There have been some astonishing changes in the lighting sector of interior design.
Namely the big -ss pendant lights!
Pendants - big, no huge! large scale pendants over islands have been dominating the kitchen focal points now for the last year.

The following is your guide to the inside scoop on this very hot trend.

Source: Neff Living Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BrSw7uagrF0/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=hxh5boqr503r

It is fair to say the designers of the cold and modern kitchen are opting to select whimsy, surprise, and overstatement with large light fixtures over the island for the main focus to provide counter balance.

This trend seems to have been borrowed from the commercial and hospitality interior design industry. Large soft fabric DRUM lights (like the one in the photo above) were introduced 10 years ago to help soften and humanize cold business spaces to help them feel more homey and residential.

The increase in the scale of the light fixture is seen everywhere and especially in the size of the pendant. A pendant is a hanging fixture usually with but one bulb. Below is an example of four pendants- an innovative way to create a focal point with multiple fixtures and outlets clustered together.

Source: Ashley Stark Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrKr8rjBqv3/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1jbfb9pvld13h

Modern Kitchens have become more and more severely dressed down. The modern kitchen is more about balance of materials, than decoration over the last while. Simple lines instead of multiple profiles, such as crown moulding, is not the type of fussy eye candy that feels zen like. On the other hand, cool smooth metal, with doors with clean lines, has dominated the trends in our area of Vancouver and Toronto. These calm kitchen “canvas’s” offer-up the perfect background for one or two very expressive elements (see the examples below). Ergo the big -ss light fixture!

Source: Elle Decor - Jodie Patterson

The different type of large pendants:

The super sized pendant (in your google search) is usually called a simply “ large” pendant. Not a chandelier. A pendant has one bulb usually, and the chandelier has multiple bulbs. A large pendant is now a 21” to 24” wide light. They can be called a bell, clouche (French for bell) globe, bucket, or funnel light and are all elaborations on the wildly popular drum light.

Source: Hungerford Interiors
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmObJV3FqEW/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1n4y857oyffg8

Here are are some ways to see that you have chosen the correct light:

1) First the light has to be functional. Check the wattage. A 45 w not enough for task light when it’s in the 8 foot ceiling. But when hanging down from the ceiling 3’ or so, and hitting the 3’ height countertop - it is now double the light output and is sufficient for tasks such as dishwashing and preparing food.

2) Look for a light that has the feeling you want to evoke. This is where the professional - through artistry knows materials and furnishings so well, we know what to look for and read the language of said materials.
For example - rattan reads differently than ceramic beaded shades.
Just look at many many lights and take your first flash answer on what feeling the light gives out to you. It may take practice.


3) Look for a light that has materials that repeat the same materials in the space. See a good example of this below. Glass colour,
wood, metals that picks up other elements repeated, create continuity. Gold
Metal is very popular and gets a ton of attention since it’s still a relatively new choice.

Robin Baron Interiors (top) and Cement Tile Shop- @beckiowens (bottom)

Just be sure you select a light that has the exact type of communication you want to have. Bold, playful, futuristic, interesting - what ever adjective you want!

Award winning Kitchen and Bath Designer.
We do work online and create visuals and colour and material lists for projects in both Canada and the USA.

Phone or Text me anytime at 778-908-1804 for an estimate.
I am in Portland, Oregon from now ‘till the end of the month.