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Why pendant lights, you might ask? Simple, glass-shade pendant lights like this Arco Baleno are simple and unpretentious, but cast a warm, inviting light. Where a florescent light won't quite do, but even a simple chandelier is a little overblown for your taste or your space, putting up a trio of pendant lights is a great way to add visual interest without being gaudy or overly ornate.
[caption id="attachment_3158" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Elysburg Pendant In Satin Nickel And Marbleized White Glass From Elk Lighting"]
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In a way, island lighting can serve the same function, and there are plenty of gorgeous and playful island lights out there, but pendant lights are a lot more flexible. Take this Elysburg Light for example - it's a relatively simple, pendant-like island light, not quite a chandelier but a little more complex than a simple hanging light. The problem is that the size of an island light dictates the space you can hang it in. Because this one is relatively small, it would be dwarfed by a large kitchen island - you'd have to save it for a smaller space, or find another piece entirely.
[caption id="attachment_3154" align="aligncenter" width="284" caption="Billiards Matte Black Pendant From Landmark Lighting"]
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Pendant lights, on the other hand can be affixed any distance apart from one another, in a string of any number of lights, and even at varying heights for a little extra visual flair. These simple Billiards Pendants from Landmark Lighting are a great example. Because they're three individual lights rather than a single unit, they can accommodate the curve of this angled kitchen island/bar no problem. Where a more traditional island light (or a billiard light) would have to sit awkwardly over the angle, or only light one half of the island, a trio of pendant lights gives you the same colored glass look, but with the flexibility to accommodate the entire length of the bar.
[caption id="attachment_3157" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="3 Light Island Light In Aged Bronze And Tea Swirl Glass"]
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Similarly, pendant lights aren't restricted to kitchen islands. While island lights like this Tea Swirl Island Light tend to be pretty low hanging (read: perfect for bumping your head on) and a little hefty in size, delicate, dainty pendant lights are the perfect way to visually transition a space. Especially if you have a kitchen with an open floor plan, and want to visually connect your kitchen, breakfast space, and dining area, repeating matching pendant lights is a great way to draw the eye through your entire room.
[caption id="attachment_3151" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Barringer Pendant And Chandelier In Aged Bronze With Tan Mica Shade From Elk Lighting"]
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Pendant lights also have the nice advantage of often being a part of matching sets. That means that even if no quantity of pendant lights can accomplish quite the right amount of kitchen lighting you need, chances are you can find a few larger or smaller pieces that match. This is really the perfect way to do your kitchen lighting - pick a Barrister Chandelier for your dining table, dot the walls with matching Barrister Sconces, and cover your kitchen island and the open space in between with a set of Barrister Pendants to round out your collection. It's absolutely the easiest way to trick the eye into seeing a matching decor.
[caption id="attachment_3153" align="aligncenter" width="192" caption="Franklin Creek 1-Light Pendant in Dark Umber"]
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That said, while big sets of pendant lights are great for a larger kitchen, single pendant lights are perfect for a smaller space. If a chandelier, island light, or anything you might find in a formal dining room is just a liiittle too big for your kitchen, a dainty, elegant pendant light like this Franklin Creek Pendant can be a perfect alternative. The simple but stylish decorative swoop on the stem lends enough elegance to an otherwise simple light to make it a lovely centerpiece for a small dining table or kitchen island - the perfect way to get the style you want when you don't really have the space.
[caption id="attachment_3156" align="aligncenter" width="252" caption="Maple Amber 1-Light Pendant Light From ELK Lighting"]
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Really, though, probably my favorite thing about pendant lights is that, for as simple as they are structurally, they come in such a huge variety of styles and colors. These tubular Maple Amber Pendants from ELK Lighting, for example, change up the shape of the shades. Rather than a simple dome shade, they opt for long, tubular glass covers. But even your traditional scoop-shaped, glass shade pendant lights come in a rainbow of colors, ranging from simple primary (gasp!) plastic shades to gorgeous hand blown glass with one of a kind patterned colors, and even some hammered metal shades, so it's easy to get a style you like without having to get too ornate (or break the bank!).
