In my experience if you have good alternative lighting (pendants, under cabinet, etc) then you will rarely use the recessed lights. Their light is so harsh and uncomfortable! It's nice to have a few, but if I were you I wouldn't focus on having a good design of recessed lights.

Just an idea for you. We installed our molding at the top of the cabinets 3/4-inch below the ceiling and installed LED strip lighting behind. It looks amazing and actually gives the effect of a higher ceiling.

I am soory to disagree but the overall lighting is the light use all the time and the undercounter and pendants are additional. I would go with 4” pot lights LED natural and for sure more than 4 take your floor plan to a good lighting store and they will help fiqure this out.

You will also need color or Kelvin decisions and size of unit if using recessed. I typically like 4" recessed with aluminum baffle and white trim LED with 3000 Kelvin color and 80+ CRI or Color Rendering Index. I put everything on dimmers so you can control illumination and layer your light. This way, if you are entertaining, you can lower the light in the kitchen without complete shut off. Make sure all light color (Kelvin) matches or you will have some warm and some cool lighting. 2700 kelvin is like incandescent lights you have in your table lamps. More often kitchens are utilizing 3000. This is primarily a work/task area so a well lit space is important in my opinion. Your electrician should know all of this and be able to guide you in selections and usage as per@2M Architecture above.

It's ok to disagree! I can say that our recessed lights are not at all our primary lighting, and have probably been turned on maybe 10 times in the last 3 years since they were installed. In our home reno, they were a waste of our money. And we spend a lot of time in the kitchen and I cook all the time, so it's not for lack of use of the room. To each his/her own, I guess.

I have under counter lighting and pendants. I also have plenty of led recessed lighting. I have the recessed on dimmers if needed. I used my recess lighting all the time when preparing...the more light the better. I can always dim them or turn them off. I think in the kitchen light is a must have. U would regret later if u did not have enough. .

If you get the led s. Make sure they are soft white .. These are not harsh on your eyes.

Here's a good lighting article: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/get-your-homes-recessed-lighting-right-stsetivw-vs~12520025

I think I have other articles bookmarked - I'll post more if I find them.

Hmm. Link didn't work. The article is called "Get Your Home's Recessed Lighting Right". You should be able to find it on houzz.