Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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Hanging Two Glass Kitchen Pendants

I like big globes and I cannot lie. You other brothers can’t deny. When a light walks in with an itty bitty waist…

Globes 1 After Straight

… and a round thing in yo face you get sprung. At least I do. John just gets all blown out and looks angelic.

Globes 2 After With John

The purpose of that photo was actually just to show you why we picked the height that we did. The common pendant light recommendation is to hang it 30″ above the top of the counter (from the top of the counter to the base of the pendant), but we went 31″  because my tall hubby didn’t want those round things in his face obstructing the view. It’s so nice to have some proper lighting above the peninsula since that part of the room has been super dark. As we mentioned yesterday, they were $60 each at a local lighting outlet, which made buying two of them cheaper than the actual retail price of one (they’re $129 a pop here).

Of course we still have some holes to spackle (five to be exact), but things are definitely looking up!

Globes 3 After Angle

As in, I can’t stop staring up at them. And John’s been ogling them too.

Globes 4 Over Peninsula

The lights, not the holes.

I’ve got holes. In different area codes… area codes. Remember that song anyone? Apparently I’m in a singing mood today. I blame it on the eh-eh-eh-eh-electrical. Blame it on the eh-eh-eh-eh-electrical.

Globes 5 Holes To Patch

Ok, I’m done now. Promise.

Anyway, this is a shot to show you that we still have a light over the fireplace to switch out. It’s actually perfectly centered on the fireplace as you face it, although the angle of this pic makes it look all sorts of wonky. This is a pendant that broke pretty soon after moving in so we haven’t used it for about half a year. Can’t wait to hang something better suited to the chill-zone by the fireplace. Maybe a big ol’ drum pendant that’s only dropped a few inches from the ceiling so it’s high enough for anyone 6’4″ and under not to bump their heads (that’s the tallest person we know, haha). So yeah, along with spackling holes and getting a pendant for over the sink, this guy’s on the lighting agenda too.

Globes 6 Fireplace Light

But back to the globes. We actually installed a dimmer switch yesterday, which is awesome because we can blast them all the way up or lower them for we’re-just-eating-spaghetti-but-let’s-fancy-things-up ambiance. We’d love to get LED bulbs for our pendants (they’re compatible with CFLs, halogens, incandescents, and LEDs, which is nice) but since we have a dimmer switch, we have to find special LEDs that work with a dimmer. We’ll keep you posted.

Update: we’re getting lots o’ comments asking if we’ll be ORBing the stools – we’re actually going to wait for the dark cork floors to go in before making any decisions on them either way since that could be a game changer. Oooh cliffhanger…

Globes 7 Off Straight

Here’s how things look in the other direction. See how a big drum shade might be nice for that cozy corner by the fire?

Globes 8 Off From Stove

Mmm, let’s get a little closer, shall we?

Update: We gave edison bulbs a try and they were reallllly yellow in our room (maybe with white counters they’re not the best idea since they left ours looking dirty?) – we also gave clear bulbs a try but they cast a bunch of harsh shadows on the ceiling, so we prefer the frosted guys we have here for now – although we’re definitely still looking into dimmable LEDs!

Globes Off Extreme Close Up

In the words of sandwich-loving Joey Tribbiani: how you doin?

Globes Off Both Close

Oh and see that nice big chunk of sunny grellow wall between the fridge and the half wall into the dining room? We want to get a nice big piece of art for that spot. So we’re on the prowl. Will keep ya posted on that too.

Globes Off Space Over Count

When we were reconfiguring the kitchen we talked about putting an upper cabinet there but knew that the peninsula would feel so much more open to those sitting there (especially the person on the end) if they weren’t staring at the side of a cabinet. It’s actually an area where we do a lot of prepping now, so we love that it’s open. It’s hard to explain, but it feels more like a room and less kitchen-y, in a good way. Just sort of casual and airy and not too wood-riddled.

