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Make a Statement: Unique Pendant Lighting Worth Talking About

What’s pendant lighting? It’s the chandelier alternative – sleeker, smaller, and sexier, pendant lighting hangs from the ceiling typically on long stalks or delicate chains.

 

It’s one of my favorite types of lighting because you can combine different styles in a unique bouquet, space out fixtures of a like type, or arrange however the spirit moves you. There are so many options these days, there’s no excuse to go with the tried and true.

A pendant with panache set above your dining room tables and islands can encompass anything from steampunk, industrial, elegant, quirky, traditional, mercury glass, antlers… You name it. There’s probably even fuzzy dice available, if you want them!

Before you go crazy, there are a few things to keep in mind.

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The Skinny on Kitchen Lights

ASK LAURIE: Is using a track light fixture over a kitchen island dated? – Anonymous


Design by Dennis Martin

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Hang in There: Lighting Solutions

ASK LAURIE: How do I figure out the right height to hang a chandelier over a dining room table? – Stephanie in Atlanta

Design  by David Bromstad

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Red Kitchens: Psychology of Hunger in Your Home

I’m driving to San Diego to hang with the Kitchen Cousins and the folks at Lowes to spruce up a few homes for the summer.

 

On the way, I wandered into In-N-Out. For those of you not in SoCal, it’s a cult favorite burger joint in business since the late 1940s. I was reminded all over again why I like the color red in a kitchen setting.

 Now… this juicy burger is really appealing, right?

 

In-N-Out – like the band The White Stripes and the super store Target — is immediately iconic for its red and white color scheme. There’s more to the bi-color combo than meets the eye when it comes to our mouths. Red actually stimulates our taste buds. It’s been clinically proven that the hot hue conveys excitement and passion, and it releases endorphins into your system that stimulate the appetite.

 

More Red Kitchen Eye-Candy

Favorite Finds at KBIS

I snapped a few of my favorite products and people on Instagram @hgtvcounselor  at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in New Orleans last weekend. I had a blast  running around the show floor!

What trendy products have caught your eye?

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