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Lighting advice please

Our new home has an open floor plan for the main floor. The kitchen, dining and living areas are completely open to each other. They occupy an area 19' x 30', with a 25' vaulted ceiling. I will have a chandelier in the dining area, pendant lights over the kitchen island and task lighting in the rest of the kitchen. I will also have wall sconces in the dining and living areas (along the 30' wall). My dilemma is this: Should I put a chandelier in the living area or rely on table and floor lamps for illumination. I am not a huge fan of recessed or track lighting.
I have looked at many magazines and many photos show table lamps in the middle of an open area. Do these homes have outlets in the floor or do they run the power cords under furniture and area rugs to the most convenient wall outlet? Can anyone recommend a website, book or magazine that could help me with my lighting plan, I want to do this right the first time so I won't have to correct mistakes later.

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Permalink Reply by JMD on September 11, 2008 at 1:42pm: When you are drawing up your furniture plan, take a look at where you will need outlets for table lamps on end tables, sofa tables, and any floor lamps that you may want. Have the electrician run these wires when the other wiring is done so that you will have floor plugs where you need them in your open space.

I love a chandelier in the living area. It's a great chance to do a big, interesting fixture in the vaulted area.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Marsha Raymond (Ponies) on February 3, 2009 at 11:06pm: H'Lo - Would some of you with chandeliers in your living area share photos so we can see how it looks with the other rooms in the great room area seen in the same photo? ...or was that as clear as mud? I mean to say, a photos that show all the great room (maybe from different angles), so we can see how a chandelier in the living area blends with ceiling fans or other kinds of light features in the other areas of the great room (such as the kitchen, dining room, etc.).

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Permalink Reply by Rita Hickey on March 8, 2009 at 5:47pm: Marsha(Ponies)Here are some pics of the lighting in our great room, dining area, kitchen, hallway and stairway. All of theses areas are open to each other. Besides chandeliers, there is also track lighting on the beams. You can also see the fan at the peak of the great room. As this is my 3rd log home, one thing I have learned is that you need really good lighting, as the wood tends to absorb light. Hope this helps! P.S. I have only can lighting in the kitchen.
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Permalink Reply by Marsha Raymond (Ponies) on March 9, 2009 at 11:57am: Wado Sister - Thanks for sharing these with me! Is your home made of white pine? Also, dDo you have different switches for the various areas of lighting in the kitchen? On a different note... is that a black kitty I see in one of your pix? We have one of those too... check out the animal group photos. Thanks again for your help. Lots to think about.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rita Hickey on March 9, 2009 at 4:29pm: You are so welcome, Marsha(Ponies). Our logs are white pine with a natural stain and a satin finish. We do have several sets of switches controlling the lights in the kitchen. Over the sink, general kitchen lighting, under cabinet are all on separate switches. I didn't even notice that our rescue kitty "Earl" was in the photo till you pointed it out!! Funny! I checked out your pics and noticed your black kitty. Actually, I have 2 black kitties, the other one is a little girl "Martina". Small cat, big attitude!

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