how tall is the ceiling? Divide by half then place recessed can lights that distance apart.

8' ceiling height divided by half = 4', so 4 feet apart. over every work surface, for sure... But as many as you need to illuminate the whole area.

above the edge of the counter top, generally 24 inches from the wall.

Over the sink, the stove, and any major work surface.

Thank you. I had asked this previously but somehow my account won't let me see answers so my apologies to any seeing this twice. I've watched Mark Tobin on you tube and recommends just putting them over task areas and don't worry about symmetry. So in that case I would place on sink wall- one 18" from wall over sink, then 1 centered 24" from the cab on left (30" apart) fridge wall one centered on 33" counte (24"out). The range has a light under micro. Will the back of the kitchen be too dark? Maybe one more 24" out in from of 9" cab right of stove? Or center in the galley maybe about 2' in from back wall?

Also would it be too close to put one between counter and fridge for pantry? It would be 23" from one over counter.

Thanks, I'm just so confused and elec is no help.

Also any suggestions on undercarriage lighting or where to put plugs on counter(at level or under cabs)?

25” off the framing, use the side of the sink cabinet for centers. Assumes 4” cans 8’ ceiling. Undercabinet lights should be hard wired led tape lights on a switch.

Do you have a recessed light picked out? Is it 4" or 6"? What is the led bulb lumen output? 700-1500 lumens at the fixture is available. How much hits the counter depends on the bulb angle output. I wouldn't go lower with the number of lights you're proposing. Do you have dimmers? What is the bulb type, spot, wide spot, flood? What is the color temperature of the light, 3000K, 3500K, 4000K? What output are you getting from the undercabinet lights. I mount 4" recessed task lights in from the edge of the 25.5" counter. Centered at 6" in. The light is about centered between the upper cabinet face and the edge of the counter. This reduces shadowing from your head as you lean over to concentrate on using a knife. Check your position. Maybe it's different. It also makes the shadows from your hands fall behind the knife blade. Using the undercab lights at the same time gets rid of shadows. 6" cans can be centered 3" in from the edge of the counter. You can use an A19 regular screw-in 17.5w led flood bulb with that size fixture. Bulbs are 3000K Feit available from Costco 4/$10. They output 1600 lumens.

NO 6" cans ever again anywhere 4" is as big as you need to go . I like 4000K LED bulbs in kitchens and the same in the undercabinet lighting . I like overall lighting on one switch and the under cabinets on another I think that always works best. I do think 4 cans can be better since you have that long set of cabinets on one side it is important that lighting is plced so your body does not create shadow as Hallett mentioned a good placement. There IMO is never too uch lighting in a kitchen but nice to have it controlled too

The one thing that was unclear from your last post is if the existing ceiling fan at the refrigerator is going to be eliminated or changed out to another fixture. The assumption is that was your only lighting and will be removed.

Hallett's visualization is the one to follow here. I assume she would have aligned them across the aisle, but think it was MSPaint not allowing exactness.

For UCL's, be aware that the upper sink cabinet has 24" between the underside and counter, so if you continue the UCLs over the sink, you may see the fixture moreso than the flanking cabinets that are 18" above counter. In practical terms, that means don't let the electrician just stick tape LEDs up there (that is their typical default method).

@lantern visual thank you, so I do seem to be on the right track.

I'll do that on the sink wall.

On other side you mean center on 33" counter and 24" out? That should light pantry also.

Then for back I will either center one in middle of galley about1 foot out or center on 9" cab. The fan will be gone and replaced with led.

@ hallett&Co, thank you your diagram is very helpful!

Dan thank you that's something I wasn't even thinking!!

Everyone thank you so much we are doing this assbackwards, over budget, overtime, and remotely. The kitchen, bath and a studio apt all at the same time while taking care of my mom with dementia. I don't like decisions anyway, it took me days just for shower trim!!

This site is a Godsend for those of us who don't know what we're doing but want to do it right!! Thank you thank you!!