Well, it looks like I'm going to have to consider low voltage then. Direct wire would be more convenient. I will re-read the LED ucl instructional threads now with low voltage in mind. Are there a couple manufacturers you might steer me too that are reasonably priced, have the aluminum casing, 2700 warm light, and reflect well on most counter tops (not intense dotted lines)? The transformer (think that's what it's called) would be placed in the basement, accessed near the kitchen. davidtay, have you ever heard of a low voltage led ucl transformer interfering with another low voltage system in the same room? The Broan make up air damper for the vent hood, as all universal mua dampers, also requires such a system from kitchen to the basement furnace via low voltage signal. I don't want humming and flickering throughout the kitchen. Any thoughts on this? Thank you.

I currently have a kitchen with 12' ceilings. I have all recessed LED lights. Because there are no hanging cabinets, you don't need under cabinet lights. The recessed lights are not blocked by the cabinets. I'm sure there is a preferred measurement from the wall. Mine look like they are about 18" from the wall and shine directly on the counter top. My recessed lights are all switched so that each of the four walls operates from a different switch. Most of the time, I only need one wall on, but occasionally I'll have a two walls on. All four walls and it looks like a retail store. They are all on dimmers. I do have a huge center island with an enormous pot rack over it. The pot rack is lit with halogen puck lights. I rarely turn the pot rack lights on. Actually, I'm thinking of getting rid of the pot rack. It's visual clutter and I don't need the storage. It's just my opinion but I find the wires running across the ceiling visually busy.

I wouldn't do it because the space isn't a coordinating architectural feature. The cove appears to have been included to lighten the weighty feeling of that segment of ceiling. Trying to correct something. I'd stop now and add ambient recessed.

Is this a living room that just needs better ambient lighting? If so, I wouldn't go crazy with the number of recessed lights. Maybe 6 total set in a square pattern on the FP side and 4 on the other smaller side of the bulkhead. Set them two feet in from the side walls, with the fireplace lined up in the middle. Similar arrangement on the other side.