Amazingly beautiful!!! There is another Australian designer called Lighting Republic that does something very very similar, but with a brass lamp holder. http://www.lightingrepublic.com.au/en/collections-en/organic Or see here, its in our Sydney showroom. First photo in the middle http://lightco.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=37 And product details http://lightco.com.au/component/virtuemart/organic-large-pendant-detail

They look great in that photo, Northstar! Works beautifully. Will be fine over your bench. Didn't realise how large your p really space will be. Wow! No, if you replace pendants that have staggered drops, the fittings are completely removed and new pendant fittings are installed in their place. The electrician just shortens the drops without cutting them & the extra lenth is hidden away in ceiling.

Hello Northstar 1 thing to remember when choosing your lights .If you want the light down choose a down facing lampholder, dont drop them to low as the GLARE from the globes in your eyes every time they are on is annoying as, every lit pendant you showed had an incandescent globe so if your going to use Fluro globes they will look worse.LED globes with a cleeear glass would be best. Avoid carbon filament even though they look great its a low light output. Depending on your budget take a look at Mondoluce on line they have some amazing glass pendants from Italy and in multiple sizes.

Looking at your lighting plan, it isn't not enough lights, it is where they are positioned. The three lights above island should be spaced directly above island for task lighting. Your plan has them across the kitchen, the same as other three in the middle of the kitchen. If you look at the photos that have been posted with pendant lights, they are all positioned over the island bench, not spread over ceiling. Hope your choice of lighting works well.