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Pendants Over Island with Beam Obstruction

2 months ago

In my new kitchen design our beam runs parallel to the center of the island. Where should I put in pendant lights? Or should I skip them altogether and add extra can lights on either side of the beam? Help!

Pics of my kitchen pre-remodel (and messy, 4 kids 🤪) to show roughly how the layout of

the island will be. The new islwill be all one height, of course.

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Comments (8)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
2 months ago
I am having a hard time imagining stools sitting at an island where the frloor is 2 different materials Whay cabinets on either side of the seating space ? As for lighting you have pendants hanging over the island so why not just keep then pendant sin the same space since the island will just be the same size just all one levelThe new counter needs steel supports not cabinets supporting it then you have space for another stool You will IMO need to move the rug that is in front of the island for sure if you plan on stools .Why a different floor for the kitchen when this is really all one space visually.Sure hope a counter depth fridge is in the pan and with panels to hide any side . I also hope you are using an independant KD not some cabinet salesperson . How is the range vented ?
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
2 months ago
No pendants for you.

You might be able to use something linear like you see below.
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Great input! I had been thinking about "no pendants at all" over the island but assumed I was crazy so didnt even mention it. Nice to hear I am not alone. While I like the look of a lot of the pendants linked here (or that I find online) and I feel like the pendant is a fun design element I have wanted before but never had....the reality of being 6'6" doing most of the cooking, and having 8' ceilings is making me think that I might want to steer clear altogether. Additoinally when looking at our kitchen from the living room, you look down the length of the island and at the opposite end you have the rangetop and hood which are sort of a focal point in the kitchen so introducing pendants not only obstructs my view from the rangetop into the living area but also the view of the kitchen. That thread was GREAT momofthree ma! Now I am thinking about maybe doing some sort of "flush mount" fixture for an added design element or maybe just some 4" cans on a separate switch for focused task lighting?
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Kendrah
2 months ago
Do you have a profile pic of the new island? I can't tell how far the counter sticks out beyond the posts. Is it the same as now? I think the pendants are a bit odd where they are now. I'd put them on the kitchen side of the beam so they illuminate the island and feel more a part of the kitchen.
PRO
Beth H. :
2 months ago
do you have a side view of the new layout? how far out will the countrtop come from the beam?

are we talking something like this? so the seated portion will be directly under the beam? you can't move that either way?

Will you have the two diff ceiling heights like this one?

i have a smaller version of what you have. diff ceiling heights. the kitchen had a lower ceiling w/a 'beam' seperating the living area

At one point before the remodel, I had 3 pendants in a triangle. this time I went w/the two on the 'high' side. if the island comes out far enough, I'd do this.

if the beam is right over the seating area, have the beam run w/wire and put your lights in it

anyway the beam can be recessed?

you'd still have the supports on the side

or can you do something diff?

if the island will end up like this, put the lights in front of it.

it really depends on where the beam ends up over the island
Sarah Seitz
Original Author
2 months ago
@Patricia, the entire kitchen and main floor will be gutted and we are putting in European Oak Engineered Hardwoods, so multiple flooring types will not be an issue. My design is fine, not looking for input there, just on the lighting. Of course I have a fridge panel and yes my range is vented 😂.

@Beverly, very helpful, thank you!

@Kendrah and @Beth, unfortunately I don't have a rendering with the island in the correct place. But the beam will run straight down the center of the bank of cabinets (parallel). I definitely agree where the pendants are at now is very awkward!! Maybe kitchen side is a good idea. So the countertop will come out about 25-26" from the beam on either side. The ceiling height is all the same, thankfully!

We can't move the beam or recess it (looked into it) so I gotta work with it! Helpful pics, @Beth, thanks. I wish I could be flexible about where the island ends up but I can't. We need the walking clearance between the fridge and island so I can't move the island towards the kitchen more.
PRO
JAN MOYER
2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago
I'd put two great semi flush in the area between island and sink, 3 inch recessed on either side of the beam and forget hanging pendants at the island. Always looks odd to me, when you can't see the mount.

I'd ditch those 2 cabinets boxing in the island.....asap. Sorry, they don't look good.

If it's a serious storage issue, and you have 26 inches ? Build out the back side with touch latch doors, shallow storage ten inches depth, and shelving behind. More seating space and a much better look.
Mindy Binder
last month
Agree with others that it would look better without the pendants.

BTW we have 2 cabinets “boxing in” our island and it looks great to us. Shrug.
PRO
LilDesignWorks
last month
last modified: last month
If you do want pendant lights put them on the side of the kitchen, that is the area where you need more light for prepping. Having the pendant lights though you draw the eye to the beam which may not be what you want. Another option is to just do potlights on either side of the beam that way the beam will just "dissapear" visually, one will not look up to see it. Just like your rendering

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