Please, Forget About Recessed Lighting – This Is How the Most Stylish People, Including Selena Gomez, Illuminate Their Kitchen Island
It's time to break up with your recessed ceiling lights – this metallic alternative is relied on by those with the best taste
There's something about the simplicity of a white or cream kitchen that demands a thoughtful use of light. This can be through natural light, but, above all, it depends on your chosen fixtures – an example of which is exemplified in Selena Gomez's kitchen.
While recessed lighting has become a functional way of illuminating modern kitchens, Selena makes a case for a more sculptural, statement-making alternative. In her white kitchen, a brassy glass lantern rightfully steals all attention.
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Selena's chandelier blends classical Greek design with modern simplicity. Featuring elegantly proportioned lines, graceful arms, and candle-inspired lights, its metallic silhouette complements any style of kitchen.
Ideal for a kitchen island, this pendant provides a warm, inviting glow while offering the focused light you need for everyday cooking and prep. Style a single fixture for a clean, minimalist look, or hang several together to brighten your workspace, the Selena way.
This pendant light adds a warm, inviting glow to your island, just like Selena's. It hangs from a sloped-ceiling-compatible canopy, making it versatile for all kitchen styles. Compatible with dimmer switches, it makes setting the perfect ambiance effortless.
Alongside her statement pendant, Selena interrupts her white kitchen with blue accessories. I love these Gatsby-esque glasses, perfect for short cocktails as a fun alternative. They've been etched with vintage-style patterns, making them feel like true heirloom pieces.
Crafted from durable cast iron, this piece offers exceptional heat distribution and retention for reliable cooking results. The porcelain enamel finish requires no seasoning and resists sticking, stains, chips, and cracks, making it as practical as it is long-lasting.
Crafted from handblown glass, these brilliant blue drinking vessels come in a set of six and can also double as mini vases for gorgeous flower arrangements. They'd look beautiful on any open shelf, especially in a white kitchen, just like the singer's.
Lighting experts agree with my observations. Jamie Moxey, a lighting expert with Dusk Lighting, reiterates the power of statement lighting in a neutral kitchen, especially white like Selena's.
'When working with a neutral color palette such as white or cream, a statement light piece adds a layer of warmth to contrast. Brass and other warm-metallic light fixtures, in particular, are excellent for this. A brass fitting can reflect and accent other notable fixtures across the kitchen, pairing with faucets, countertops, or cabinetry,' he says.
Selena's pendant provides the perfect blueprint; however, it's important to consider the distance between your pendant and the island before installing.
'Lights can also really accent a kitchen island wonderfully, and can be tailored to its shape. Linear pendant lighting, for example, can showcase an island's length, while singular globe pendants work well at accenting centre piece islands. Make sure that when selecting lights for your kitchen island, you think about the height between the countertop and the fixture, you want to illuminate the space without obstructing sightlines,' Jamie explains.
Selena’s kitchen shows that in a neutral space, lighting is never an afterthought. The right pendant can bring warmth, contrast, and character to an otherwise simple palette – proving that sometimes the most impactful design choice is the one hanging right above your island.
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