Three Bulb Upcycled Pendant Lamp in Raw Steel
by Nolan Talbot-Kelly · Vancouver, Canada

A pendant is a single light fixture suspended from the ceiling on a cord, chain or rod, usually with one shade and one light source. The defining characteristic is that it is designed to be repeated: pendants are commonly hung in twos and threes over a surface, where a chandelier is a single composed fixture intended to work alone.

Count the fixtures rather than the bulbs. A chandelier is one object with multiple arms, elements or lamps built into it, hung centrally as the focal point. Pendants are individual fixtures, often identical, positioned in a line or a cluster — the composition is created by how you arrange them, not by the piece itself. Pendants are also easier to scale to an awkward room, since you can add, remove or space them as needed.

75–90 cm from the surface to the lowest point of the shade in both cases, on a standard 2.4 m ceiling, adding a little for each additional 30 cm of ceiling height. The check differs by position: at an island you are usually standing, so the light source should be hidden from standing eye level and the shade should not block the sightline of anyone seated on the other side. At a table you are seated, so sit down and look across it — you should see the person opposite, not the fixture. Taller households generally want the upper end of the range.

One for an island up to roughly 1.2 m, two up to 2.4 m, three for anything longer. Larger shades mean fewer of them. If you are choosing between two medium pendants and three small ones, the smaller row usually looks more deliberate over a long island, and a single generous piece is often the best answer over a short one.

Divide the island or table length by the number of pendants plus one, and set the centers at those points — typically 60–80 cm apart. Keep the outer pendants at least 15 cm inside the ends of the surface. Even spacing matters more than any particular figure; an off-center row is the most visible mistake in this category.

Keep the total combined width of the pendants to about half or two thirds of the island length. Mini pendants under 30 cm work in rows of three; 30–45 cm is the standard range for a pair. A single pendant over a short island can go considerably larger, since it has nothing to compete with.

Centered across the width, yes, and spaced evenly along the length. Two complications come up in practice: existing ceiling boxes rarely sit where you want them, and joists limit where a new one can go. Establish the wiring positions before ordering, since a handmade pendant cannot be nudged 20 cm after installation.

Usually. Most studios supply extra cable that an electrician shortens on site, and many will make a specific drop length to order — useful for stairwells, double-height kitchens and low ceilings alike. Send us the ceiling height and the position you have in mind and we will confirm what the maker can do.

Rarely. Almost everything in this collection is hardwired, since that is how designers intend these pieces to be installed. A plug-in conversion or swag kit fitted by an electrician is sometimes possible, but it changes the look and is not something we can promise for a given piece — ask us before buying if a plug-in solution is your only option.

Not from this collection. Bathroom and exterior positions require rated, sealed fixtures appropriate to the zone, and the requirements differ by country. These are handmade decorative pieces for dry interior use — including in covered porches, where condensation and temperature swings will affect ceramic glazes, paper, fiber and untreated metal.

Yes, and it often works better than a matched row. The reliable approach is to keep one variable constant — the same maker, the same material or the same silhouette — and vary the rest. Hanging three unrelated pendants together tends to read as indecision rather than curation.

Glazed ceramic, glass, brass, copper and steel wipe clean and tolerate the heat and humidity of a working kitchen. Woven natural fibre, paper and textile shades are beautiful over a dining table but absorb cooking grease, so avoid hanging them directly above a hob. Ask us for the maker's cleaning guidance for any specific piece.