Over a kitchen island, two or three pendants hung 30 to 36 inches above the counter is the rule most designers start from. The material decides the rest. Hammered copper glows warm, perforated metal throws patterns on the ceiling, and verdigris brings the soft green of old rooftops indoors.
How many pendants, and how high
- Height: 30 to 36 inches from the countertop to the bottom of the shade. Go higher if your household is tall or the shades are large.
- Number: two for a smaller island, three for a longer one. A single linear pendant can replace a row.
- Spacing: with two pendants, place each one about a quarter of the island length in from each end. With three, space them evenly and keep at least 6 inches from the island edges.
- Dining tables: hang a little lower, around 30 inches above the table, and keep the fixture narrower than the table by about a foot.
Choosing the right size
| Island length | Suggested |
|---|---|
| Up to about 6 ft | 2 domes, 10 to 14 in wide |
| 6 to 9 ft | 3 pendants, 8 to 12 in wide, or one linear pendant |
| Over 9 ft or very high ceilings | 3 larger drums or a set of 3 with longer drops |
Many of our pendants are offered in several diameters, so you can scale the same design to your space. Check the size options on each product page.
Blue Patina Brass Dome Pendant
Hammered Copper Dome Pendant
Handcrafted Copper Drum Pendant
Linear Patinated Copper Pendant
Hammered, perforated or verdigris
Hammered copper
The hammer marks catch light and soften glare. Inside, polished copper reflects a warm, golden light onto the counter.
Perforated metal
Hundreds of small holes, punched by hand, scatter points of light across ceilings and walls. Beautiful in dining rooms and entryways, where the pattern can be seen.
Verdigris and blue patina
Verdigris is the green-blue layer copper and brass form after years outdoors. In the workshop we create it deliberately, so the light arrives with that weathered character from day one.
Shop all copper and brass pendant lights, or the full lighting collection.
Where wall sconces belong
- Bathroom mirror: one on each side at roughly eye level (about 60 to 66 in from the floor) lights the face evenly.
- Hallways and stairs: repeat the same sconce every 8 to 10 feet.
- Bedside: mount so the shade sits just above shoulder height when you sit up in bed.
- Outdoors: gooseneck sconces wash light down over doors and signs. Choose fixtures intended for outdoor use and have an electrician install them.
See all brass and copper wall sconces, indoor and outdoor, including the green patina perforated copper sconce and hammered copper gooseneck sconce.
From an Astoria studio to a Marrakech workshop
Every Brassdoria piece starts as a drawing in our studio in Astoria, New York, and is made by hand in Marrakech, where metalworking families have shaped brass and copper for generations. The hammer marks you see are not a pattern applied by a machine. They are the record of one artisan working one sheet of metal.
We make every piece to order, in solid metal, never plated. That is why we can stand behind it with a 5-year warranty against manufacturing defects, 30-day returns and free express tracked shipping to the US and Canada.
Pair your lights with a hammered copper sink and a brass gallery rail for a kitchen where every metal ages together.
FAQ
What bulbs should I use?
Warm white LED bulbs (2700K) bring out the copper and brass. Check the bulb type and maximum wattage listed on each product.
Do I need an electrician?
Yes. All hardwired pendants and sconces should be installed by a licensed electrician.
Can I mix copper and brass lights?
Yes. They age in the same warm direction. Keep one finish dominant and use the other as an accent.
Can I order a different size?
Many lights come in several sizes. For anything else, contact us before ordering.
Light the island with metal shaped by hand.
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