Whether an island is a dedicated workhorse or just for show, it’s often the centerpiece of a kitchen. And by extension, the lighting above it plays a central part in the look and feel of a kitchen design. These 10 pendant lights over islands present a range of possibilities, but all have that extra-special something that enhances the overall design of their spaces. Have a look, then let us know in the Comments which one is your favorite.
Artisan Katy Skelton created the dramatic U-shaped light fixture in this Southern California kitchen by Linette Dai. Its bar is wrapped in white leather for an unexpected and luxurious touch. The pendant is artfully hung at a level that accentuates both the solo upper cabinet behind and the lines of the tray ceiling above. And it manages to make a statement without taking away from the bold Arabescato Corchia marble on the island top and backsplash. All in all, it’s a lovely finishing note for a polished urban Zen space.
Kids doing homework at this spacious island in a British Columbia, Canada, kitchen by Lori Steeves of Simply Home Decorating will have plenty of light for reading, thanks to lighting that includes three large pendants. Their black-and-white finishes sync up beautifully with the black cabinets and range hood, white countertops and walls, and elements in the nearby breakfast area. The pendants have the only brass elements in the room, adding shine and helping establish a focal point. They also play nicely with the light wood stools below.
Designer Michael Ferzoco of Eleven Interiors believes that lighting is the most important part of any room. For this Massachusetts homeowner, a big fan of midcentury modern style, he capped off his crisp blue-and-white kitchen design with striking white dome pendant lights. Their warm metallic interior brings shine and draws the eye, even from the adjacent dining area and living room (not seen) in the open plan. And check out how those four stools below visually balance the pendants without being rigidly symmetrical.
Brass elements throughout add to the warm welcome in this charming Vermont kitchen by designer Lauren Miles. The pendant lights have an aged version of the metal on the stem, above 16-inch linen drum shades that, along with the white oak island countertop below, establish the kitchen’s center without hogging the spotlight. Their clean, modern lines help keep the countryside-inspired kitchen design from tipping over into full-on farmhouse.
Pendant lights: Stillwater in aged brass, Rejuvenation
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The stems of these three pendants artfully emphasize the verticality of the cabinets and pantry door in this London kitchen, visually boosting the kitchen’s height. It’s a subtle but masterful move that comes courtesy of Robert Burnett of Kitchens by Holloways and Elizabeth McFarlane. The designers chose a gold finish as well, which brings the black-and-white design to life and nods to the gold-tone cabinet pulls nearby.
With oil-rubbed bronze, cased white glass shades and clean lines, these teardrop-shaped pendants suit their midcentury modern surroundings without being too on the nose. Their shapeliness acts as a counterpoint to all the linear elements of this Vermont kitchen — by Britt Mee of Vermont Interior Design and Rachelle Lazzaro of OAK Design Project — and their darker base color has a grounding effect on the white island expanse below. Plus, they’re subtle enough to let that gorgeous green backsplash tile have its moment.
Pendant lights don’t have to be oversize or flashy to be standouts, as these slender metal-and-glass versions show. This is the kitchen of Minnesota designer Mary Maney of Crystal Kitchen + Bath, and she repeated the pendants’ coloring in the island base, the range hood and the back of a glass-front cabinet to evenly distribute warm notes throughout the white-dominant space. The overall effect is of traditional elegance without a whiff of stuffiness.
Pendant lights (similar): Connor one-light, Capital Lighting Fixture
An angled black-and-brass piece surrounds a white glass shade in these two pendants, for an artful look that dials up this Massachusetts kitchen’s wood-forward design. The round part peeking out references the scallop-shaped backsplash tiles and offsets the linear ceiling beams, while the overall delicate design balances out the boxy island below. Note too how Kerri Reesey of Kindred Designs carried the black from the pendants to the chairs for a united front.
Pendant lights: Blaine, 16 inches, Rejuvenation
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Copper pendant lights scaled just right for a large island bring a warm gleam and curved lines to this fresh farmhouse-style kitchen in Ontario, Canada, by designer Aniko Nicholson. They join gunmetal sconces, a polished nickel faucet and other metallic elements in adding lively notes to the calm wood-and-white design. Note too how the inset window frame over the sink speaks to the copper finish of the pendants and creates a pulled-together feel.
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