A New Kitchen Island Light and Why Temporary Solutions Matter in Home Projects

Finding the perfect light for this spot over our kitchen island has been quite a journey. And when I say quite a journey, I mean quite a journey:

I tried so many different options, but nothing felt right. I swapped out fixtures, adjusted heights, and even added lampshades, hoping for that just right moment—but something was always off. Then, I had a lightbulb moment (pun intended!): the fixture I had in our dining room before we transformed it into a sitting room. It had the right shape, the right scale, and best of all, I already owned it! Sometimes, the perfect solution isn’t about buying something new—it’s about reimagining what you already have. And in this case? It finally clicked.

I dug it out of the garage and swapped out the metal shades for pleated shades.

While I loved the look of this one, it was always a little wonky, and the lampshades weren’t a perfect fit so they constantly needed to be adjusted.

But sometimes, a temporary solution is just what you need to bridge the gap between what isn’t working and what feels just right, so no regrets! But, while working on my kitchen refresh over the past week, I decided to give another light fixture a try.

It’s has a similar look to our previous one, but it’s a tad bit more modern.

Which I think is a nice juxtaposition to the cottage-y beadboard we recently added.

It provides a lot more light too! Which is a win-win!

If you’ve ever found yourself in the “in-between” stage of a project, you know how frustrating it can be. You’re not quite where you want to be, but you also can’t leave things as they are. That’s where quick fixes come in! Whether it’s a temporary light fixture, a peel-and-stick wallpaper before committing to paint, or even an inexpensive rug to cover a floor you’re not ready to replace, small changes can make a space feel more functional and bring you some joy, while you figure out your next steps.

Like everything in my kitchen refresh, the change I made isn’t drastic, but the impact? *So much better.* And that’s the beauty of embracing the in-between—every small improvement brings you closer to a home that truly works for you.

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