Depends. If the lights are for specific tasks, such as illuminating a work area, it should be as close to directly above the work surface as possible. An eating area does not need such direct light, so I would tend to make sure you have sufficient light on the areas where you will be working -- food prep, cooking, etc. -- and not worry too much about the eating area. If they are dim-able (which I highly recommend) I bet you find you will turn the lights up for cooking, and down for eating. On the other hand, if you don't plan to use the counter top as a work area, I'd probably center the lights on the overall structure, as I think that would look better. Don't worry about what's "generally accepted." If you like how it looks and works, it's good.

Hi everyone, I've been a long time lurker and occasional poster on this site and always find excellent suggestions here. I was wondering if I could have some advice on where to place pendant lighting over our kitchen island (with raised breakfast bar area). We ordered 3 pendant lights but am not sure where we should hang them. I'm attaching a link to the floor plan of my kitchen for reference. The island is sort of a stretched L-shape, so the placement is causing us some confusion. Specific questions I have are: 1) Do you center the lights over the work/prep area or over the raised bar area? 2) How high to do you hang the lights (how much space between counter/bar and bottom of light?) 3) Do we spread the lights out or have a closer grouping of 3 lights on one side of the l-shape? If the shorter grouping, which side - sink side or the other side? 4)How far apart do you place the pendants? Thanks so much in advance! DB Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen Floor Plan

We did both: I wanted the island pendant to be lower, but a certain electrician decided I didn't really mean that. These are Ikea pendants, and were meant to be placeholders. We like them a lot, but they were cheap enough that we may one day replace them with the pricey ones we originally liked.

I have been following your quest for a light. As I think my island will be about the same size. I'm not there yet in thinking, but, I am looking at 6" pendants, I thought 8 might be too big! KD is going to mock them up for me in some drawings, but we haven't gotten there yet! I am looking at Hubberton Forge lights, they are made in Vermont, we have a dining fixture from them...love it! They have several pendant styles to choose from.....with lots of different finishes and glass styles....take a look, see if anything is appealing! If/when I get info from my KD on sizing I'll share with you!