How to space pendants over asymmetrical kitchen island?

6 years ago

I am vexed over the right way to hang pendants over my new island. The island itself is 8' long with the sink cabinet centered on the french doors so one option is to center pendants (there will be three) on the doors/sink with the two others evenly spaced on either side. However, the counter will actually be 9' long with an overhang off to the right side. So another option is to center the pendants on the center of the 9' counter rather than on the doors. Still another option is the center the pendant on the island itself (the center of the sink is not the center of the island). o my dilemma is whether to center on the island,

1) center on the doors/over sink

2) center on the counter

3) center on the island

I am leaning toward option 1, but I worry that the overhand area where one might read the paper in the morning won't be lit properly.

Also any suggestions on how far apart they should be would be appreciated. The fixtures are Lightyears Caravaggio Opal. Sorry for the enormous picture. It has a 6.5" diameter.

What do you think?

Featured Answer

Lisa Solt
Original Author

6 years ago

My kitchen is finally finished and the pendant advice I got here really helped.

I ended up centering the pendants over the island and chose a somewhat larger fixture (but I was too scared to go oversized) than what I had originally selected.

Thanks to all who posted here.
Lisa

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (16)

PRO
Beth H. :
6 years ago
can't get a perspective from you picture. Normally you center them over the island. But without seeing a complete view of your kitchen, can't really say. maybe a diagram? or take the pic from the french doors?
Lisa Solt thanked Beth H. :
Lisa Solt
Original Author
6 years ago
Maybe this diagram gives a better sense of it? Sink isn't centered in the island but is centered on the French doors. There is also the 12" overhang.
Related Discussions
Spacing lighting boxes for pendants over kitchen island - please help!
Q
Comments (26)
Claire..their is no choice...the boxes they said are 24” apart and the pendants are 11.5...and the island is basically 8’ long..so that is the reality of the measurements given....the sketch is how it will play out as stated by homeowner....I am not adding what I would do it is they way it will hang without our input...
...See More
How High to Hang Pendant Lights Over Kitchen Island
Q
Comments (15)
As most common distance to have the pendant over the island/tabletops are 36", I would go with that distance but as you have a high ceiling and more room to play with I don't see why 4' couldn't work! I think it can look fine! Also, our lighting could be a great addition to your home. We do custom lighting so we will be able to work to feed your needs and wants. Different amount of pendants, and size of canopy etc. We also do 2D drawing before so you can have an idea of what it would look like before committing! Feel free to visit onhttps://shakuff.com/ or our instagram @shakuff_ :)
...See More
How Many Pendant Lights Over Kitchen Island
Q
Comments (17)
Hi Lizzie, The bottom of the pendant should be at least 75-90cm / 30” from the surface of the island. Pendant lights should be hung around 72” from the floor to the base of the light fixture. Good proportion practice should be exercised when hanging lights over a kitchen island, with equal space left between each pendant. Approximately 75cm (this depends on the diameter width). Smaller diameters can support a smaller gap between each fitting. To help give a visual reference before installing the fixture, a clever trick is to hang balloons roughly around the size as the pendants, this will help visualize the space more accurately and help determine is the light will look right. https://www.mullanlighting.com/blog/correct-height-hang-pendant-lights-chandeliers/ I hope it works out for you! Your friends at Mullan Lighting.
...See More
How wide should pendant lights be over a kitchen island?
Q
Comments (0)
Kitchen island is 34X117
...See More
PRO
Beth H. :
6 years ago
well, if you center them on the doors, would any of the lights hang over the island edge? you're getting 3 lights? how far apart are you spacing them?

I still think you place them over the island. middle is about 48-49". place one in the middle and go out from there. how wide are the lights?
Lisa Solt
Original Author
6 years ago
The pendants are only 6.5" wide. I could hang them at 18", 48, and 78. But that would mean the left-most pendant would hang 30" in from the breakfast bar. The light at the other end of the island would be 18" from the end. Also, the center light would not be centered over the sink. Do you think that's okay?
PRO
Kitchen Tune-up Zeeland, Sales & Design
6 years ago
the island counter is 97.5 inches. Hang one right in the middle at 48.75. then hang the other two 24.375 inches to the left and right of the center one. At least that is what I would do. Visually I would want them to line up with the counter on the island, no the sink or the door. If you are not standing square in front of the door you will never notice whether it lines up with it or not, because the door will appear different at different distances and angles.. The counter top is the visual reference your brain will see.
PRO
Beth H. :
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
6" wide is small for an 8' long island. why not get something a big larger and eat up a bit more space? that way the overhang gets the light. I wouldn't worry about centering it over the sink. you're going to see the entire set up over the island.

look at how these look w/ the offset sink.

this one is centered over both island /sink. if the sink was offset on this one, I would take out the lights a little further from each other. (I still think these are too close and these are prob a bit wider than yours)
Lisa Solt
Original Author
6 years ago
This advice is super helpful. Thank you both. I considered a larger sized pendant but to me the ones I chose seem big. This is a picture of of the old kitchen with the tiny pendants.

I worry the larger pendants would obstruct sight lines (although I am only 5’2” so I probably have nothing to worry about.

Thanks
Lisa
PRO
Beth H. :
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
you are going to have an 8' island. putting in tiny 6" mini pendants will look out of place. You will also need to lower them. countertop to the bottom of the lights really shouldn't be more than 25". (otherwise people sitting at the island will have the bulbs glaring in their eyes. mine are actually at 20") The ones you had over your previous peninsula are far too high (and too small)

My island is 75". I have 6.5 pendants. If I put them in a line (they are in a triangle over the overhang because of the way the island/ceiling is built) they would be fine for the length. you have another 2' compared to mine. you could go a tad bit bigger or spread them out evenly. Don't worry about the sight lines. they aren't big enough to block anything!
Lisa Solt
Original Author
6 years ago
The next size up in the fixture that I like is 10" diameter and 12.75" height. That seems much bigger to me. Do you think it would it be better to go with three large ones? Would 4 of the smaller ones also work?
Lisa Solt
Original Author
6 years ago
I also really like the fixture below. It comes in 8.7" diameter. Maybe three (or four) of these would fill out the space better without seeming too big.
islandgarden
6 years ago
Balloons--blow them up to the approximate size of the pendants under consideration. String. Duct tape. Hang them and take a look and maybe a few photos. Move them around. It will be obvious what "works". One thing that is not apparent when one draws them is the foreshortening that happens when you are in the space. The French doors being further away will be smaller and your eye will see things differently, so anytime things are not completely symmetrical (and sometimes even when they are) it is worth a real life experiment.
esullano
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Lisa, I have the same issue as you had. Did you end up centering the lights around the counter top? or the cabinetry of the island? we're you happy with the results? would you have done anything differently?
Lisa Solt
Original Author
2 years ago
I followed the advice here, went with a larger pendant centered three over the counter, and then never thought about it since. I guess that means I’m happy with the result.
Lisa Solt
Original Author
2 years ago
Sorry about the mess.
pkatzzz
10 months ago
Hmmm. They seem too scrunched up over the island, and frankly, still too small in proportion to your island. Next time you do a kitchen update, think about choosing bigger pendants. And they definitely need to be spread out further from each other, leaving 12” from pendant to end of island.