Marlow Bespoke Ring Light Project
Marlow Bespoke Ring Pendant
A modern multi-ring pendant for a kitchen dining extension — the light was perfect for the room, but slanted metal ceiling beams meant a standard installation wasn't possible. We designed, supplied and installed the solution.
The fitting the client had chosen was exactly right for the space — a modern multi-ring pendant with a clean, architectural quality that suited the new kitchen dining extension perfectly. The problem wasn't the light. It was the ceiling. The extension had metal ceiling joists set at a slant, and the standard canopy base supplied with the fitting was never designed to work with metal fixings at an angle.
Rather than telling the client the installation couldn't be done as intended, we designed a solution. A new base was fabricated to span across three metal joists, distributing the load correctly and bringing the pendant to exactly the level it was designed to hang at. From below, the installation looks exactly as it should. The engineering that made it possible is entirely out of sight.
When the Base Isn't Enough — We Build a Better One
Bespoke doesn't always mean a bespoke light fitting. Sometimes it means a bespoke solution to an installation challenge that a standard approach simply can't solve. This project is a clear example of that.
The metal ceiling joists in this kitchen extension were set at an angle — not unusual in a modern extension, but fundamentally incompatible with the canopy supplied with the pendant. A standard base can only be fixed safely to a flat, solid surface. Here, that surface didn't exist. The joists were metal, slanted, and too widely spaced for any off-the-shelf solution.
We designed a replacement base built to span across three joists, creating a level and structurally secure mounting point at the correct height for the fitting. The CAD drawing shown here was produced before fabrication began — capturing the joist positions, the base geometry, and the load distribution — so that every dimension was agreed before any metalwork was cut. This is what we mean when we say we manage the full installation.
The Right Light in the Right Room
The multi-ring pendant was chosen for its clean, modern geometry — a design that brings strong visual structure to an open-plan kitchen dining space without overwhelming it. Installed at the correct hanging height above the dining table, the rings sit in proportion with the room, drawing the eye naturally downward and defining the dining area without physically enclosing it.
The extension is bright and contemporary, and the pendant matches that character exactly. In the evening, the warm LED source within each ring casts an even, flattering glow across the table — functional, but deliberately atmospheric. It's a fitting that works at every level of brightness, from full illumination during a meal to a lower setting later in the evening.
None of that would have been possible without the work that went into the base. Getting a light fitting to perform as its designers intended depends entirely on it being installed correctly — at the right height, hanging level, and fixed securely. That's what the custom base delivered here, and it's what we aim for on every installation we take on.
We found this light online and absolutely loved it, but a couple of installers had told us it wouldn't work with our ceiling. Lightplan came to look at it properly and came back with a solution we hadn't expected. The result is exactly what we wanted — you'd never know there was anything unusual about the installation at all.
Your Questions Answered
Yes. Non-standard ceiling structures — metal joists, sloped ceilings, timber frame extensions, or ceilings without accessible voids — are something we encounter regularly. We always carry out a structural assessment before specifying the installation method, and where the standard approach won't work, we design a solution that will.
A bespoke mounting base is a custom-fabricated plate or bracket designed to bridge the gap between a light fitting's canopy and a ceiling structure that the standard canopy can't attach to directly. It distributes the load across multiple fixing points, brings the pendant to the correct hanging level, and is concealed within the finished installation — so from below, everything looks exactly as it should.
Yes. Metal ceiling joists require a different approach to timber, particularly when they are set at an angle. Standard light canopies are designed for a flat, solid ceiling — not for metal framework. We assess the joist layout, specify appropriate fixings, and where necessary design a spanning base that creates a secure, level mounting point regardless of what lies above.
As a general guide, the bottom of a pendant above a dining table should sit approximately 70–80cm above the table surface. This positions the light source close enough to be genuinely useful and within the visual field, without obstructing sightlines across the table. The exact height depends on the fitting and the ceiling height, and we advise on this as part of every installation.
Absolutely. A well-chosen pendant is one of the most effective ways to define the dining zone in an open-plan space without using walls or furniture to do it. The key is scale and positioning — a fitting that is too small will disappear, and one hung too high loses its connection with the table below. We advise on both as part of our installation service.
Always. A site visit is how we understand the ceiling structure, room proportions, and electrical conditions before committing to any specification. For installations involving non-standard structures — like the slanted metal joists in this project — seeing the ceiling in person is essential. We never quote or specify from photographs alone.
Start Your Project
Have a light fitting you love but a ceiling that's proving difficult? Whether it's an unusual structure, metal joists, a sloped ceiling, or an installation others have said can't be done — we start by understanding the problem properly. Our team manages every stage, from site visit and technical design through to installation and sign-off. Get in touch to arrange a consultation.