Globes Off Angle

Anyway, next on the ol’ kitchen list is patching those holes (we’ll share all the spackle-tastic details) and hanging (and building in) our craigslist range hood. Then we finally get to add the open shelves that I’ve been over the moon to “meet” since about four months ago when we decided to go for it. We’ve been keeping all of our dishes/plates/cups in a lazy susan cabinet in the corner by the stove, and while it works okay, open shelving will be approximately 957 times more convenient. Yes, I’m a complainer about turning the lazy susan one way to get a dish and having to spin it the other way to get a cup. Plus after we get the shelves made and hung and painted I get to put pretty vases and containers and frames up there along with all of our everyday dishes. Maybe even a ceramic animal or two if I’m feeling crazy. And let’s face it, I’m pretty much always feeling crazy.

Speaking of which, remember my whole self-imposed “Dude, Get On That Already” challenge?

Fascinator

How is it already Wednesday and I have yet to tackle something? Come on $herdog, you said once a week you’d get on that. So GET ON THAT, ALREADY! Hopefully I’ll have a little update for ya tomorrow. Anyone care to join me and share what you’ve done tomorrow morning?

So in summary: work continues and we’re all over the place as usual. Hah. What are you guys up to today?

Comments

  2. Emily says

    The lights look incredible. And I know you’re itching to get the shelves up, but I’m frankly more excited to see the floors go down. I think the dark cork will completely transform the space.

    I’m working from home today so I’m trying to squeeze in as many chores as possible in between real work. I need to take pictures of and measure a bunch of things to put on CL, do a lot of random cleaning and organizing, do my taxes, etc. etc. It’s not exciting at all but it needs to get done!

    Reply

  4. Amy S says

    Those are REALLY cool lights. Am very jealous of the price, too!

    Would it maybe be more cozy in the fireplace area to skip the overhead light and go with, say, a floor lamp by the chair or something along those lines? With the pendants over the island and the recessed lights in the main kitchen area, another ceiling light in the fireplace area would be a lot of ceiling lights in one room. Or maybe not? It’s hard to tell without being there, but it was something that came to mind looking at the pictures.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We actually have a floor lamp by the chair (is it in these pics? I forget) but have been thinking it would be nice to have an overhead one since we have that junction box up there just waiting to be filled. Haha.

      xo,
      s

  6. Lindsay says

    Looking good!! I’m on the edgggggggggggggge…of my seat…waiting for more kitchen progress!! I’ll have to better work my p-p-p-poker face to hide the excitement.

    Gotta love Gaga on this Wednesday. Couldn’t resist.

    Reply

  8. Jenny says

    Love your blog, great post! Those bar stools would looks pretty good ORB-ed (is that a word?!) too – any plans for them? :)

    Reply

  10. Jenna says

    It looks great–everything is really coming together! Considering how exciting that is as a reader, I can’t imagine how satisfying/exciting it is for you two (and Clara and Burger, as well, I’m sure!).

    Reply

  12. Ann L says

    OMG those looks soooo good. Almost too good. They’re making me want to “li-li-li-li-lick em like a lollipop.” :) Name that tune!(hey, if you can break out into song, I can too!!)

    The room is coming together so nicely and I don’t know if the grellow is more true to color in these shots or not since you now have appropriate lighting, but I like it so much better than I did when the kitchen was all dark and wooden.

    Time to quit writing and go back to revisit the pictures already. So pretty!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yes, we’re finally sort of capturing the grellow as it looks in real life in these pics thanks to better lighting! It was never dark or neon green, more of a soft light yellow, like the color of a sliced avocado. Just reads better now I think since it’s lighter!

      xo,
      s

    • Christina says

      I was noticing the same thing about the wall color looking better and brighter with the new lighting. Everything is coming together so beautifully. I know it won’t be for a long while, but I can’t wait for the final reveal post where you give us all the before and after shots. I honestly think you’ll have one of the best kitchen transformations out there.

    • Jen says

      I love that you guys finally posted a daytime pic without the lights on. I think that’s a first, and I can’t get over how amazing it looks. Great job!!

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha, yes sorry Jen! We do all of our work at night when Clara’s sleeping, so sometimes it’s hard to shoot day pics with her running around and the blog being busy with questions and stuff!

      xo,
      s

  16. Melanie @ Mailbox Journey says

    I’m not exactly sure about those lights yet. I mean I love them, but the space is still unfinished so I’m sort of iffy. But I’m sure I’ll come around once the space is complete. They are all I can stare at though! :p

    I think a big piece of art will look a lot better in that space then a cabinet too. :) Can’t wait to see what you find for that wall space.

