If you were to ask any designer for their top tips on making a kitchen more ambient, they would likely start with the lighting. Specifically, the concept of 'task lighting' encourages us to replace recessed lighting with smaller, focused fixtures that illuminate the areas that matter most. In actress Alexandra Daddario’s case, it's her kitchen island.
Unlike recessed fixtures that are scattered across a ceiling, strategically-placed pendants, just like Alexandra's, light up the space that matters the most. Her food-prep, cooking, and eating area is well-lit, while the rest of her kitchen isn't overly bright. It keeps her space feeling amibant, curated, and cozy without sacrificing practicality – something that's a fine line to master.
If you're looking to follow Alexandra's smart kitchen lighting idea, I recommend investing in a trio of textured pieces. I love this off-white linen fixture (available at Amazon) that would complement any neutral kitchen. However, if you want to go slightly more daring, this bamboo piece (also available on Amazon) will give you the same retro warmth as Alexandra's.
Alternatively, you can shop more pieces inspired by her kitchen with my top teal picks below.
Shop the Alexandra Daddario Kitchen Edit
Drum-shade pendants are a simple way to achieve Alexandra's effect. Available in soft neutrals with brass or bronze accents, or crisp white with satin nickel, they bring focused light to the areas that matter most (like a kitchen island) while keeping the rest of the space cozy and ambient.
This two-tier pendant chandelier is a perfect example of lighting that’s both practical and ambient. The off-white linen shades cast a bright, focused light over key areas, like a kitchen island, without flooding the whole room.
This two-tier bamboo chandelier brings warmth and texture to any kitchen or dining space. Handwoven from natural wicker, it adds a subtle organic touch that works beautifully in every kind of kitchens (especially teal spaces, like Alexandra's).
Embrace the Alexandra-approved teal trend with this set of four fluted-rim side plates. Hand-painted and crafted from glazed stoneware, each plate features unique variations that add a chic, contemporary pop of color to any table setting.
I love the smooth elegance of three teal ceramic vases. Handcrafted and glazed for a unique finish, they’re perfect for fresh, dried, or faux flowers and add versatile style to any corner of your home.
Add a splash of on-trend teal to your home with this set of three handcrafted ceramic vases. Perfect for fresh, dried, or faux flowers, each piece brings vibrant, rustic elegance to any room.
Plus, I am not alone in my observations. Niki Wright and Scarlett Hampton, lighting designers and co-founders of lights&lamps, agree on the importance of ambient lighting in a kitchen, emphasizing the need to choose multifunctional lighting that works hard in this space.
'Use multifunctional lighting: consider using a combination of overhead lighting and task lighting, such as under cabinet lights, to brighten up the entire space and also provide targeted illumination where it's most needed,' they say.
'Wall lights and picture lighting can also help to save on valuable floor and table top space. They also make a room feel bigger by expanding the field of vision by drawing the eye beyond the centre of the room or beyond furniture.'
To take it one step further, they recommend experimenting with a table lamp, which is especially beautiful in a small kitchen, where larger pendants (like Alexandra's) might not be as suitable.
'Table lamps on counters have fast become an accepted addition to any kitchen or utility space. They not only offer a softer, less functional light to what is one of the main living spaces within our homes, but they also transform a practical working space into a more relaxed and sociable environment,' they explain.
Take a page from Alexandra Daddario’s kitchen: let your lighting do the work and the mood. A few well-placed pendants or a textured lamp can turn even a practical space into a cozy, curated haven – proof that ambiance and functionality can coexist beautifully.