[caption id="attachment_3152" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Encapsulate Pendant Light In Satin Nickel From Elk Lighting"]
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Last but certainly not least, pendant lights are great for any kitchen because... they're much easier to change. This is true for a couple of reasons, not the least of which that they're much, much less expensive than your average large sized decorative light. While laying down the dough for a chandelier - especially a really nice one - is going to mean you're stuck with it for a while, even really nice pendant lights like these Encapsulate Pendants rarely bust the $100, $150 mark. More than that, if you pick the right style, there's a good chance you'll be able to replace the shades without changing the whole fixture, meaning you can mix up the look and feel of your kitchen lighting as often as you like - seasonally, annually, for special occasions, or as often as the mood strikes you. This is a great way to make your kitchen lighting custom to your entertaining needs, and ensure your kitchen is always lit exactly the way you want it.
What do you have in mind for your kitchen lighting? Is there anywhere in particular your kitchen is lacking? What's your favorite style of pendant light? Let me know in the comments!...
Sputnik Modern Pendant Light From Nuevo Living (Image by: Amoroso Design)[/caption]
Traditional lighting fixtures are defined, largely, by symmetry. With chandeliers in perfect tiers and even very simple pendants with strict radial designs, most conventional lighting fixtures are meant to be equal parts beautiful and unobtrusive. But modern lighting fixtures like this Sputnik Pendant draw attention to themselves and even form an assertive focal point for your room. I like this light in particular for it's asymmetry, with arms of different lengths and thicknesses that jut in all directions, but add a futuristic, slightly molecular look to this otherwise fairly traditional space.
Fringe Modern Pendant Light From Zuo Modern[/caption]
Moreover, while almost all traditional lights have that same, simple, radial shape, more modern designs have a whole lot more freedom to play with the idea of what a pendant light is, rather than conforming to expectations. From inside-out wire-framed lamps to ones with complex chrome insets and angles, often modern lighting fixtures are more like sculpture than background bits. Take this gorgeous Fringe Pendant: made of loops and swoops of fabric that cover the actual bulbs, this light is anything but ordinary, deconstructing the idea of a fabric shade and creating something relaxed, artistic, and utterly lovely.
Cerebro Modern Pendant Light From Nuevo Living (Image by: Hayneedle)[/caption]
You might be surprised to find that many of the most visually interesting modern pendant lights come in what many might consider the least interesting color: white. Why? Because white both shows texture and catches light incredibly well - meaning that something like this Cerebro Pendant from Nuevo not only has an incredibly tactile appearance, it also shows a beautiful, sculpture-like quality of shadow when turned off, and glows from within when turned on.
Nimbus Modern Pendant Light From Zuo Modern[/caption]
In theory, this sounds like a pretty weird alternative to a traditional chandelier. But I can't help but love bulb-bouquet style lighting fixtures like this Nimbus modern pendant light. They're specially coated so they won't cause immediate eye death when you look at them the way a standard bare bulb would, which is good because they happen to also be quite eye-catching. One part casual and one part avant garde, these ten individual 10-watt bulbs produce the same amount of light as a regular lighting fixture, but with a whole lot more style. I especially like this one in particular, for the daring red cables that can help elongate your room as they stretch up to a single standard lighting fixture.
Gilese Modern Pendant Light From Zuo Modern[/caption]
One of the most important things to remember when you're shopping for a modern pendant light is not to take it to seriously. While a formal crystal chandelier in an entryway or grand dining area is designed to add sophistication and traditional weight to your design, modern lighting fixtures are more about expressing your own personality or artistic flair. Don't believe me? Well, take a gander at this Gilese Pendant. Made to look like a giant light bulb, there's no denying that this tongue-in-cheek design is more conversation starter than quiet dinner companion.
