OK. I admit it. I'm tired of writing about stuff like insulation and HVAC systems. So I'm going to jump ahead of myself a little bit and get you guys in on a lighting decision we need to make. In our kitchen, we have an island (actually it's a peninsula that divides the kitchen from the dining area) over which we'd like to hang a light. Said light needs to be horizontally oriented, both for light distribution as well as just what will work best in the space...

Here are two lamps we found from Manufactum, one of my favorite sites for all types of house and garden products. Like so many sites full of truly beautiful designs, it's European. But they do ship to the US, and much of what they carry is super reasonably priced.

First the Classic Bolich light:

Love this... It feels like an old schoolhouse light or something. It's got a kind of timeless design that I think will fit in really nicely in our place. We're trying really hard not to fall into the 'ye olde' design trap, but at the same time, the furnishings should feel harmonious with the bones of the place... which are definitely pretty damned old.

Then we have the Small Pendant Light (same company)

We'd get this one in white as well. On the one hand, this one might be better for our needs-- it's got a lower profile and feels generally lighter while still industrial in a cool way. But I worry that having the bare bulb exposed might drive me crazy.

What do you people think?