there are chrome embellishments. I've wanted glass pendants but the light will be ambient unless there is an interior fitting to reflect some of the light down. Most that I have found are very small or if the size is close they are very expensive. What style and color family are you looking for? I think there are many of us that are having a difficult time with lighting and hope others chime in. I believe I have read every GW thread regarding lighting and have learned a lot, but maybe we should start a thread asking for examples of excellent pendant lighting.