Bradyon Modern Pendant Light From Zuo Modern[/caption]
Of course, not all modern pendant lights break so completely from tradition. In fact (as regular readers will remember) some of my favorites are ones that riff on classical design rather than rejecting it. I particularly like this Bradyon Pendant from Zuo Modern, which puts an intriguing industrial twist on the classic chandelier. With black wires and bare bulbs in place of polished brass and flame-shaped bulbs, and jutting, asymmetrical rods instead of symmetrical swooping arms, this piece pays just enough homage to tradition while creating something entirely new and unexpected - perfect for a cutting edge modern space.
Do you like a daring modern look for your lighting, or would you prefer a more traditional pendant light or chandelier?...
Cosmos Cluster Pendant From Zuo Modern[/caption]
Like light bulb pendants, cluster pendants are made of a bulb, a socket, and a cord. But rather than having a decorative socket, often modern versions have decorative bulbs. And rather than sporting only a single bulb, modern cluster pendants are composed of many multiple bulbs, each on their own separate cord and allowed to hang in a bundle - or cluster - forming a sort of casual globe-style chandelier.
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Asaki Cluster Pendant From Nuevo Living (photo)[/caption]
When you think of a single bare bulb on a cord (either in your basement or in an antique lighting fixture) typically it's one that's hanging straight down from the ceiling. But with a modern cluster pendant composed of several independent bulbs, you have a whole lot more opportunities for customization. The lengths of the cords can be varied, or rather than being left to hang loose, each cord can be attached to a wall, draped, pinned, fastened, braided, or tied into just about any position, creating a draping, spidery style you won't find in any other type of light.
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Bosonic Cluster Pendant From Zuo Modern[/caption]
The notion of a decorative bulb might seem strange. In antique designs, it typically means using antique glass and an old fashioned filament type, so the decoration mostly comes from the shape of the actual lit part inside the bulb. For more modern fixtures, bulbs can be blown into different shapes or even coated with a thin layer of chrome to create a much more chic, modern appearance. Not only does a chrome coating create a shiny, reflective modern surface, but it also acts as a sort of built in shade, to help moderate the brightness of having a fixture made entirely of bare bulbs. Cluster pendants made with CFL type bulbs often swap the traditional helix swirl for more unique, decorative patterns.
Karma Cluster Pendant Light From Nuevo Living[/caption]
Of course the biggest drawback to cluster pendants made with unique bulbs is that any non-standard bulb is going to be a little difficult to replace. And I'm not even talking those weird shaped appliance bulbs you find yourself hunting down every few years. Often these bulbs are unique to the light's manufacturer, and can only be replaced by re-purchasing them FROM the manufacturer or a dealer that carries their products specifically. Because bulbs can last a long time (dare I say, sometimes longer than some companies?) if you plan to have one of these fixtures for a long time, it's probably wise to buy a few rounds of replacement bulbs ahead of time.
Decadence Cluster Pendant Light From Zuo Modern[/caption]
Another drawback (for some, at least) is that looking at a bare bulb can be a little harsh on the eyes - and might be a little bright for your room. If you know you're sensitive to looking right at lights, though, you aren't out of luck. Cluster pendants also come with small shades, either built around the bulb or occasionally built inside it, designed to soften and filter the light while getting the same sleek, bare-bulbed look. These shades are usually small and unobtrusive, like simple domes, and sometimes nix the problem of the difficult-to-replace bulb all together by giving the light its shape and simply using a smaller, standard bulb inside.
Nimbus Cluster Pendant From Zuo Modern[/caption]
I don't know about you, but personally when I think of a bare, exposed bulb, I think of that lonely bulb in the garage or attic hanging on a basic wire. But for all the ways that cluster pendants differ from that basic, utilitarian eyesore, perhaps my favorite is that the wires are anything but basic, and often come in a rainbow of colors. Red seems to be the most common, but I've seen models in green, pink, blue, yellow - every color of the rainbow, sometimes all at once. This adds some lovely flair to what's ultimately a pretty simple, minimalist pendant light, and is especially daring when you separate the bulbs rather than letting them hang in a cluster.
What do you think of this unique modern lighting style? Are these cluster pendants from Zuo Modern and Nuevo Living an adequate answer to antique or industrial style light bulb pendants or other exposed bulb lighting? Let me know what you think in the comments below!
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