    Reply

  17. Erica says

    hahahaha! spoken like a true Jerzey Girl! this little New Yorker remembers ALL of those songs-which are now stuck in my head!! Kitchen’s looking good though!

    Reply

  18. Stephanie Phillips says

    Those really are some fantastic lights. Now that you have a few more industrial elements I’m anxious to see those floors installed. I think the warmth of the cork in that rich mocha color will really soften the space. As will your shelves with the vases and animals (I have no doubt that ceramic animals will enter the kitchen!).

    For the art on the peninsula wall- have you looked at Etsy? I’m lusting after some of the more graphic kitchen art on there. Things like:

    http://www.etsy.com/listing/80369435/spoon-knife-fork-kitchen-utensil-art

    http://www.etsy.com/listing/84607197/cooking-tools-kitchen-art-prints-3-5×7

    http://www.etsy.com/listing/75065006/kitchen-aid-mixer-a4-poster-orange

    http://www.etsy.com/listing/53006402/modern-kitchen-art-print-measuring

    Yum!

    Reply

  22. grace says

    Is it weird that the first thing I thought is that the stools now need to go ORB to tie in the lights? I think that would look ahhhh-mazing together.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha- thanks! We’re waiting to put in the dark cork floors to see how we feel about the stools! They’ll be a last stage tweak if we change ’em- just so we don’t jump the gun and then wish we waited for the floors to go in to decide!

      xo,
      s

  23. Jodi says

    WOAH!! When you said pendant lights, I thought they were going to be smaller, but those BIG BAD BOYS make a statement. They look really great!!!!

    Reply

  24. Courtney says

    I’m in love with your lighting! And your singing, of course. Also, have you guys thought about what you’ll be doing with your peninsula stools in terms of design? They’d look mighty fine with some ORB on them…! :)

    Reply

  25. Kristen @ Popcorn on the Stove says

    The lights look great! You should hang some sort of measurement chart/art on that bare wall. It could look snazzy.

    And I totally remember that Ludacris song (I actually saw him in concert when he came to my school, if you can believe it haha).

    Reply

  26. Kelly says

    Oh man, I am green with envy over your kitchen. It’s gorgeous! Also your fire place is ridic clean. Do you not use it that often or is there a secret to cleaning? I bought an ash vacuum for our pellet stove (called Bad Ash. I think I just got it because I loved the name). It works well, but everything still gets a little sooty and dusty from the wood and ash.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Haha- it’s inoperable so that’s my secret! I even painted the inside of the firebox so it’s nice and clean. Haha. Wish I could be of more help with a working one, but don’t paint a working one (it’s dangerous).

      xo,
      s

  28. debbie c says

    Like the pendants but you need to change those bulbs….have you looked at those edison style filament bulbs? Those would look cool!

    Reply

  29. Jessica | mnmize says

    Just found your blog and I love your home! It’s so adorable and “real” feeling! I especially love your old drafting stools as bartstools, I’m quite partial to them :). And the pendant lights look amazing. I’m looking forward to seeing what else you do and going through your past posts!

    Reply

  31. Monika says

    So unbelievable! I’m in love and can’t wait to put up our lights (also globes! great minds think alike). If it’s not too much bother, for point of reference purposes, could you tell us how tall is your penninsula and how tall is your ceiling? The lights seem to be quite a bit above the counter (in a good way). Oh and what light bulbs are you using?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Our peninsula is standard counter height (not bar height) – so what is that? 36″ or 38″ – and our ceilings are 8′ tall. Hope it helps! We’re just using regular 60 watt incandescents but would love to switch to CFLs or LEDs that work with our dimmer if we can find ’em!

      xo,
      s

  32. Kristin says

    Love those pendants! I’m in search of some cheap-ish ones myself.. Let’s just say we’re ballin’ on a budget. Nice work Petersiks!

    Reply

  33. nancyo says

    Your final kitchen post may garner more interest than the final series of Harry Potter.

    People will be waiting by their computer for the final blog post reveal.

