I think you sometimes have to go in circles and test other ideas to come back to what you love. I know I love a lot more things than my house will hold, and sometimes whimsy will have me leaning a new direction that I love but just doesn't fit and I realize that when I go back and look twice. But sometimes that new direction takes. My dining room chandelier is one of those. I went out looking for a simple, traditional fixture, liked the idea of glass arms that would sparkle, and wound up with antiqued metal arms and lots of dangling crystal. And I love it and the way it looks in the room. I still got traditional but different -- but in a different direction than I started. Sometimes what you think you wanted doesn't work, so you have to look, and if you come back to something you've always liked, then it ought to fit the other things you love. Even if you have to make some adjustments to the transitions. The iron fixtures -- well, I've always liked those too. ;) I'm sure I saw and liked the one you picked in my searches but I ruled out bare bulbs out of concern for being too harsh when looking between the family room and kitchen with the breakfast fixture in the middle. I do think you can make that fixture work and there are lots of ways to pull some black touches in. Part of it for me is seeing your fan as a fan that happens to have an unobtrusive light on it. In the lighter finish, it goes with your appliances where a darker fan would be harsh, even with touches of black. Think of it as a keep-you-cool appliance in your work area and the iron fixture as lighting helping to define a different mood and setting in your eating area, then work on the transitions and little elements that bring the two together. I'm not sure where you are planning on using the fabric you have pictured or if you already have it. A black background floral with plenty of white in it too for chair set cushions and/or window treatments (also wood Roman shades with a bit of black in the mix) could be a possibility that doesn't mean painting the table and chairs. You can put some black accents, pencil liner or border on a subway splash. I really like that paper towel holder, and you will have no problem finding a counter top version if you want to go that route. In the spring, you might even tuck some of the light blue and green flowers like you have pictured to adorn the fixture or try some mini-shades in the soft colors. You have a ton of options. Take your time finding the right ones. I saw your bathroom post -- your home has a lot of charm. I think you are headed in a good direction. Sometimes the things that make a house a home are not the obvious choices. Keep in mind you are talking to someone with three kitchen cabinet finishes, 2 counters, 2 different hardware finishes and 2 different faucet finishes -- and a lot more crystal than she ever imagined liking on one fixture. LOL

Wow! I logg off to go wallow in a glass of wine (& whine!) last night and come back the next day to lots more feedback. :) Thanks to you all for your comments & links. Les: Oh dear! I'm afraid that I'm one of those intolerable folk who can't be defined by a particular style. I usually do/don't know what will float my boat until I see it. Our home is at best eclectic. I've inherited & collected mostly period antiques... but we also have mixed in there some MCM and retro stuff. All in a 1964 multi-level. LOL! If pinned down I would have to say we were traditional. Preference to antique brass (& yet the kitchen is all chrome and nickel!). That said... Les, you doll, I think you may have found just what I've been looking for! There are a couple that I really like & I'm off to measure & ponder. Your search of that site was so much more fruitful than my slogging. In fact, I think my future replacement kitchen fixture is in there, too!! Now I just have to teach myself how to post the pics & I can show you what they are! :) The funniest thing here is that in my origianl post I mentioned the ageing of America & the needs of older eyes and I think that got interpreted as MY being in my dottage! Hahahahaha on me!!:) Now I'll never reveal my age! One of the many facts you read when an article is about building or retro-fitting housing for our older population is the need for plenty of good lighting. And then you go tour the new 55+ homes & they all have dim/soft/romantic lighting (and NOT on dimmers). Sighhhhhhhhhhhh. Igloo: please start another post w/ pics of all your lighting! We'd love to see what you have done & you wouldn't want your post to get lost in this one. Thanks again everyone!

Is the island light fixture your only lighting for the room (under cabinet lighting is nice but not room lighting)? If so, you need more than just downlighting or a couple of pendants. The rest of your room will not have enough light if it is all aimed down at the island, especially with shades that contain the light. I have seen a handful of fixtures with both up and down lighting. I think at least one lighting source online lets you search for up and down lighting as one of their filters. I would look to see if you can find something like that or at least with more general lighting.

So I was just about to post a new question here and was thinking about this thread and how so many of you wonderful humans took time out a few years ago (omg pre-pandemic!!) when I was redoing my one bedroom condo. I obvs have no idea if people continue to stay on this forum but I’m hoping at least a few people see this so I can say THANK YOU!! Long story to go along with the long years we’ve all faced from early 2020 to now, but short version is soon after I did “refreshed” my place, I moved out of the h*** that was condo living in DC amid the pandemic to stay with my folks in NC. And quickly decided I never wanted to move back to DC! So I sold my place!! And no, I do not regret for a moment the work I put into it bc (1) it looked awesome and (2) it sold within days of being on the market, at a price a tad higher than other places in my own bldg which I attribute to a bit of emotional response bc my condo looked FIRE. So thanks to everyone who made suggestions (even those I didn’t take!). I learned so much and have found so much more confidence in my ability to know what I like, how to ask for help, and most of all…not become overwhelmed with opinions!! I ask for them, but hey…people like different things, no biggie. Anyways, in case anyone is still around, thought I’d share a few pics of how it all turned out in the end. Happy spring everyone!