I say -- don't overthink it. I'm definitely an "I'll know it when I see it" person and it has served me well. Don't apologize for it. I really like your patinated chandelier, your comfortably used faucet (it's got some style!) the stove -- it's relaxed, no-fixed-decade. It's no time to get uptight about finishes! I'd say you have a good sense of your own style. TRUST IT. Don't choose a finish you don't like just "to be consistent" or because someone told you you have to. I have polished nickel, antique brass, new unlacquered brass, old filthy dirty brass, stainless steel, black forged iron -- and a few other things I can't remember in my kitchen. It all gets along. In fact the more things you put together, the better it works, because it's not like you have a big beige room with 23 satin nickel handles and one polished nickel one. You have a rich crazy quilt/gumbo of elements and no single dominant one, but your good taste has selected each, and they get along because you know when they don't. I agree with Circuspeanut that some finishes just attract too much attention to themselves, and they tend to be the more modern ones like satin nickel and ORB. But if you love them, and they work in your particular mix, then go for it. Did you look at the Schoolhouse Lighting custard line of shades? Just a thought. Something to consider is that Schoolhouse, and probably some other companies too, may have options not listed on their Web sites, and may be able to make you up a custom fixture. So if you see something on their site that is very close to what you want, but in just the wrong finish, or the chain isn't right, call or e-mail and ask if that thing can be changed. I did, and the cost was like $30 extra for my particular alteration. It's always worth asking. Good luck!

Wow! What a bunch of great ideas. I now realize that when I ask about lighting, I need to specify that DH is extremely light sensitive and would be uncomfortable with candelabra type bulbs without shades & he thinks that shades are too formal looking for the kitchen. (sigh) That PB glass lantern is a look I really love. I also apologize for not giving more of a sense of what style I'm aiming for. It looks like a typical "Somethings Gotta Give" kitchen except we are using Marinus granite instead of soapstone. If you put a gun to my head & told me to pick fabric for window treatments or banquette cushions, I would say "Blue & cream toile, please." palimpsest expressed it in a way that makes sense to me: go simple for the two island pendants, more elaborate over the banquette table (yes, it will be round) and match the finish for the fan. I know that ceiling fans aren't popular with many on the forum, but they are a blessing in the South. Our AC went out in Houston, yesterday and the family room fan made it bearable until it was repaired. The main reason to include a fan light is there are times that an overhead light is useful. With the beadboard double vault ceiling in the keeping room, we don't want any recessed lights pentrating the ceiling, so the fan would provide the only overhead light. There are things that I didn't put into the rendering like accessories or the front of the island being open shelving to display my colorful Staub French ovens. The door knobs for many of the public areas of the house will be glass, just for the sake of nostalgia and the exterior supports that look. After we got back from seeing the house for the 1st time, I think DH wants to do the banquette octagon ceiling and the keeping room double vault ceiling in stained cypress rather than painted white. I just have to make sure that doesn't look too rustic. Here's a pairing from Capital's Towne & Country collection: I also like these from Hinkley's Britannia collection: I have many more lighting website to look through, but I'm now convinced to tell the electrician to rough in for two pendants over the island. Thanks, so much, for all the help & ideas. Jo Ann

Thanks everyone for their suggestions! I appreciate it! The chandelier is actually from the previous owner. It should be 29 inches or 21 above the table. I'll have to check my notes. I hate it, but it matches the four other ones they have in the house. I was thinking about school house lights for our kitchen and maybe a bell jar in the foyer. Anyway, I already have replacement in the garage. It's one I bought for the house I was thinking we were going to buy. That was four years ago, mind you. :) It's a nickel finish plain one with exagerated arms. Kichler I think, before you started seeing them at HD or Lowes. I love that beadboard idea up the walls. Would looks so pretty. I'm trying to get my husband to let me paint the trim as we type. He is a guy and like most guys.... no paint on wood! I just got him to let me paint the cabs. i had to entice him by telling him we were getting new countertops! I've been looking for things for the inside. I bought the soup pot with laddle the other day. You'd think I could find lots of substantial things to go into that cabinet, but I guess I'm pickier than I thought. I wanted to keep it all white things. I'll have to scour ebay more. I did have a small cabinet there on that wall under the picture. But, it was hard to get around and sit down. If you can think of a thinner cabinet online, let me know. I think that wall is too bland too. I didn't think about the peices being more masculine, but you're exactly right! I found that tablecloth at marshalls for three dollars and I needed something that day (did I mention we have a two year old?) So, is it a consensus that I should lose tablecloths and stick with just some placemats? I'd like to just have the table, but I'm afraid with a two year old that it will be all scratched up by tonight. The artwork in there came from my mom's house. She bought two of them and decided she didn't like them. I had this great original art piece there. My husband hated it, so we went back to this boring thing. He likes boring stuff. And, not changing things.... hates change! I like to change everything every month or so. I'll have to start looking for different artwork. I'll be on the lookout for a new rug. Do you think that a dash and albert rug would look good or something pottery barnish (we have another pb one in the ajoining room.) I saw an 8x10 medium grey wool oriental at big lots of all places. Would that be too masculine? Maybe that grey rug and some porcelain blue on the walls? (keep your fingers crossed about the painting of the trim!) I'll see what colors are in it if it's still there. (My husband didn't want a rug there, but too bad!) Thank you guys so much. Just that little direction is exactly what I needed! Thank you, thank you!!! Kim BTW, sorry so long!

Hi Les, long time no see! The ceilings are close to 9 feet. They certainly are not low, but they are not as tall as the 9+ feet on the first floor. The first one pictured, was what I was thinking of for the small vestibule which is maybe 3x3. This leads into the 14x14 or so bedroom. Some of the other fixtures in the house that look old are basic brass (but since they are old they have a patina) with globe shades. What do people do in bedrooms these days? In our old house we always had a fan, and there is a fan in there now but I don't want to keep it (we will get A/C at some point!). This is a larger scale classic fixture I like. I don't know if it would work in a bedroom though. The RH chandy is 28 inches high, so without extra chain it would e 6 feet above the bed (approx). Might be too low. (Have to measure exactly). But stylewise???