Farmhouse Kitchen Chandelier

Let's trip the lights fantastic together!

I am in the market for the perfect light for our soon to be completed farmhouse kitchen.

We have the elements of a farmhouse glam kitchen I talked about with you.

Yes, there will be some bling with my burlap, rustic & refined details that add up to farmhouse glam.  After all, this is LA baby!

With my 19 light vintage chandelier score in the adjoining dining room, I need to take care not to compete with that fixture.  It is pretty unbeatable anyhow.  

Compliment - not competition - is what I am after in a kitchen light.  

Here is my "jumbo", as the rewiring guy calls it, being delivered after the score.  Too big for my SUV!

...did I tell you the story of how I scored this?  Oh I should, that is Edmond on the right.  I bought it at the annual yard sale at his tea shop.

Even though my set up is far from a "great room" - the fixtures need to speak to one another - not talk over each other.  You know what I mean.

I am not making a final decision on the kitchen light until the cabinets & stove are in place.  Particularly since the stove, as it is quite a conversation piece ~ again, no "talking over".

This is what our kitchen looks like today.  So no lighting decision this week...

Links to the lighting sources in order of appearance at the end of the post & by clicking the images.

That being said, the girl scout & designer in me needs to be prepared.  Once that 2,000 lb stove emerges from the vintage stove hospital, I want to pounce on the perfect lighting solution.

My first choice is the newly refurbished entry chandelier that came with the house.  All cleaned up it is a stunner, but I am hesitant as it maybe too small.  

Here is the chandelier just after it was rewired still in the lamp shop.  I think I would use it without the glass globes - so sans the etched grapes!

Using my guidelines for a choosing & hanging a chandelier - it is right on the border of being a good size.

 Have you read my guidelines?  Really helpful in honing in on the right fixture for your space.

Today I am sharing some fixtures in the running for my kitchen.  See them throughout the post & source linked at the end.  I am also sharing more advice for choosing the right light for your space.  

Choosing a Light Fixture

• Lighting should compliment the room you are decorating, not match everything nor create drastic contrast.

• Always use dimmers to accommodate different tasks or mood.

• When hanging light(s) over a table or island choose a fixture that is roughly 12" less in diameter than what it is being hung above and hang it about 30" from the bottom of the fixture above the table or countertop.

• Use at least two different kinds of lighting in a room.  Three or four even better. Overhead, focal, table top, task, all combine to give the degree of light and ambiance you desire.

• In choosing an overhead focal light, such as a chandelier or pendant, use my 101 Guide found here.

• When installing heavy chandeliers use proper mounting hardware to accommodate for the weight of the piece.  A good choice is the Saf-T-Brace by Westinghouse.

• For under counter lighting facts, advice & options pop over here for my 101 Under Counter Lighting.

• When installing a foyer light center it within the window if you have one and hang it so the bottom of the chandelier is about 7 feet off the floor.

• A dining room light should be about 50-75% the width of the table depending on the style and room and the bottom of the light about 30" above the tabletop for 8 foot high ceiling. Every foot higher than eight, the chandelier can be raised approximately 2-3" higher.  See here  for more details on hanging chandeliers.

Ok, let's get back into the kitchen. I have chosen a table as an "island".  It is 50" long by 30" wide.

My room measures 20' long x 12' wide but because it is long, I can break it up into separate areas.  The area where the table & focal light will be measures 15' long x 12' wide.  The ceiling is 9 feet high.  So I need to be honing in on a fixture that is between 22.5 & 27 inches in height &approximately 27 in diameter.  

 

Would love to get your opinion on these & if you know of another that you'd suggest.

Of course, I will keep you posted on my kitchen progress & you'll be the first to know of my choice of fixture.  

Yes first!  'Cause you…you light up my life…you give me hope to carry on…as the dust flys & the hammers bang.

Thank you for that!

** Kelly **

Light Fixture Sources:

1. Lantern: One King's Lane - Visual Comfort
2. Caged pendant - Painted Fox
3. Gold chandelier - Joss & Main
4. Double pendant - Ballard