Alternate title: spending a lot on lights, but feeling pretty good about it.
We’ve been eager to replace the kitchen light fixtures for a while, and now the time has finally come. Decisions were made, fixtures were purchased, and a few long-term lighting dreams came true. Because these three new lights will remain after our Phase 2 renovation, we decided not to use temporary pieces — we went all-in on items we truly love and hope to enjoy for many years. We wanted the three fixtures to coordinate visually without matching exactly, since each serves a different purpose in the kitchen. Here’s the plan:
- Over the sink: a glass pendant to replace the mini fluorescent — it won’t block the view, and it will catch the sun beautifully.
- Over the cooking area: a semi-flush mount shade to replace the larger boxy fluorescent. (In an earlier photo we popped off the old cover to check wiring and placement.)
- Over the table: a large rope chandelier we’d been eyeing for months.
We’d wanted a 24 x 24″ rope chandelier for a long time — imagine it over our weathered wood table. After lots of debate we decided to buy it, even though it’s the most we’ve spent on a light so far. We found the chandelier at different prices online and finally ordered it when it showed up with the best deal and free shipping. We’re excited about committing to something we’ve loved for so long and hope to still be enjoying it years from now.
For the sink, we wanted a simple glass pendant with oil-rubbed bronze hardware that wouldn’t compete with the rope chandelier. A trip to Home Depot turned up a clean, classic option that felt just right:
It was about $69 in the store (pricing online varied), and it strikes the right balance of being stylish without demanding attention.
Choosing the semi-flush mount shade was the toughest call. We needed something substantial to replace a large boxy fixture, so tiny options wouldn’t work. We considered adding recessed can lights, but the kitchen already gets plenty of natural light from four windows, so we wanted a shade to keep the space cozy and casual. After lots of searching — visiting small shops, browsing big-box stores, and scouring online listings — we narrowed down several contenders:
- A 15″ natural shade — we tried holding a cutout to the ceiling and it looked too small.
- A 17″ shade from another retailer — bigger, but still not quite the scale we wanted.
- An inspiring quatrefoil flush mount from a high-end maker — beautiful, but well beyond our budget.
- A 17″ caged shade with attractive hardware — a nice option but not large enough.
- A 24″ burlap quatrefoil-shaped shade found at a local outlet — a good size and good value compared to similar options.
We ultimately chose the larger 24″ quatrefoil shade to help balance the rope chandelier over the table. Although both the shade and the chandelier are 24″ wide, the chandelier hangs lower and remains the focal point, while the quatrefoil semi-flush adds warmth and interest on the opposite side of the room. The glass pendant over the sink will provide a soft glow by the window.
Next up: ceiling patching, a fresh coat of paint, and a little electrical work. Once those tasks are done it’ll be time to hang everything and see how the mix of fixtures brings the kitchen together. Fingers crossed they look as good installed as they do in our heads.
P.S. A few readers asked on Instagram about introducing our dog Burger to our baby Clara and making the transition from a household with a dog to one with both a dog and a baby as smooth as possible. We shared more about that on Young House Life today.