holly, can you just paste the website address for those pendants? I'd love to look at those. The pendants I purchased can be returned to the local "big box store starting with an L" :) So, that's no biggie. The more I think about the dust issue and trying to maneuver over a large slab of granite to clean 2-3 of those boogers, I think I need to change focus. I'd definitely not want any cracked granite slabs over those darned lights...lol kiko, the light you linked has been a huge source of debate for me. I've looked at it numerous times but read the reviews that said it's more brushed than shiny and I think I want a little "sparkle" since my appliances are stainless and hardware is satin nickel. Another consideration is that my ceilings are only 8'.....guess I'm back to the drawing board! Pendant lights and counter stools will surely be the death of me....

A floor plan will really help. It will let us see what lights you can see from where. Is your faucet and your hardware both chrome? and your door handles the dark finish. I can't tell if it is antique brass or not? What is your DR chandy - is it brass? You need to figure out, if you are following the article that you posted what category each of the above elements fall into. (the faucet, hardware, etc.) My feeling is that you have already mixed your metals. For example - in the kitchen you have chrome hardware/faucet (step 1). Step 2 would indicate picking a matching metal which you did with the island light and either of the window lights. (I prefer A2 as it adds another element - the white glass shade - into the mix while retaining the metal. Where I am bogging down is in the transition areas between the rooms which is why a floorplan would be helpful. For the foyer/LR I would pick H2 and J1 but that is subject to change depending on the floorplan and how the rooms are connected. Edited to add: Don't forget, unlike a bathroom, a kitchen comes with other metals. What are your appliances, pots/pans, cutlery. What are your plans for your stools - any metal there? In your foyer, LR and GR - does any of the furniture have any metal in them and if so - what type. Are any of your accessories metal. How about your backsplash. This thought and question was triggered while I was just in my kitchen and happened to notice my copper backsplash which is behind and underneath my stainless steel range and vent. My hardware and faucets are brushed nickel while my lights in the eating area and family room are aged bronze. My pendants are a mix of the two and act as a transition. I treated each `area of the house as a separate area. Kitchen/eating area/family room is one area while the DR and LR was treated as a separate area. Because the Kitchen/eating area/family room had a mix of metals I felt comfortable using either of those 2 metals in other rooms. The copper backsplash was my jumping off point for using copper in a variety of accessories throughout the house.. So, 3 metals throughout the house. This post was edited by blfenton on Wed, Nov 5, 14 at 18:30

I think cans are too expensive and overrated. I installed a lot of them in my first house renovation and disliked the downlight they cast - they're like holding a flashlight above people's heads. In our second home's renovation we only installed recessed lights in halls and main walkways; places that people pass through. First, install undercab lights for your task light. My husband did the research and ended up with a brand called counter attack that I've been very happy with. Second, just do track lighting for your general light. A kitchen with 8' ceilings should be lit with ~ 35 lumens per square foot with ceiling fixtures.

None of the above those edison bulbs will make everything have a yellow cast to it. If you insist on those then at least replace the bulbs with LEDs in 3500-5000K range to provide decent lighting in those areas.I would like to get some idea of your spaces and your style beofre suggesting anything. IMO lighting should light the are where you put it so lights that light the ceiling really are not very functional in hallways so that would eliminate the last one for sure