• Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • How We Work
  • Portfolio
    • Projects
    • Zalanta
  • Awards
  • Press
  • Blog
  • Contact
    • Careers

How to Get Your Kitchen Island Lighting Right

Talie Jane · July 06, 2015 · Dining Rooms, Furniture & Fixtures, Kitchens, Tips and Trends · 1 comments
5
Kitchen Lighting, Chandeliers, Pendants, Multi-Bulb Fixtures, Track Lighting, Dropped Ceilings, Wide Fixtures, Mixed Metals

The kitchen island is often a central gathering spot in the home, in addition to being a functional, much-used workspace. That’s why it’s important to light it right. I’m a fan of hanging fixtures, which, if chosen correctly, provide ambient and task lighting while acting like beautiful jewelry. Here are a few key tips for selecting kitchen island lights that get the job done while looking great.

ChandeliersKitchen Lighting, Chandeliers, Pendants, Multi-Bulb Fixtures, Track Lighting, Dropped Ceilings, Wide Fixtures, Mixed Metals
As a general rule of thumb, the more copies of a pendant you’re hanging, the simpler the pendant should be. If a light fixture clearly feels like a chandelier, it’s usually best to use just one and let it be a statement piece. Repeating such a large, standout feature can detract from its grandeur.

Kitchen Lighting, Chandeliers, Pendants, Multi-Bulb Fixtures, Track Lighting, Dropped Ceilings, Wide Fixtures, Mixed MetalsPendants
The simplicity rule is especially important when a more dramatic chandelier is present nearby, such as over a dining table. Let the multiple pendants be much simpler so they aren’t fighting for attention, and consider using a similar finish to tie all the fixtures together. In general, an elegant, understated bell or schoolhouse shape is a safe bet for anything from two to 12 pendants. These beautifully hold their own without clashing with other accents.

Kitchen Lighting, Chandeliers, Pendants, Multi-Bulb Fixtures, Track Lighting, Dropped Ceilings, Wide Fixtures, Mixed MetalsMulti-Bulb Fixtures
One advantage of multi-bulb fixtures is that they bring extra sparkle and even out the lighting without cluttering your sightlines. Choose a style with a hurricane-lantern-like shade for a transitional effect that balances modern and traditional elegance.

Track Lights
Kitchen Lighting, Chandeliers, Pendants, Multi-Bulb Fixtures, Track Lighting, Dropped Ceilings, Wide Fixtures, Mixed MetalsWho says track lights are a thing of the past? Modern gallery-like lights tucked up against the ceiling will add functional lighting to an island while preserving a wide-open and airy look. Use simple white fixtures against a white ceiling, or place them between beams, and they’ll disappear even more than pot lights.

Dropped CeilingsKitchen Lighting, Chandeliers, Pendants, Multi-Bulb Fixtures, Track Lighting, Dropped Ceilings, Wide Fixtures, Mixed Metals
If you want to add pot lights or any other recessed fixture but don’t have the ability to install the wiring in a solid ceiling, try a dropped panel. It visually anchors an island while providing a cavity for the new electrical. Plus, you can add modern cove lighting to give the space an extra glow that mimics daylight pouring in from a skylight. You can also add an LED strip that faces downward for a modern twist on the usual pot light, as seen in this example. Try covering the panel in a fun color, or add some organic interest with wood, so the panel itself becomes decorative.

Kitchen Lighting, Chandeliers, Pendants, Multi-Bulb Fixtures, Track Lighting, Dropped Ceilings, Wide Fixtures, Mixed MetalsWide Fixtures
Rather than several pendants, try one wide fixture that will cast light evenly across the entire island. LEDs and light strips create a modern look and take up very little space, providing lots of light without blocking the view. You can also use a wide bar with multiple exposed bulbs for a more industrial-eclectic vibe. The sparkle off the appliances will be almost as beautiful as the fixture itself.

Mixing MetalsKitchen Lighting, Chandeliers, Pendants, Multi-Bulb Fixtures, Track Lighting, Dropped Ceilings, Wide Fixtures, Mixed Metals
Don’t be afraid to mix metal finishes between your lighting and the appliance suite. Stainless steel and warm brass are beautiful together, and your lighting offers an opportunity to add a little warmth to balance out the cool silvery tones.

Doubling Up
Ultimately, the most effective lighting scheme always involves mixing multiple sources for an even wash of light that’s free of harsh shadows. Mixing pot lights or track lights with hanging fixtures will balance spotlighting on the counter with a more general illumination for a balance of beauty and practicality.

Article published on Houzz.com

Lighting
  • The Adirondak Chair
    April 05, 2019 · 0 comments
      Like baseball, fireworks, and sweltering temperatures, the Adirondack
    3624
    3
    Read more
  • Talie Jane wins Best of Service Award from Houzz - 2019
    Talie Jane Interiors Wins “Best Of Houzz 2019” for Customer Service
    February 27, 2019 · 0 comments

    TALIE JANE INTERIORS of LAKE TAHOE

    Awarded Best Of Houzz
    1439
    0
    Read more
  • A Short History of the Sunburst Mirror
    December 14, 2014 · 0 comments
    9190
    7
    Read more
1 Comments:

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.

Categories
  • Bathrooms
  • Bedrooms
  • Dining Rooms
  • DIY
  • Furniture & Fixtures
  • Hallways/Entryways
  • Home Decor
  • Kitchens
  • Living/Family Rooms
  • Offices
  • Outdoor Spaces
  • Tips and Trends
  • Uncategorized
Send Us A Blog Request
If there’s a topic you’d like to learn more about, we’d love to hear from you. Send us an email to [email protected], or post a comment on our Facebook page, and we’ll blog about it.
Pages
  • Press
  • Contact
  • Portfolio
  • Zalanta
  • Privacy Policy
  • Process
  • Overstock
  • Careers
  • Talie Jane Interiors – Interior Design Lake Tahoe
  • About Talie Jane Interiors
  • Our Interior Design Process
  • Our Home Staging Process
  • Closets and Storage Areas
  • Zalanta Interior Design
  • Awards
Tags
Animal Skulls Antique architectural lighting Art Awards Bamboo biophilic design Bold Cabinets Color console table Couches Decorating Designer vs Decorator Design Philosophy Design Rules Granite Countertops Holidays Interior Design Japanese design Kitchen Storage Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe Interior Designer Lampshades Lighting Low Budget Maximalism Modern Modern Tahoe Home Mountain Decor Mountain Interior Design Older Homes Painting Rattan Furniture Reclaimed Wood Remodel Rugs Safari scandinavian design subway tile Summer The Orient Vintage Wallpaper Wicker Furniture
Copyright 2020 Talie Jane Interiors. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy
Talie Jane Interiors, Interior Decorators & Designers, Zephyr Cove, NV
Remodeling and Home Design
Talie Jane Interiors is HomeAdvisor Screened & Approved