Recessed lighting 24" off the wall will cast a shadow from behind you when standing at the counters. We go more like 21", then space them around the room to highlight the cabinetry as our designers see fit. It is also good to make sure there are no large dark spaces, even on empty walls, as that will make the room feel darker.

Look how we designed the lighting in this kitchen:

The Social Kitchen · More Info

Yeah, you need to focus on function with lighting, not abstract symmetry. Put the lights where they will brighten your task domains, and just in front of the wall cabinets -- for a standard 12" wall cabinet, I like as little as 16-18" from the wall. Here you have lighting for the sink already, and the stove has its own light, so I'd want a row of three lights that cover the chunks of counter to right of stove, between stove and sink, and to left of sink. Then you could match those with a second row that lines up with your back door, so you get lighting over the exits and so forth. (Fridge has its own light.) Pendant over banquette should be enough there, but maybe another can in the zone between there and the fridge? is that counter or cabinets, can't tell. And, yes, you definitely want at least one light in that back hallway -- I'd center it in front of the pantry where it's symmetrical with both hallways.