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The first piece of furniture I bought after moving from Washington, D.C. to Seattle nearly three years ago was my Alonzo Long Dining Table from Urban Outfitters (sadly now discontinued). At six feet of sleek black wood, it was not just a table—it was a manifestation of future friendships and late-night conversations. After all, nourishing those closest to me with a good meal in my home is how I show I care.
Fast forward to today: the friendships have blossomed and the dinner parties are in full swing. But after a few gatherings, I realized my dining set-up deserved a pendant that matched the energy in the room. Like most home projects, I started by referencing my Pinterest boards—then I got to surfing the Internet. Here are all the lights I ended up considering, plus the winner that’s hanging in my space today.
The Runner-Ups
Lulu and Georgia Zikri Pendant
I’m a sucker for anything wicker and paired with an organic shape, this one was chef’s kiss. But with two woven dining chairs already in the mix, adding a matching pendant felt like overkill. This find leaned a little too bohemian.
Klaylife Petal Pendant
I love collecting ceramics when I travel, so this handmade clay pendant instantly spoke to me. Each petal is crafted in South Africa (no two are alike), making it a beautiful nod to the slow, intentional practice of shaping a life you love. Unfortunately, it was out of my budget.
TOV Serengeti Outdoor Pendant
Made from Rayung grass, this light carried a wild, jungle-y energy. Still, my living room is already full of strong design elements (I’ve got rattan dining chairs and an abstract painting from Mexico City), and I worried this piece would dominate instead of harmonize the space.
School House Oaxacan Mezilla Pendant
The name alone tugged at me as someone who’s always daydreaming about traveling back to Oaxaca. The playful droopy form felt both whimsical and grounding. However, the scale didn’t feel quite grand enough to hold court over my six-foot-long dining table.
Vakker Light Lola Travertine Pendant
Travertine is one of my forever material crushes, so this pendant had my attention. But its minimalist, modern edge leaned a little too sleek. I was keen on finding something that was a bit softer to bring balance to the room.
The Winner
Llot Llov Fran Lamp
An image I had saved on my Pinterest years ago was the raffia piñata pendant inside Shannon Maldonado’s YOWIE Hotel in Philadelphia. Designed by Berlin-based studio Llot Llov and handmade by women in Latvia. It had that transportive quality, reminding me of Mexico City with a dash of Kelly Wearstler’s Santa Monica Proper Hotel in L.A.
I went with the beige color, which plays nicely with my terracotta rug, chartreuse velvet couch, and black steel console table. The pendant arrived within two weeks and I hired a Taskrabbit to install the fixture. Meanwhile, I ordered a remote control—operated bulb off Amazon to put an end to my dimly lit dinners.