Industrial pendant lights, which come in a variety of styles, from bold dome pendants in matte black or the shiniest chrome, to caged examples with a more plucked from the factory feel, are actually quite versatile. They can look just right in a cottage-y kitchen, add an element of funk to a classic suburban kitchen, and a bit of edge to a galley kitchen in the city. We pulled together six kitchens, all with different styles of industrial pendant lights.
Jessica Helgerson, an interior designer based in Portland, Oregon, is known for her clean white aesthetic with vintage touches.
Helgerson uses a few industrial-style elements in this kitchen, including Toledo drafting stools from the 1940s, which echo the color of the wood floor, and a pair of polished chrome pendants hanging from a breadboard ceiling.
For similar lighting looks, try the Possini Euro Arlo Chrome Pendant Light, which has a true dome shape and link chain, the Quoizel Keaton Polished Chrome Mini Pendant, with glass shade, and Emery Silver Finish Rod Hung Mini Pendant Chandelier with a curvier silhouette.
In this black and white Scandinavian kitchen, sleek lines are married with on-trend industrial-inspired elements. Black stained wood cabinetry, black quartz countertop and black gooseneck facet contrast sharply with the backsplash of glossy white tiles with beveled edges. And above, a series of bare bulbs are suspended by wire from a rod stretched across the length of the countertop.
The Europa GE Clear Bulb Brushed Nickel Multi Light Pendant (currently not available) offers similarly-shaped bare bulbs, in shiny sockets, and the Europa 1910 Edison Bulb Bronze Multi Light Pendant uses a more vintage style Edison light bulb.
The pair of dome pendants with dramatic wire cages and yellow cords turn this classic kitchen by Historical Concepts into a distinctive one. Quite possibly vintage pieces sprayed white, the color keeps things from looking to busy above the sleek black countertop.
Caged lighting comes in various styles, like the brushed metal full cage look of the Metal Cage Brushed Nickel Industrial Pendant Light, the half milky glass, half cage style of the Possini Euro Industrial Open Cage Glass Pendant Light, and Franklin Park White Glass Pendant Light which has a Victorian feel.
This charming kitchen, designed by Chicago-based Rebekah Zaveloff, is littered with lighting, from the sconces over the wood framed windows, the semi-flush mounts, and the matte black industrial style pendants. The black accents enhance the black grout of the subway tiled walls and echo the black cabinetry of the furniture-like island.
Similar lighting options include the Possini Euro Enzo Black Pendant Light, the Kichler Olde Bronze Fresnel Lens Pendant Light, which is a a rubbed bronze style with textured glass, and the Parker Place Mini Pendant Light if you’re looking for something more petite.
In this city flat designed by London-base firm Mlinaric, Henry & Zervudachi, tight quarters are maximized for full use, with knives and utensils on the walls, along with a gallery of black and white photography. A crude plain metal mini cage pendant hangs in the center of the room, its utilitarian feel echoing that of the steel tools and appliances.
For a similar effect, the Feiss Urban Renewal Bronze Industrial Pendant, which has an elongated silhouette that works best with high ceilings, the Brewery Bronze Mini Pendant, which has a standout finish that would contrast nicely against crisp white tile, and the Bourret One Light Cage Pendant, a cage pennant with a curvy shape and Edison bulb.
This Cornwall kitchen, designed by British interiors photographer Paul Massey, is rustic in the best way, with painted white surfaces, an old whitewashed china cabinet, glossy enamel appliances, worn wood counters, and beat up pendant lighting.
You can get distinctive worn metal lighting looks with the Currey and Company Fenchurch Oyster Pendant, which has an interesting limed oak type of finish, the Earthshine Wrought Iron Dome Pendant Light, which has a Moroccan flavor in its lines, and the Raleigh Old Silver LED Pendant, which would like right at home in a kitchen like this one.
Image credits: JH Interior Design, Skona Hem, Laurey Glenn for Southern Living/Historical Concepts, Kitchen Lab Design, Jan Baldwin/Marianne Haas for MHZ London, Paul Massey