What I'd think about, in your situation, would be sort of COVE LIGHTING, LED rope lights on a dimmer, shining up to the ceiling. That would reflect and diffuse the light and IMHO open up that low ceiling. If you have a spot where a "cloud" fixture hugging the ceiling could be out of your way, that might work as well.

Definitely add some beneath the counter lights, also on dimmers, also LED for best economy of use even though they may be costly to purchase. Also, think about toe kick lighting around your island, or whatever that is in the foreground of the last photo.

My kitchen here has 8 ft ceilings and isn't high IMHO. (Our cape had 7 ft ceilings but the kitchen was smaller than yours and white, so it did not have a dark uneven look with lighting.)
In my current kitchen remodel, I plan to install swing arm wall sconces on the cooking side which has only open stainless wall shelves. Then across the room, LEDs beneath the two wall cabs either side of the sink, with pendant lights flanking either side of the sink window. In my dining room, now opened up to the kitchen with a 10ft cased opening, I have a window-molding-height shelf circling the room, with LED rope lights on a dimmer to reflect on the ceiling. I found the high shelf look I like here on HOUZZ in an article/photos by Bosworth Hoedemaker which I recommend you search for the 1926 bungalow renovation they did. I could move into that house today and make no changes, it is so perfect!

Have you thought about painting the upper cabs a lighter color? It is a tone-on-tone kitchen, and needs some variety. Lovely design though, and very similar to the kitchen in our ranch style house destroyed in Hurricane Katrina.