More information will be needed to figure out the lighting. What type of lighting are you using: halogen, fluorescent, incandescent? Are the kitchen cabinets open at the bottom (in other words they are not individual and then linked)? Are you going to see these lights at the bottom when they are installed?

If you are using halogen or xenon, are they going to be on a dimmer? All of this should be taken into consideration when laying out the lighting. The more information that you can give, the better the answer.

I should have realized when I posted on this forum that I need to be more specific. We are probably going to buy halogen 'counter attack' lights, which will be on a dimmer switch. The lights are 'linkable' in that they will be all controlled on one switch. They come in specific lengths, 12", 24", and 36". I hope they will not be visible after they are installed. The electrician will be installing them, but we are purchasing them ourselves in order to avoid the usual mark-up rate...and so will probably purchase them on-line.
DH, who is ashlander2, posted a technical question about the lights. I'm more interested in how the lights will look once installed.

If you are worried about how they are going to appear, my first question is whether or not your counter top is a dark color (like black or dark brown) and shiny. If it is, whatever you put on the bottom of the cabinets is going to reflect in the counter. It's like looking into a mirror.

I would suggest that you look at various companies online before purchasing -- those that make them -- to get more information on the product. You can check out Nora Lighting, WAC Lighting, Juno Lighting, Lightolier or Halo.

I have usually placed these where they will be seen the least. If your cabinets have the 1" overhang, then you can even put them on the back of the overhang or close to it.

The one thing that no one seems to think about with the xenon or halogen lamps is the ease with which you need to change the bulbs while leaning over the counter. Check out the manufacturers to see which would be better for your application. Once you have narrowed it down, I would contact their technical assistance department for information on placement of their product. We can all tell you different things to do and each of us will have our own preference.

My only caution is not to see what you put under the cabinets in the counter top. I have seen too many of these situations where we have been called in to do something about it when there really is nothing to do.