Thanks, live wire oak and alice 462. Live wire oak, there's no alternative to our building an addition: The existing kitchen is intolerable not just to me but also to our insurance company, and the three carpenters/contractors/architects I have spoken to thus far have all said it would be cheaper to tear down the structure than to repair it. Meanwhile I have been thinking about creating a terrific kitchen since we bought this house in 1972, and it is just too late for me to abandon that idea. So I will just have to manage to keep the costs down. Some ploys I am using to keep costs down are having very few cabinets, staying away from high end appliances, and being my own contractor. And no architect. But thanks much for pointing to the HVAC costs associated with additional height, which I will have to learn about and take into consideration. Alice462, the ceilings in the rest of the first floor are maybe 8' or even a bit less. But this house is a very old farm house. We don't intend for the modern kitchen to flow into the rest of the house (although both the Federal farmhouse and the Bauhaus sort of kitchen are very similar in their lack of ornamentation, straight lines, emphasis on proportion, and white boxiness), so we think the kitchen ceiling doesn't need to be the same height as the rest of the downstairs. I sure hope we're right.

I think I know exactly what you mean! Now I can make some item suggestions. The Savoy House Penrose collection has some glass lantern style foyer lights that might be right up your alley. Penrose comes in bronze and nickel finish options plus different size choices. Savoy House Norwich has a square lantern look and nickel finish. The Sea Gull Lighting Lockhart line features square traditional lantern looks in bronze and black finishes, plus multiple size options. While the Hinkley Gentry collection does include some brass options (don't worry, it's not the same brass from the 80s!), you can also find nickel and bronze fixtures in a variety of sizes. Savoy House Foxcroft is finished in nickel. Maxim Lighting Tara features lanterns in nickel and bronze finishes. Savoy House Garrett offers lantern looks in 4- and 8-light sizes with nickel and bronze finish options. These are just a few of our options--let me know what you think!

chandy would look beautiful. Do you use a fan? Because unless it's going to be directly over your bed, you really won't get the benefit from it. When it's hot, are you going to hang out in your bedroom?? prob not. I keep mine on over the bed all the time because I'm old and get hot during the nights. even in winter. (yeah, it's great.) But you're prob young and may not need that, yet. (just wait!)

I do agree that it looks a bit high, and usually start around the 30" mark when possible. It depends on the chandelier itself, and you never want to hang too low if it's a wide piece for fear of bumping heads! I don't have advice on how to rewire/add length other than consult an electrician, but if you add taller chairs and a tall centerpiece, that could help with the disconnect. Try a cluster of tall/varied height candlesticks or vases in the same color/finish, and maybe add a runner to complete the look. Good luck!