We're redoing the kitcken and adding a breakfast/work island counter against on wall. We'd like to hang a pendant there but the retractables I'm seeing are too fancy schmancy and far too pricey. Is there a product along the lines of a [URL=http://i2.sell.com/0/90/7485/1/47/108167-m.jpg]retractable cord[/URL] that might do the job? We've got 9 1/4" of room to play with and I figure we could hide it in the ceiling with cord comng through a decorative trim plate.

We've owned this 130 year old victorian beauty for only 3 months. The previous owner had the old tube and peg wiring replaced for most of the main floor, but the second floor is still the old T&P, and I'll assume that all ceiling fixtures are also still T&P. Question #1 what is the best method in running new wire to the second floor? A friend suggested running 2' conduit from the basement panel up the outside of the house and bring it into the attic crawlspace to feed down into each room as needed. #2 Is there a limit of how many wires can be fed through the conduit? #3 Is there an easy way to run the wire to the main floor ceiling fixtures short of knocking big holes in the old plaster? From my experience here so far, a small hole gets a lot bigger really fast in old plaster as it tends to crumble. Advise?