perimeter counters:

White island with walnut butcher block:

backsplash

All along I've planned to use this drum pendant & change the fabric to my little bird fabric. However, I've found a few people who can change the fabric but say my 44" wide fabric is too short for an 18" pendant. (that 13" would be the largest I could do with my bird fabric)

I like these pendants (above) b/c I like that they are inverted and tapered. I'm not so much for the straight up and down shades. Anyway, they are from Lamps Plus and you can choose several giclee patterns and even change the coloring which is pretty cool...

So, I was thinking of using the Bird Fabric for the kitchen WINDOW if I can't use it on the pendants. Do you think these might go with it? I'm doing a fancy cottage kitchen so also want the right print and don't want it to fight with the bird fabric.

These first 2 would be done in the tapered shape I like:

Or I might be able to use this fabric:

I can tweak this color:

Or maybe the original one would still be okay- leaving the print as is:

fabric again:

If I forego the drum pendants all together I really like these as well:

Love this beehive pendant! (available in 2 finishes)

I don't know if this "fits"

You know, 2LittleFishies, I do like the original fabric with your bird fabric. I like that the negative ground is yellow on one and white on the other, that the original seems to have more "depth" than some of the flatter patterns, and that it doesn't seem to match perfectly. Of course, I haven't "seen" it in context; you wouldn't want attention grabbed the wrong direction, i.e., away from the stars to a supporting actor. If this yellow behaved, though, I suspect another pattern in small amount would be a plus.

The stripes could be a fun element instead, adding a liveliness that might be really nice. They'd also continue the move from across the waters to more midcentury American.

bzzzz

Here are the ones they already offer:
http://www.lampsplus.com/products/s_m2296/

But you can do a custom one as well which is what I did for the ones above (mostly)
http://www.lampsplus.com/design-it/

original shade in person before I returned it: (ignore these fabrics/plate)
It's a textured canvas/board for lack of a better word that is printed and wrapped around the fixture...

Leaning towards this

with this:

thoughts?

Hugely helpful, I know.

BTW what are the return policies of the companies you're ordering from? Now that I realize all online pictures=lying I'd be tempted to order large quantities and just return the ones I want. You know, the way you women buy clothes--buy 10 outfits, return 9. And then later wonder why women's clothes are so expensive. ;-)

Anyway you can return whatever at lamps plus BUT the custom ones like most above are not returnable.

Which would u lean towards? What about my original one? Or maybe the one below the dandelions? Or the stripes???
Lol

I still like the beehives too : )

I love your bird fabric, brings in a hint of blue--to that end, I think I like your original lamp with it, doesn't seem to compete too much. I'm not nuts about the swirls either--not quite the right look for the more traditional type bird fabric. that being said--the dandelions actually might work, do they maybe mimic the little flower in the bird fabric? could you use that on the drum shade?
Other than that I like the first 2 lamps that you show below the dandelion fabric. The second actually gives you a broader color palette and might work--might not? You may not know until your beautiful yellow cabs are in. As for the rest of the drum shades--I am not a fan--they don't do anything for your whole space.

I would stick with the drum shade pendents, It was your first choice all along, not sure in the long run if you'd be happy with the beehives? best of luck, can't wait to see your finished space!

I like the arabesque, the bold blue stripe (taking care it doesn't come out too school-house-y), and the transitional one you picked is OK if you really like it but might be too fiddly.

Your glass fixtures are cute, but going clear glass kind of reeks of "Let the ____ be the star!" thinking. That said, I think glass vs. drum shade is really going to depend on dimension and scale. The room may need a presence there, or it may need just a discreet accent. Hard to judge now.

This one looks like an upside down Trifle desert bowl but I like it.

Good luck! It's going to be beautiful!!

I assume if I make the decision that I will have two (vs. 3) pendants over our 9'x4' island that it will be sufficient enough to have the electrician wire for pendants and 3' and 6' so they are evenly spaced over the island top???

Same for the dining area, I guess it's more about placement than the actual light itself??? Can lights be "shifted" after the fact for whatever reason?

As far as lighting - I made templates from cardboard and placed them where I thought I wanted the lights. Then GC addes the lights and I tweaked a few before closing up the ceiling. Some lights can be moved - but the ceiling structure will limit the movement. For example, our light in the cathedral ceiling was moved about 6 inches - we didn't modify the ceiling in this part as part of the project. Other lights might be hard to tweek downstream. Talk to your GC as he will know what can be moved or not.

You might even want to draw out your island and then feel out the size of the lights.

Stay with your drums but I do like the trifle and beehive lights also.

I am so excited to be watching your progress!

Yes you need a general idea of lighting. As in our case, we originally planned on 2 fixtures over the island but went with 3...not a big deal, once the wiring is already in place and the switch is wired.

Get the specs for each of your finalists (shade colors don't matter) and show them to the GC.

Remember that you can't wait til the very, very end to order; it can take a while for the fixtures to arrive. Start with the one that's easiest to return and check it out first.

The beehive SHADE is 11.5" high and 10.75" wide. The fixture height is 14".
I think if I did the beehive I'd need 3, no?

The pineapple shade (I won't be using) is from Lumens.com It's called the Plantation Mini Pendant.