    Maybe there will be people wearing soda t-shirts, stroking penny tile with white cermanic animal and spray painting something in anticipation of the final reveal?

    Reply

  35. Ay @ this DIY life says

    Love the idea of a drum shade in the nook! This week, I picked my project for the next Pinterest challenge…drum shade pendant type things for the kitchen.

    I just shared an progress(?) update on my out of control space on my blog. I’ll be sure to share the link tomorrow when you share your “Look what I did” progress :) So much more motivation when you know someone else is going through the same thing!

    Reply

  39. Karen says

    Those look (wait for it…) amazeballs! I’ll admit that I was curious as to how they would look when you posted just the globes yesterday, but the end result is nothing short of fantastic.

    Reply

  40. Kacie says

    Looks awesome! Jocelyn, I’m doing the same chant in my head: “New floors, new floors.” Those are going to be the detail that tie this kitchen into a beautiful, grellow & white- animal-bedecked bow. Love the space so far!

    Reply

  43. Linda says

    I never thought I’d use the word “sexy” to describe a light fixture, but I just can’t help myself. Those are easily the sexiest globes I’ve ever seen.
    (Yes. That’s what *I* said.)

    xoxo Linda

    Reply

  44. Jennifer Fankhauser says

    Those pendants make me so excited to get ours hung in the living room (we’ve had them sitting in their boxes for a month b/c my husband is a little scared to DIY electrical work). We have very similar but slightly larger globe pendants with Edison bulbs to replace 2 hideous white & gold ceiling fan light fixtures in the living room. Cannot wait to say goodbye to those ugly lights for good!

    Your kitchen just keeps getting better and better.

    Reply

  45. Julia @ Chris loves Julia says

    These pendants were such a game changer. It really brought your kitchen up to the next level–so did the backsplash. And painted cabinets. Ya know. I can’t wait to see what you do as far as ART goes. You know that’s my thing. Are you gonna do something yourself?

    Reply

  46. Staci says

    Would the big section between the doorway and fridge be a good candidate for one of the moody horse pictures you switched out of the bedroom? At least temporarily? I’d love to see some dark get worked in to go with the ORB’ed ambiance of your new awesome lights.

    Also… now that the kitchen isn’t a cave of darkness… it might look good to gray-wash the beam! I dunno. I know you’ve talked against it before. Maybe do it on Photoshop to see what you think? ;) ;)

    This week I’m working on importing my old travel blog posts and incorporating them into my current blog… I was feeling like a split personality having two blogs!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Sadly those are too big! I would totally do that though if it fit! Although I’m really excited about adding a colorful painting or print! And as for the beams, since they run in the opposite direction from the living room ones (which are gray washed) we like keeping these white so they don’t look like it’s a criss-crosss crazy ceiling thing when you look into the two rooms (from the dining room you see both ceilings). Although once we put the cork floors down we think the room will definitely not be too whitewashed anymore!

      xo,
      s

  47. Carly says

    This is awesome. I love those globes. We’re putting something similar in this Wicker Park Apartment but we have had trouble finding light bulbs that don’t blind us, with such an “open” bulb (aka nothing to shield your eyes like a normal lamp.” We’re down to 25 watts, which is… decent. Just wondering, what are those?
    -Carly @ Createlive

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Ours are 60 watts, which is nice and bright but nothing too crazy. Even with a glass globe they seem somewhat softer than they’d be if they were just out there hanging in the breeze…

      xo,
      s

  48. Emily says

    Didn’t you already buy a pendant for over the sink on some road trip awhile back? Honycomb looking glass with an ORB chain?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      It’s from Pottery Barn- a pretty silver and mercury glass pendant. Might not play so well with these pendants so we might use him in a bathroom or something!

      xo,
      s

  49. Kindra Taylor says

    LOVE the new lights. Not too frilly and not too restaurant-y pendant lights are NOT easy to come by! Didn’t you guys buy a pendant light at the Pottery Barn Outlet awhile back? Whatever happened to that? Is it going to be used in the kitchen?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yes, our Pottery-Barn-Outlet-for-29-bucks-pendant. He’s a pretty silver and mercury glass guys so he might not play so well with these pendants. Might use him in a bathroom or something!

      xo,
      s

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