2700k is great for living spaces. 3000k can also be nice - crisp and white without being harsh. 5000k+ is for work areas, not kitchen.

If you use dimmable led bulbs you can choose the 'whiteness' just as you're doing. It's likely to be about the same affect as you have now. Placing the cans in front of the uppers but in front of where you'll be standing at the counter to work keeps your shadow off the counter. You could use daylight for those because they'll light up the upper cab doors. You can use soft white for ambient lighting with cans in the middle of the space.

Agree. We have reveals in the cans that wash down the cabinet fronts and give a warm rosy look, but intense bright white led over the absolute black granite 5 x 7 island; we bought about five different types of bulbs and just played around with them for a few days to get the effect we desired for our kitchen; basically trial and error.