I always liked the Lantern Pendant... It comes in a few sizes. Anyone??? lol

I also want to add that I have something similar to the lantern in my laundry room. I do think it's very pretty BUT it always looks dusty and dirty. Our ceilings are 10' and it is a real pain to get up there to clean it. I almost put clear glass pendants in my kitchen and now I'm so thankful I didn't. I imagine the upkeep on them would have been at least three times that of what it is in the laundry room! Just something to think about when making your decision.

The fabric pendants are wonderful, but can they be cleaned?

I like all of the glass choices, except the pineapple.

Your kitchen is amazing. Is this a remodel or new construction?

Have you considered a making your island look more like a table? Perhaps your cabinets are already settled. If so, ignore my suggestion as your cabinets plan looks great.

Love the yellow...very pretty.

I would not go with the yellow glass as it might be the wrong yellow. I rule out the last hurricane lamp because its upward light. And I rule out the custom fabric because it would be hard to keep clean and over time might look dingy.

So, my pick is #6, the schoolhouseish pendant.

The fabric pendants are not really fabric. They are custom printed. a very heavy cardboard that is textured. I believe they would easily be wiped down. Of course, if I put my bird fabric on them that would be different but I found out it won't work anyway b/c the fabric isn't wide enough for an 18" shade.

red-lover, thanks for your kind words as well. It is a renovation. We are doing an addition, removing some walls, etc. : ) It all started ago last August! (meaning the planning)

Btw anyone like the last 2 drums I posted?

I've been going crazy trying to find a 13.5" or smaller drum shade so I can use my bird fabric. Most smaller drum shades & their hardware are very contemporary looking and the shades are straight up and down and just aren't the right look.

With these smaller shades (12-13") I think I'd do 3 over island being it is 9'x4'.

This one would work (12") but I don't love the style of the pole, etc. Thoughts?

So, 2 other options I'm thinking is a pendant kit that you can attach any shade to...& have the girl I've been dealing with make the shade from scratch?
They show a video at shadesoflight.com

Or, I do like the hardware/chain on this one by Laura Ashley. It's the Gibson Pendant and is sold either with a shade or without. Home Depot sells it without the shade. (The shade 16", but again I thought I could have the shade made)

So, there it is. I'd love to use my original 18" drum shade b/c I love the style and shape, but with the bird fabric there would have to be a seam. Maybe if the seams (I think two) were covered in a coordinating fabric/ribbon that would work...

*The electrician is coming Thursday and Friday and I really need to at least know if I'll be having 2 or 3 lights over the island! ughhh

Scrolling through this thread again do you think my originals with the bird fabric would be the best option as of now? I also kind of preferred 2 larger pendants in fabric than 3 small ones in fabric but maybe either is fine.

I'm going to tape out my island today now that the kitchen is the new size now! : )

Also our window is tight with the cabs due to a major beam we had to move over 6 inches.

Here's an example of bumped out counter height... Note our ceiling is 8' and top of window is at 7' so not much room there. I also don't want to cover too much of the window. A wood valance is also an option.

A lot of the drum shades you posted seem way too bright to me for your space (the striped ones, especially). Not that I don't like them, just that the other yellows you are using are more muted and they seem out of place. The first damask one seems okay, but I don't think that 2 seams with the bird fabric instead of one is a big deal either.

Also, have you tried walking around a 3D projection with lights up to see what they look like as you look in from right and left of the island? They won't be in a line anywhere but stationary straight on, of course. They'd all look nice, but it might help tilt you one way or the other.

My 2 cents:
1. I like the bird fabric at the window (you'll find a nice way) and for added interest a different fabric with the positive-negative space colors reversed for the lights--not the bird fabric.
2. If you decided you wanted to downplay the lights--your August 10 22:15 glass shade. Cute, nice with the bird fabric, and continues the yellow-white scheme, so it's a stronger choice than clear glass, which is seeming excessively neutral in comparison.
3. Maybe look to your original inspiration photo for clues to pulling your choices together? Since you like it a lot?
4. It's going be really nice.

Today was the first day I could lay out the island. It may be off an inch or so but is about right. The kitchen guy is going to tape everything out this week.

Here it is with the 2 18" pendants:

and 3 12" ones

So, as I'm staring into the new space I was thinking how the kitchen and dr are really one room only separated by a ceiling beam but no walls.... and the fact that you can see both windows so clearly. (They are plastic right now and dr is somewhat covered in photo) I planned on the bird fabric for the DR window so am thinking I SHOULD use for the kitchen window or it may look "off"? In which case bird fabric on both windows and lights is definite overkill.

UNLESS, I could use the pom pom curtain for the kitchen, and the bird on the kitchen pendants and dining room window. That may work well and carry over nicely : ) Other thoughts?

nickel:

Are you going to do two or three lights over the island? If three, I think a glass or more neutral pendant is best.

If you go with the fabric shades can you buy them in white and then have a lighting store cover them for you after the kitchen is complete? This would allow you to make the decision later when you're working in a finished space and have time to play with, and see, your options all together.

Found these too...

Then--- your message. Lol

Even though I'm not doing a period kitchen can't you mix n match?

My flush Inset cabs, marble, and walnut wouldn't work with those? Btw I usually don't like schoolhouse lights much but I thought those were pretty.

Not saying ur wrong- just curious of ur thoughts.

I also like the most recent yellow glass one you posted (the bottom one).

Looking at your island layout though, will the two 18" lights give enough overlap light at the ends of your island??

hth

I also love these for over the dining table...

I echo what Red-lover said,
"Have you considered a making your island look more like a table?

Like a table in what way?

Love seeing your ideas!

hth