This may be lower-end or bigger-box than favored but following the retirement of my beloved Iranian lighting purveyor, while generic-feeling I've found quite a bit at reasonable prices here: lampsplus.com

Here is a link that might be useful: large lower-end lighting store

Lighting is tough for me too. My approach is usually to echo shapes and colors across the room, but that doesn't help so much with lighting. It's harder to envision the metals pulling together - the handles, faucets and lights. I end up browsing through pages of lights with only lukewarm feelings. DH says get a bunch of tube flourescents and be done with it. He is not TKO.

Hope you find something.

I think Visual Comfort has several styles and finishes that you would like. You'll need to find a local dealer with their catalog as most websites don't do justice to their numerous products. One caution: They're pricey.

I am no help at all. After more than a year, I still don't have pendants over my island. :(

What is your budget for the pendant? And do you want something in the style of the first kichler light but in a non-shiny silver finish? What size pendant do you want?

My first thought is the Restoration Hardware Benson/Hamon lights. They come in a variety of sizes in satin nickel, but are outside of many budgets. ($200-$500 ea depending on size)

A little more budget friendly is this one from Landmark. It's satin nickel and 13" in diameter and a little more budget friendly at $178 each.

If there are other criteria that this doesn't meet, post it up, I'd be happy to draw on my stupid amount of hours searching the web to help other people out.

I think you would find Rejuvenation kind of pricey too, but they are super fun to look at! Try also lamps plus, there are 28 pages of Kichler alone. It can be overwhelming, but their prices may be okay.

Oh my gosh.. Brickton, that is THE light I have been searching for! The right finish, size, price and style! I knew it was out there, but my hours of searching stores and on-line never came up with this one. Thanks a million! You all are the greatest- thanks for everyone's sympathy and suggestions. Now, on to the next dilemma- wall paint color..

Yay! I'm happy to help. I feel like in prepping to build our house I've gained tons of otherwise useless knowledge. As for paint color, I will defer to the non-color blind. I only share my overly opinionated color choices on my long suffering lovely wife who promptly informs me the color I see is not the actual color (apparently Mourning Dove by Martha isn't greenish gray... hunh).