I am in the camp of of recessed lighting as the pendants make the space look busy and closed off. I had the same sort of situation in my apartment and tried various pendants and in the end decided it looked better without them.

If you’re open to something a little different, I’d consider moon-shaped pendant lights in place of your current fixtures. Their pale, textured surfaces would contrast beautifully with the dark cabinets and complement the kitchen while adding an interesting focal point above the island.

The manufacturer sells the pendant models featured in my video for around $20 each.

My video shows how they look in interiors and when illuminated. Links to the lights are in the description: https://youtu.be/g-R98L8EdlI

I'd avoid the ones with the frosted glass. Shades that are open at the top trap bugs, and tenants would need to remove them regularly to clean (one would hope) and increase the chance of breaking one.

I love that laundry room with the simple but stand out pendant light. The potted plants and greenery at the window brings so much life and charm into the room!

Thanks for sharing all of these great photos. How fun to get to take a look inside your neighborhood homes!

Found all of it very appealing and very livable. Each photo made me think about such interesting design and all the new ideas they present. Really enjoyed seeing these!

Thanks for the peek into the super-interesting really neat brownstones. Just a very minor point: the lovely clock is a 'gingerbread' clock, not a cuckoo clock!

I have been through this same situation and added a big tip and later was speaking to a friend who reminded me that you don't tip your gynecologist, primary care physician or the an RN who draws your blood etc. I hadn't stopped the think of it that way.

I tip my esthetician for my facials, but would not tip if I had a medical procedure on my face. I’ve never had one, so am not sure if that’s an expectation now.

Tacky Tacky Tacky! I agree!

I once had a property manager that for Christmas added a $250 charge, labeled "cost of doing business increase" to my bill I owed her...just for the month of December! That's illegal BTW. I called and told her I did NOT agree to that charge...she said "the charge stays"....I got rid of her.

All industries want tips...but....I'm not going there.

Ha! I recently had to drag, then change to a back and forth rock/spin motion to get a 40" x 18" ish square box from carport into the garage. Luckily our handyman/electrician/friend came to work for us one day this week. We always knock out a Honey Do list in no time.

Don't you just love when a few changes and additions in your home make it feel "new" and more loved?! I don't blame you for not wanting to take up the tile. It is such a loud and messy job. The sisal rug is a good choice.

Your home is so warm and inviting! I love everything about it. I could stare and find so many things to look at in each room! Such chartacter and charm. Perhaps you have a spare room that I could come and live in!

Went down the rabbit hole of Macy Blackwell's TT. Where do they store all of the holiday decor?! I do like this, but we don't have trick or treaters. Actually haven't in our last three houses.

I thought this ghost made from a tomato cage, styrofoam ball and lights was cute. (Macy had +/-50 ghosts inside her house.) Add pool noodles to make arms/life out fabric. I could do without all the black decor in the OP's linked article.

ETA: I don't have a TT account, just followed from article. But she has an IG as well. It's too much for me, but she does have cut Halloween Barbie collection. LOL