Are you building an entire house, or just an addition? There's a huge variety of lighting options, with choices depending on the intended use of the space, layout of the room, ceiling heights, etc. It's a lot to take in, so don't feel bad that you're out of your league. It sounds like your builder expected you to just accept whatever default fixtures and positioning the electrician suggested, which is a pity. If these choices are holding up the project, you might do well to pay close attention to the most finicky areas (the kitchen, perhaps) and let the electrician guide you elsewhere.

What is the purpose of the new construction? The purpose of the room(s) will drive the lighting requirement.

We are building a new house so we were choosing lighting for every room.

Can you post more information here, such as a floorplan with ceiling heights indicated? There's no generic right answer that fits all situations.

Here is a link to our houseplan. We have eliminated all of the 2-story spaces on the 1st floor and captured the space as living space on the second story. A bonus room, bigger bedroom above the dining room and foyer. All the ceilings are 9ft. downstairs except the living room which has a 10ft tray ceiling. Thank you for looking, let me know if you need anymore info.

Laura

Here is a link that might be useful: Our House

Well, I would be overwhelmed too if I were asked to specify lighting for twenty or so rooms all at once, with no experience or preparation. That's nuts.

With 9' and 10' ceilings, you certainly don't need 7" cans. I don't have any experience with 7" cans either, but my guess is that the large cans, paired with wide-open trims and basic florescent or incandescent flood lamps, are a decent choice when you don't know how furniture will be aranged or what the traffic flows will be like; they will throw broad pools of light, so their precise placement is less critical. Larger cans also allow, generally speaking, higher-wattage bulbs, which means fewer fixtures are required, which keeps costs down. Smaller cans are more appropriate when you know just where you want the light to fall.

In the bathroom it's good to have the light around the mirror coming from the sides, rather than from above. Sconces are a good choice.

Have you thought about pendants or chandeliers in the breakfast area and/or dining room? Do you know how big the table will be, assuming you actually plan to use it as a dining room?

You could consider some sort of cove lighting around the tray ceilings.

I'm most familiar with kitchen lighting, because I had to figure it out for my own house. The light in kitchens needs to be better than in most rooms, and it's more straightforward to plan because you know where all the furniture and work spaces are. So, just for kicks, here's a suggestion. I'm thinking 5" or 6" cans, with 50W PAR30 narrow floods.

Jon,
Thanks for all the ideas. I just talked to the electrical company, not the guy who came out. They gave me a model number for the cans, Juno IC23W, which is an airtight can. The gal said this is a 6in can. From a few comments here and there I am thinking this particular electrician is not the most experienced they have. Have to check on that.

I really like the idea of cove lighting for the tray ceiling. We are actually using this room for our grand piano. DD wants an overhead halogen track that she can point where she wants. She is studying musical performance in collage so this is a "working" music room. Might you have a suggestion for coordinating the 4 cans, halogen overhead, and cove lighting? Too much?

The "dining room" on the plan will actually have a pool table in it, so a traditional "pool table light" will go over that with 4 cans around it.

As far as the kitchen/breakfast nook area I think I will use a small chandelier over the table. Also really like the pendants for the island, great suggestion.

Thank you.

7" cans are way too big for 9' ceilings. We used 6" where we have a 17' ceiling, 5" in the kitchen (8'3" ceiling) and 3" in the foyer as spots. I would do 5" in your situation.