Sorry all - I let this thread slip through the cracks while I've been busy or else concentrating on other things! Profrip - The middle of the room pendant that i have now isn't meant to be anything too permanent. I do love that disc/flying saucer look - whether it's turn of century or 1950's diner. I guess it reminds me of the funky huge red one my mom had in our bright yellow and red and orange Matisse-inspired kitchen in the 1970's! But that particular pendant in my kitchen was cheap and too modern (not that I mind inexpensive)! So am I correct to assume then that the general idea is that if you have a pendant or two above the sink, it's generally good to have recessed in the center of the room or else the opposite? Generally speaking? I wish I knew how long I'll keep that pot hanger in the center of the room above the island. I know most people don't do that now but it IS very convenient. I thought I could get rid of it and get the wall pot hanger style to put next to my stove, thereby freeing up the center of the room more...but if I move the stove where I might move it, there will no longer be a wall just to the side of it as there is now...in which case the pot hanger would have to go on the wall behind the counter to the right of the stove which I imagine would mean I'd have to reach over a ways? Plus another convenience of it being in the center of the room is that it's close to the sink for filling w/ water. Those w/ pot-filling faucets wouldn't have to worry about that, obviously, but I don't have one! Where did they put pots in 1913 I wonder? On an open shelf? On a wall hanger? I know a few hundred years ago they went over the island. It sounds like talking to a real lighting person would be a good idea for your space. Have you done that since you last posted here? Thank you for the warm welcome to NYC! :) I somehow believe you that New Yorkers would be perfectly nice to strangers. Well, what do I know! I love your description of your earliest memories of it. Someday...I'm determined...someday! As for that last link you posted: I think those lights are kid of strange! The row of them in the background is just a bit odd to me - but there are some things I really like about that kitchen. EVERY SINGLE TIME I see wooden counters I drool. I love the look of American cherry but it's too soft, and all the hard woods I could find were either too light to me or else too red - or else too stripy - or both. The nice brown woods w/ just a hint of red/orange, e.g. Pacific Madrone, are too stripy.

I agree with necessity of UCL for your counter top workspace... Not a kitchen, but in our livingroom (with 8'4") ceilings we recently removed the (short) rod-hung ceiling fan (similar to what you have in your photo), and replaced it with a prettier carved-wood "hugger" (no hang) ceiling fan (gain in both aesthetics and head clearance), and installed a set of four small dimmable slightly recessed LED lights, that illuminate the space much better than the ceiling fan kit-light ever could have. LED + hugger fan:

you have a 'modern' kitchen... so u must go with a modern tile and layout...color is up to you, you can use any color you want basically couple of examples of tile. the one thing in common with eam44 is tile is stacked. that's a modern look. and i would remove the piece behind sink. another option is using your counter material as your backsplash. what's great about that is, no grout!!!

Without seeing the rest of the space or knowing the type of chair/style you prefer, there are plenty of options. You should consider if you want the chairs to blend in harmoniously or pop out visually. Do you prefer high backed, low backed, no back for the space? Without seeing more of the area or knowing your styles, here's some I'd look at.