I agree with Patricia. Recessed lights are designed to blend and disappear. I would not highlight them with trim or ornate framing.

Absolutely agree with the above…older recessed lighting had thick trim around them., and ceilings tended to look like Swiss cheese. You can still get that look, if you cheap out. However, the newer recessed lights are barely noticeable…even when on. You’ll see the light, but not so much the hole from which they came.

Recessed lighting is not ment to be decorative, rather they’re a source for purposeful illumination. If you want somthing decorative, install of semiflush fixture, like we did here: click to enlarge:

Can you spot the two recessed lights? They’re on, but barely noticeable. What you see is the beam of light where they’re illuminating the fridge on one side, and the cabinet on the other.

Do you have adequate lighting right now??

Thanks to all @Patricia Colwell Consulting @kculbers @darbuka @Glo European Windows & Doors for your feedback. The recessed lighting is the original lighting. I am open to replacing it with something else (non-recessed) but agree with all of you that it should "disappear" and that I need LED 4000K bulbs (currently they make the kitchen look yellow).

I feel like it need a pop of gold/bronze lighting to make it looked finished. Any new ideas are welcome. I just want the kitchen to look finished -- right now it seems like something is missing.

As others have noted the recessed lights should fade into the ceiling. If you want an accent you need pendants. Here is mine- they are very narrow so don't obstruct site lines but add an accent. They are hanging from an 8' ceiling for reference

Lafayette · More Info

If there was any way to alter that hvac grill so the crown could be continuous I would focus on that as that is a major distraction to me

But, again, is your actual lighting adequate now??

@kculbers yes the actual lighting is good right now.

@HALLETT & Co. thank you for your feedback! the pendants are nice and slim! I had not considered that style. I like it! And I agree with you on altering the Hvac grill..... i will look into that!

MelissaS. Since your lighting is adequate, I really like your kitchen “as is”. It has nice clean lines and I think any pendant lights would be distracting. Sometimes “ less is more”, so the saying goes. Very pretty kitchen❣️

Thank you @kcubers!

I wouldn’t use pendants, I think they just tend to add clutter. I do agree that recessed lighting should just disappear but I think the modern gold has a nice clean look to it if you decide to add a trim.

I would save your money, do small recessed lights in your current location…and splurge on a fabulous chandelier if your eating area that I assume is nearby!

@ptreckel @Holly- Kay Thank you for the feedback! We do have a fab chandelier that we love that is art deco!