Let there be lights

Because... 

1) I plan to put this place on the market in five years or so,

2) and the kitchen hasn't been updated since I had the house built 11 years ago,

3) and the lighting in the kitchen has never been ideal,

4) and it's a wonder I've never cut a finger off while chopping food in the shadows...

Why not do a few upgrades now, starting with the kitchen lights?

My plan was to replace the ugly track lights with a recessed light,

add two more recessed lights above the dark, shadowy prep counter,

move the dining room fixture over the sink, then move the sink light 

to the dining room until such time that I find a suitable replacement. 

Piece of cake. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Much of this work had to be done in the attic. 

I was fully aware that any one of a number of terrible things could happen in the process

(e.g., electrocution, falling through the ceiling, drowning in a pool of tears)

and tried to set myself up for success by:
a) unlocking the front gate, b) taking the phone with me,
c) alerting those who care about my welfare that I was embarking
on a potentially hazardous mission, d) live tweeting the experience
so that help could be sent if I went silent. 

The project began Saturday morning. There were challenges.

Eventually, all three holes were cut, the light cans were installed, 

and I hadn't fallen through the ceiling.

I ended day one exhausted but thrilled. 

The wiring – the step I feared the most – would have to wait until Sunday. 

My excitement was short-lived.

Let's just say that dimmer switches are the devil. 

Were it not for a lengthy Facetime call with my electrical consultant, Tall Paul in Oregon, 

this post would not have a happy ending.

With the recessed lights working and dimmable, all that was left to do was

move around the existing fixtures.

Heavy fixture...short person...only two hands...what to do?

Improvise.

Would you look at that?

Cooking in my kitchen is an entirely new experience

because I can finally see what I'm doing.

I like the way this fixture looks over the sink, 

though I did adjust the height to prevent further concussions.

I never hit my head on it in its previous location

but many of my guests could not say the same thing. 

Short person's revenge? Perhaps.

I still don't like the pendant which now hangs in the dining room,

but it's workable until I find a new one.

This one would be perfect except for the damned chain covering the cord.
Seriously, light manufacturer, you design a beautiful fixture but
you can't come up with a better way to hide the stinkin' cord?

I'm looking for something light and sparkly to offset the weight and chunkiness of the table.

Do you do Pinterest? Here's a board with some of the options I've found.

Please feel free to weigh in with your suggestions.

Once we get this figured out, it's on to the countertops.

p.s. new appliances arrive the first week of January