I need to see the island in place without all the stuff everywhere and I need to see the hood and I sure hope you are using LED bulbs 4000K with all that dark stuff . Obviuosly a new build since IMO a 26' ceiling height is ridiculous and your heating and cooloing will be a real "treat" with those 2 very different ceiling heights. How do you plan to hang these lights I see not rod or cord and that box above should be in the ceiling I think I would go get some lighting that is now up to code and the size you could do 3 if you keep to that size for each light.

Draw it both ways, to scale, if you have to decide right now. I'd probably go with just 2.

You might want to investigate the reality of using your salvaged items first. Those are going to need a voltage transformer to work. And you will ruin the top of that cabinet using it for a work surface.

I always draw something to scale. Seeing this (and for the reason you stated), I would do 2:

I agree with drawing it out to scale to determine two vs three, but if you have access to both the lights and future island in the same location, you could probably get a good feel for it by setting them out on top of . BUT, I really jumped in here just to say I think your future island is beautiful and I appreciate the thought and creativity you're putting into this. I'm sure the finished home will be beautiful!

Those old mercury vapor lights are huge, heavy and operate HOT unless re-lamped. The size would distract one's eyes to them and become a focal point, distracting from the rest of the kitchen. They are just tooo big and gaudy, IMO

Instead, I would go with a "UFO" LED fixture:

https://www.ledlightingsupply.com/commercial-lighting/led-low-bay-lighting/wattage-changing-color-changing-ufo-led-low-bay

These are the current replacements in gyms, etc. for the mercury vapor fixtures you have. Size-wise, they would be minimalist in a kitchen and, I think, complement rather than dominate the surroundings. They usually come painted white or black, but they could easily be repainted. Many vendors sell them. The model above has selectable wattage/lumens, but even at the low lumen setting (8,400!) I would connect these to a 0-10v wall dimmer and you would have totally adjustable light output, from low-level romantic up to dazzling brightness.

https://www.amazon.com/Leviton-IP710-LFZ-Illumatech-Dimmer-Supplies/dp/B00BUZ6A4E

I bought this dimmer new on eBay for ~$25.

My experience: I removed 24 mercury vapor fixtures from our church gymnasium and replaced them with 100 watt, 15,000 lumen UFO LED fixtures, and wired all 24 new fixtures to a single0-10 volt dimmer. Really works nice!

I think it's going to look super cool. Seeing Glo's scale drawing makes me say two lights. Can you buy three just in case and resell if necessary? Were those Round Top finds? And if you need a place to do your rewiring, I recommend D&W Lighting in Austin; they did all the old fixtures for the Commadore Perry Estate, and I've had them rewire several vintage fixtures. P.S. The less-than-polite comments must be from non-Texans. :)

We always recommend a combination of recessed & fixtures for lighting from multiple directions. Some clients use single fixtures up to 6' long or 2-3 individual fixtures for islands this size combined with 3-6 recessed.

Those are going to be very large lights, two is my vote. They are going to take up a lot of space visually because they are pretty solid, not see thru like a plain glass pendant. You will also have what im going to guess is probably a pretty large hood for cooking. You dont want too much going on and end up w a very busy look. Your island is going to be a unique and special focal point, I would watch out for too many competing features ( lights, hood hood, island and any decor). I have 12 ft ceilings, a 14 foot island and we have 3 large pendants over it, I think over a 10 foot island, 3 would be crowded,. good luck and post progress pictures, I love a unique kitchen.

Make sure that you will be able to get the island into the house & into the kitchen. Looks like it has to be moved all in one piece. And make sure that it will be a comfortable place to work. The way the bins jut out will probably force you to stand further away. A different and wider counter will fix that problem.

I have three lights very similar to yours. Found them at a rummage sale. Removed the electrical components, inverted & use as planters. The glass shades on mine are encased in an aluminum shell case. So you don't see the glass.

2.