I love big globe pendants. When a light with a delicate waist and a round globe walks into the room, I get excited. My husband just looks a little angelic under them.
We chose the pendant height carefully. Many guides recommend hanging a pendant 30″ above the counter (measured from the counter surface to the base of the pendant), but we went with 31″ so my tall husband wouldn’t feel like the globes are in his face. The peninsula area used to be quite dark, so having proper lighting there makes a huge difference. These pendants were a great find at a local lighting outlet, making the cost for two fixtures less than full retail for one.
There are still a few cosmetic details to finish—five small holes to spackle—but overall the kitchen is looking much brighter and more put together.
Having the pendants up has me staring at them constantly, and John has been admiring them too. The lights, not the holes. (Yes, there are still a few holes, but they’ll get fixed.)
We also still need to replace the light over the fireplace. The current pendant, which sits centered above the fireplace, broke shortly after we moved in and hasn’t been used in months. For that cozy seating area we’re considering a large drum pendant hung only a few inches from the ceiling so it won’t interfere with anyone up to about 6’4″. Replacing that pendant, patching the holes, and choosing a fixture for over the sink are all on the lighting to-do list.
We installed a dimmer switch yesterday. It’s great to be able to brighten the pendants for tasks or lower them for a relaxed, candlelit dinner vibe. The pendants accept CFLs, halogens, incandescents, and LEDs, but because we have a dimmer we’ll need dimmer-compatible LED bulbs if we want to convert. We’re looking into options and will report back once we find the right dimmable LEDs.
Update: We’re receiving a lot of questions about refinishing the stools. We’re going to wait until the dark cork floors are installed before deciding, since the new flooring could change the overall look dramatically.
Looking toward the fireplace from the kitchen, that corner feels like the perfect spot for a big, cozy drum shade. It would help make the seating area feel warm and finished. We also tried different bulb styles: Edison bulbs ended up being too warm and yellow in our space and made white counters look dingy; clear bulbs created harsh ceiling shadows; frosted bulbs currently give the best balance of warmth and even light. We’re still searching for a dimmable LED solution that matches our aesthetic.
There’s a sunny grellow patch of wall between the fridge and the half wall into the dining room where we’d like to hang a large piece of art. We’ve been hunting for the right piece and will share when we find something that fits.
When redesigning the kitchen we considered adding an upper cabinet above that spot, but leaving it open makes the peninsula feel more welcoming for people seated there, especially the person at the end. That openness has made the area feel like more of a room and less strictly “kitchen,” which is exactly the casual, airy vibe we were aiming for.
Next up: patching the holes (we’ll share the spackling process and tips), installing our Craigslist range hood, and finally adding the open shelves we’ve been planning. Right now our dishes live in a lazy Susan cabinet by the stove, which works but isn’t ideal. Open shelving will be far more convenient and will also let us display everyday dishes, vases, containers, and maybe even a whimsical ceramic accent or two once the shelves are painted and styled.
Speaking of projects, I set a personal “Dude, Get On That Already” challenge to tackle one task a week. It’s already midweek and I haven’t checked a project off yet, so consider this a call to action: time to get on that. I’ll share an update soon—anyone want to join me and report back tomorrow?
In short: progress is steady and the space is coming together. We’re juggling finishing touches and bigger plans at the same time, but things are moving forward and the kitchen already feels warmer and more functional. What are you working on today?