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Lighting Design Dilemma Kitchens

New Lighting Height Help

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

We are updating the lighting in our new house kitchen and dining area. My husband and I have differing opinions on lighting height so I'm hoping for some help! The ceilings are 9ft. The current pendants are hung lower (28" above counter) than the suggested pendant height and the current chandelier is hung higher (44" above table) than the recommend height.

We are going from three pendants to two and planning for 36" above the counter.

For the chandelier, my husband thinks we should hang it 40" above the table. The light we are ordering is on a fixed rod and can't be adjusted so I'm frozen on this decision. Do you think 40" will look too high? Or can we get away with it?

Included pictures of the new chandelier and pendants we are getting.

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Comments (15)

Sharon Fullen
2 years ago
Is the table shown going to stay? The chandelier is a bit too high technically but since the table is too small in relationship, you can get away with the height. I’d suggest a better table vs. light size balance.
HU-187528210
2 years ago
I just heard something today from a very well known designer that for lighting scale (not height...) she believes in oversized.
Nothing insane. But slighter larger is better than slightly smaller. I love the pendants that you picked but I think over the table I’d keep looking.
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lko720
Original Author
2 years ago
That is our old table and we will be getting a larger table that seats 8-10. Just moved into a larger house so our current furniture is not the right size.
HU-187528210
2 years ago
A few super quick finds. I will try to keep looking for more options
seagreen3
2 years ago
I have that essentially that same chandelier (Rejuvenation), and it’s beautiful. Mine hangs at 36” from the tabletop, and I wouldn’t want it any higher (we’re also all tall).
lko720
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks, @seagreen3! I love the chandelier and am very excited to get it! 36" from the table top is the height I'm hoping to land on. How tall are your ceilings?
seagreen3
2 years ago
8.5 feet
PRO
RL Relocation LLC
2 years ago
your hanging the pendants 10" higher than what they are now, and is that the very large pendant you have pictured? what are is base measurements? Those pendants are going to overpower the fixture over the table, im not sold on that choice.
PRO
RL Relocation LLC
2 years ago
also the fixture for the table seems small and too high for the new table size.
PRO
RL Relocation LLC
2 years ago
do you have a picture of the new table?
PRO
RL Relocation LLC
2 years ago
salex
2 years ago
This is old-school advice, but still useful, IMO: Use balloons and string to mock it up if you want to be confident in the height and placement. Fill the balloons to the approximate size of your pendants, tie a string to each balloon, and tape the other end of the string to the ceiling. You'll quickly have a sense of the height you prefer.

I did this for my pendants, and after hours of perseverating over the "right" height, I made a quick and easy choice based on the balloons. The end result was just right.
lko720
Original Author
2 years ago
@RL Relocation LLC the pendants are 14" diameter and the chandelier is 32" diameter. Still picking out a new table but looking for ~40'' wide. The new pendants will be 8" higher than the current.

Not settled on a table yet but here are a few we are considering:

https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/copenhagen-extendable-dining-table/?sku=4372626

https://www.potterybarn.com/products/reed-extending-dining-table/?catalogId=84&sku=6501284&cm_ven=PLA&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=Furniture%20%3E%20Dining%20Tables&region_id=794110&cm_ite=6501284&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8eOLBhC1ARIsAOzx5cG-ink1NycAjFq_RMrfNXKBYiLO1n7vpA1h-SjsgktbyPxW2yFBE8QaAoz1EALw_wcB

https://www.potterybarn.com/products/toscana-extending-dining-table-seadrift/?pkey=cdining-tables
lko720
Original Author
2 years ago
We can get the chandelier at any length we want so it won't be so high over the table like in the mockup you created.
PRO
RL Relocation LLC
2 years ago
HERE IS WHAT I SUGGEST YOU DO CUT OUT THE PENDANT LIGHTS TO SCALE FROM A PIECE OF PAPER OR CARDBOARD AND ATTACH A STRING TO THEM AND GET A FEEL OR A COUPLE OF BALLONS BLOWN UP, THOSE ARE HUGE FOR THAT SPACE. IMO.

as to the light fixture is not how far it hangs down but how high it is from the floor or tabletop., measure 30 inches off the top of the table and see where that puts you. sorry for all caps i had typed too much before I noticed lol.

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