there is no min for celing height for pendents.....i'd stick to the low volatge pendents they look much better also hang on a thin coax cable as compared to a thick rod or thick wire....check out some of the applacation shots at lbl lighting web site and tech lighting web site.....pm with any questions i'm a lighting designer so can help out.....remember that pendents hang about 2.5 ft off a counter top....just above eye level.

I know this isn't what you want to hear, but I'd move the table or lower the ceiling. Somehow the idea of a 16 foot ceiling in a kitchen seems impractical to me. For one thing, it's just wasted space that you still have to heat and cool. Who or what is 16 feet tall? And I don't know about your kitchen ceiling, but mine needs pretty frequent cleaning. Scrubbing 16 feet up just doesn't appeal to me. But I guess if you can afford a house like that, you can afford to hire people to clean it. ;-)

birdgardner - You're too funny! Does that mean I should hire some local teenagers to jump up and down on my stairs to test if the height is good? Lol! avesmor - Thank so much for your thoughtful reply and beautiful photo! You are a wealth of knowledge! Sorry I don't have a better picture. Yes, it will be mounted to an 8' ceiling above the 2nd story floor pictured. And yes, we have a railing now (that photo is a few months old when the floors were getting worked on). Position wise, if you are standing on the higher angled landing, the light will be directly above where the missing railing should be (not centered directly over the staircase). I'll put an "X" there. Does that help? If it's still too unclear, I can try to get a better picture with the light that's there now. Centered at eye level as you stand. Hmmm - that sounds like a good height. Yes, I am worried about the cleaning/changing bulb factor. The electrician is going to have to construct a scaffold just to install it. You can't just plop a ladder against the wall to reach it. =/ I went with enclosed glass thinking it would get less dusty than the bell jar style pendant that I originally wanted that was open at the top (DH said NO WAY to that idea). I didn't even Think to do an open design that I could have attacked with a swiffer. Sigh. Hindsight is 20/20, right? Changing bulbs will likely be a nightmare. DH wants to go with an energy efficient Long lasting bulb so he has to change it as seldomly as possible. That's terrific that your DH can reach it with a hook. My DH is not that tall (could I hire yours when it's time to change a bulb? ha ha, just kidding). But maybe we could find a tall, long limbed friend or relative to help us!

I think a larger black tone lantern would look great. You have only a single light box.. I wouldn't do three. I would personally do one or two decent size lanterns left and right. The size and width of the island would need to be known if you are hanging multiples. Many different lanterns out there in black. I favor the Darlana by Visual Comforts. It's very well made and has more straight lines than the mock up above. The iron on the one above across the top each piece is slightly rounded. This is Darlana however obviously showing in the gold tone. It's available in dark, gold and silver tone. With a lantern the ceilings will need to be fairly high.