Seems like a LOT of recessed lights. First, I'd reduce the size of the main recessed lights to 4" and I'd convert the 4" yellow ones to undercabinet LED tape lights or strip lights. I'd also do a 4 x 4 configuration of the recessed lights around the perimeter of the ceiling. Lastly, I'd change out the 4" recessed lights over the island to one row of 3 pendant lights over the center of the island.

Layered lighting is important. You need ambient (recessed), task (undercabinet), and decorative (pendants) for a finished look that also functions well.

Thank you, Sabrina, for taking a look. That's a great idea to convert the 6" lights to 4".

Of the 6 yellow (4") lights around the perimeter, only the Dry Bar (bottom of page) has upper cabinets, so I could switch those lights to strip lights. Of the 4 remaining, 2 are above the sink and 1 is on either side of the range and hood. I have no upper cabinets on either side of the range/hood, so there's no way to have strip lighting there. Perhaps pendants on either side of the range/hood instead of recessed?

I toyed with the idea of putting pendants over the island, but decided against them for two reasons: 1) when looking from the Great Room into the kitchen, the chandelier above the dining table may line up and conflict with pendants above the island, making it look a bit chaotic. And 2) because the island is a perfect square, a row of pendants didn't seem to make sense to me. I could be convinced otherwise, especially if I could find the right combo of chandelier and pendants, I suppose. Are you thinking the pendants would go top to bottom in the drawing? Hmm. Maybe that would work.... All along I've been thinking left to right. Thanks for shaking up my thinking on this :-). I'll give it a try in my 3D drawing.

What do you think of a single ceiling fixture over the island? Something simple.