You can just place one box and get a pendant array like this, so much less stress.

I think the appearance of the pendants against the cabinetry behind them and in context to the rest of the kitchen is important. Can you post photos or drawings of the rest of the kitchen?

Thanks, Paul. I think we're more interested in independent fixtures for the more modern look we're seeking, but appreciate the idea. Also, think we will need more spread.

Jenny, good call. Here is a drawing of the overall space - currently in rough construction. There will be a large stainless wolf range hood that will come down to about 5'-10", and on your point - that will not be the best backdrop. I am thinking the pendants may be a little lower than that, but haven't thought much on that yet. On the S wall, there will be base and wall cabinets (windows between) - likely natural rift sawn oak slab doors.

That's helpful. Do you also have the view from horizontal rather than birds' eye view? One approximately from the dining table looking at the sink wall?

Also, since you're still in construction, have you thought about little hands that close to your cooktop? With such a lovely space planned, you may enjoy reading more about lighting for the home at these links:

https://languageoflight.blog/2023/01/11/dont-do-this-kitchens/#more-2903

https://languageoflight.blog/2023/06/29/dont-do-this-dining-rooms/#more-3409

Jenny - I only have plan view in cad, not elevations. The best I can do is this mock-up from a cabinet maker. I'd call it 75% accurate... lots of details missing and definitely does not show the range hood or skylight placements. How cabinets are finished at their tops is also lacking. Island will be light counter top with darker cabinets. Floor likely lighter.

Can you clarify your questions about little hands and the cooktop?

Thanks for the links - those are a good read. I am sure there are some things that stood out to you such as the down lights over the aisle in the kitchen. 100% undesirable, but there are many, many physical limitations preventing traditional placement behind the counter edge, so we are going to have to be creative and be heavily reliant on under cabinet lighting and picky about how that goes in.

Lomo - thanks for the comments on the island hood, and agree pendants may not be the way to go on this. Not sure I can read much meaningful from your other comments.

Here is another 'rough' cabinet rendering. Doesn't show windows between base and upper cabinets or the sloping ceiling.

You need to offset the range and add a prep sink so you can have a decent 36” counter run next to water for prep.

The cabinet structure is convoluted and unattractive for the island. All the tansu offset isn’t working.

The lighting plan is amateurish and poor. As is the arrangement and inclusion of skylights.

You are going to have to have a counter seam in the island, because of the size.

You will require significant ventilation and make up air to do 48” of island cooking. Restaurant level. You don’t get the advantage of a wall or adjacent cabinets to help direct the fumes into the hood. You have a lot of cross currents and eddies impacting the cooking vapors ending up in the hood. So the hood needs to be significantly wider and deeper for island cooking. Plus bigger CFM, and a bigger CFM make up air system.

Yes the cabinet plan for the island is awkward, and needs support for the counter designed into a better configuration.

If there's a range hood over the counter, I'd either do no pendants or one on either end (one for task, one for the seating area). Seating looks awkward for the person on the end, with that shallow zone for their feet!

I think Lomo was confused by your some of your drawings, which look like two overhangs rather than one. When the counter is all one level, the overhangs are part of a long piece of counter, which provides some amount of connection and doesn't require as much engineering to hold it up.

HU-574454193 - It may be hard to tell from the drawing, but left of the range is approximately a 4-1/2' x 4-1/2' butcher block top for prep, which will allow 2 people to prep at once. So, yes, there will be a seam, but it will be a flush stone to wood transition. The prep sink was great debate, and eventually removed for deeper reasons than I'll go into here. I'm not clear what you would do differently about the cabinets, but if you have specific recommendations without major rearchitecture, then always glad to hear.

Ventilation is a royal PITA. Biggest mistake in the remodel is having a range in the island, but that is not changing at this point. Will have a 1200 CFM rooftop blower and tempered makeup air system. Hood is 54".

Elevations are below. Jenny - I'm not sure how I forgot I had these. West wall and corner are being slightly reconfigured, as the makeup air was once going in the corner, and has now been relocated.

Yes, acm, that's right. Overhang is 16.5" with the furthest being the corner, just shy of 2' reach. Agreed on some steel, but don't think any posts will be needed. Foot clearance for end person is same as on the triple-seat side.

I appreciate the concern and the insights. And you and others are spot-on about the pendants... out of sight, out of mind, I suppose. That said, I have no concern about any kids touching the range from the seating area. They would need an arm that can reach 35" and try to touch the range over the counter. Alternatively, they can just walk around to the other side of the island and touch the range, which is much easier and available no matter where the range is in the kitchen :)

On the ventilation, it's not ideal, but won't actually change the use of the kitchen, other than the fact the ventilation will run at a little higher level and it will be less energy efficient. It drove up costs for equipment and complicated the design, but equipment is already owned. And putting the range on that wall will present its own ventilation challenges in itself. Going back, do I wish the original architect informed us that a range on the island could complicate and drive up costs - yes. Do I think its worth re-work to the tune of $20k... not in the least bit.

Now, on the downlights to replace the pendants... I just need to decide if I go with 2 or 3. The counter top downlights are about 500 lumens each. If I go with 3, I think I'll get hot spots on other parts of the island. I also need to determine how far they need to be from the hood, so as to not be lighting that up with the cone of light. Luckily the WAC lotos are adjustable.

Below is an image that shows island lighting placements. These are 2" (500 lumen) gimbaling recessed lights, and the 3 eating downlights are on a separate dimmer from the 4 task lights. Other room lighting is shown for proximity.

The pink box around the range is the vent hood, which drops 36" from the ceiling. I pulled them out to 6" from the edge of the island in the eating area. Feels pretty far out, but didn't want to intensely light the range hood.

Do you have any feedback on the placement of the eating downlights or think I should step it down to two?

(Placemats shown are an approxmation of eating locations)