Our Top 5 Picks for Gorgeous Kitchen Pendant Lights
Because a kitchen is the epicenter of a home’s most important communal activity, there’s a whole lot going on visually at counter-level. It is, out of necessity, a workshop filled with the “machinery” that helps a cook complete their daily list of mealtime to-dos.
With efficiency as top priority, walls are usually lined with cabinets and appliances, and counters and islands are stocked with the tools to complete culinary tasks.
So, even when kept free of clutter, a kitchen can feel a bit claustrophobic because, without a visual cue to do otherwise, there’s really no reason to look up!
That’s where the beauty of the pendant light comes in!
Ambient and task lighting are standard in most kitchens, but introduce pendants over an island or counter and suddenly you’ve got a piece of art and sense of romance all tied up nicely in one practical package. They can take the mundane delivery of light and transform it into DE-light!
Though some situations only require one hanging light feature, they are more commonly seen in groups of 2 or 3. It depends on the size of the fixture and the space to be lit.
Read on for a small collection of some of my favorite pieces and see if your kitchen could be artfully enhanced with a little lighting romance!
The Viceroy
The clean lines of this white and brass pendant emphasize the need for efficient lighting in the kitchen! I love it for its polish and its modern take on a vintage style. Key to the appeal is a light diffuser made of wire-mesh safety glass which hints at its maritime origins. This piece would look wonderful in a chic transitional or coastal-style kitchen.
The Glendale
Reminiscent of traditional lanterns of old, this showstopper doesn’t need any other supporting characters! With 9 lights in starburst formation and sizeable proportions, Glendale can handle an audience very well on its own! An aged bronze cube houses the brass starburst protectively and supports its “roof” of brass.
The lantern is actually the universal symbol of home! Talk about romance in the kitchen! This would serve as a very poetic piece for a traditional or transitional family kitchen!
The Eldridge
I’m bringing back a favorite with the Eldrige because I just love the beautiful opal shade! It would look fabulous in a grouping of 2 or 3 above a kitchen island, but in a smaller space 1 would certainly do the trick. Made of glass and antique brass, it will add gleaming style and soft refinement to any lucky kitchen (and cook!)
The Cheshire
Resembling a shaded candelabra, the Cheshire brings elegance to its pendant form. The sophisticated contrast of matte-black aged bronze with hand-rubbed antique brass is repeated in the shade with a black exterior lined in gold-foil. This classic look can bring warmth and style to any setting.
Daze Pendant
The unique shape of this pendant is not its only attractive feature. Antique brass ribs form the frame for articulated panels of milk glass which create a soft, diffused glow of light. Wonderful for a modern farmhouse or any juxtaposition of romantic/casual style, this piece will become luminous when you turn it on.
To make the most of pendant lighting in your kitchen, here are a couple of guidelines to follow:
Hang your pendant so that the bottom of the fixture is between 30-36” from the counter or table surface it is illuminating.
When hanging 2 pendants over the same surface, be sure they are level with one another. If you have 3 fixtures you have the option of staggering the heights, Just make sure the lowest piece remains in that 30-36” range from the countertop, and give the varying heights enough of a difference so that it looks like you intended to style them that way!
I recommend dimmer switches on just about all lighting so you can control the mood: one level would do well for helping kids with homework, another for taco night, and one more for a wine-tasting party - like that!
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