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We're getting down to business with our kitchen and while there is still some time, I need to choose fixtures.

Kitchen has a huge skylight, so we only use lighting at night. There are two ceiling lights, one recessed corner light that will be replaced with a pendant, and we will be adding under cab lighting.

Kitchen design is going a little retro/vintage - blue/grey tile (Dal Tile Ridgeview blue grey), white cabinets, charcoal counters (samsung radianz), and a big farmhouse sink (white).

Ceiling is 8ft - so no room for chandy or low hanging fixtures - leaning towards either black, brushed nickel, or pewter metal finishes for hardware (no orb or copper). Appliances are black or mix of black/stainless.

Would you go with a basic fixed track lighting, flush mounts, or something else? This is the one item I can't get a read on - any suggestions? We have flexible track up now, but it is ORB finish and will be re-used in the darker hallways.

TIA

This message has been edited. Last edited by: junk collector,

Your kitchen scheme sounds terrific. It seems you want some kind of ceiling fixture to provide overall ambient lighting at night.

If that is so, I recommend going with a flexible track with directional halogen lights, in brushed nickel. Or, those awesome cable track lights with halogen pin lights. They are sleek enough to be unobtrusive on the ceiling. You can also get one of those systems that allow for decorative pendant fixtures.

This is a cool resource for lighting: http://www.plclighting.com/?menu=categories

Some more good info: http://www.houzz.com/cable-lighting

With your color scheme, I definitely like the brushed nickel or stainless tones.
Track is flexible to get light spread around, and you can go to a softer wattage for each light. LED's are coming soon for these, in for some already. They have some gimbel light fixtures for track that harken back a bit but still can be aimed where you want them. Put them on a dimmer if you generally use them at night or on dark mornings - the challenge is to be able to set different lighting modes. With undercounter, you'll find you use the overheads less and less, but much easier when you can aim them sideways to bounce light around.

If you were doing any pendants, with this I see those great "Schoolhouse" pendants - they now come in big and small sizes so they can be used in small spaces. I definitely would recommend changing out the ceiling lights for track around a skylight. You'll get better coverage for work and workspaces, without needing to pull in new service. Good Luck!

I spent all night looking online at different options. What we have right now is too much, so I want to dial it down a notch - no more than three lamps on each track or just a simple flush/semi-flush fixture.

Here are a few different styles that I like

first one - in a pewter finish

This message has been edited. Last edited by: junk collector,

Here's another option - DH doesn't mind it, and I believe it is available in flush and semi-flush mounts as well as different finishes. It is simple, a little vintage but still modern.

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And a third option - Love the look, somewhat Art Deco and I think that lends to the vintage look without being "old". The question is if it would be the right size for the kitchen... I will need a new piece for the laundry room though. This could be just right.

Libra - I LOVE the schoolhouse lighting on LampsPlus - there are several similar pieces and all are very affordable.

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The skylight divides the two fixtures. The kitchen is getting "flipped" so to speak and the current location for one light is off center to be closer to the table area. We are moving the cabs into that corner and the light fixture will need to move, both for practical and aesthetic reasons.