There are many things to consider. You'll generally want the can lights to produce a nice, even light over the entire room. So start with an evenly spaced grid of lights. You can then adjust them as needed. For example, you might want to shift a row of lights slightly so that they light up a walkway. The big thing to keep in mind is where your joists are located. You'll have to work around them. Bottom line is this: after laying out can lights for a basement finish and a kitchen remodel, it seems like there is a natural placement for can lights. You just need to uncover it. One more note: if your house is a ranch, you're set. If there is a second story above the kitchen, there will be some drywall repair involved. Actually, if there is a second story, there could be HVAC duct work that needs to be considered. While you're at it, look at installing under cabinet lighting, too. Makes a huge difference.