If you want bright white light get a fixture(s) with 4000k LED's and install a dimmer from an electrical supply house.

You have plenty of choices aside from recessed. I would highly encourage you to use 3,000K if you choose LED- anything higher really only looks appropriate in commercial applications.

A
These are surface-mounted fixtures intended to function and appear like 6" recessed lights, but they actually mount to a junction box. By WAC Lighting for $49 each.

B
You could use a multi-spot monorail, like this one from George Kovacs for $214 includes 16' of field adjustable rail and (5) heads. You can configure this however you'd like:

George Kovacs P4216 5-Light Track 8 3/4Hx3W 5 Heads Rail Light, Silver · More Info

C
Or, you can use a few flush mounted fixtures, which provide 180-degrees of usable ambient light, and can accommodate any light bulb. Just make sure they have at least 2 bulbs and white glass- so they are cleanable and diffused properly. Here's one I've used with Shaker cabinets:

Chase Flushmount, Polished Nickel · More Info

Good luck!