Are you planning on a decorative light for over the kitchen table?

I will second pbrisjar's question -- I had the same dilemma as you last week -- last minute lighting plan panic. My research indicated that can lights over a dining area are not ideal; instead because my dining table was so close to my island (and thus pendants over both would have been pendant overkill), I put pendants (actually a more flexible monorail system) over the table, with cans over the island.

And yes, although I am no expert this sounds like too many cans/too many lights in general. I know it depends on type and size, and also height of your ceiling, but I thought the general rule for cans is one every 4 feet. Sounds like you have alot more than that. Maybe at least have some on separate switches?

This is important -- if you need more time tell your GC to come another day. Good luck --

I think it sounds like a lot too.

I would plan on a chandelier type fixture (decorative) over the kitchen table, maybe a matching pendant over the sink (depending on your layout).

As for the "hall" you didn't say how long it was, but unless it is a cave 4 cans sounds like a lot. I would try to do a pretty flush mount or two.

As for the 6 cans in the kitchen I'm not sure if that is reasonable or not. But it sounds ok. My kitchen is 15x15 and I have 4 cans, undercabinet lights and pendants over the island. I know from my previous kitchen it will be plenty.

Try posting on the Lighting Forum as well...

Here is a link that might be useful: Lighting Forum

Anita, I know that I am late responding to this, as your contractor may already be there.

My kitchen is similar in size to yours and I have a total of 10 cans in my kitchen area: 1 over the sink, two over the island (no pendants) and the rest over the counter work areas on the perimeter of the room.

My breakfast area has only a hanging light fixture.

When we do our reno, I will add additional ighting in the eating area (maybe small cans in each corner of the space to augment the hanging light), switch out the cans over the island to pendants and switch out the can over the sink for a hanging fixture.

My impression, after having lived in this house for 6 months, is that I appreciate the can lights for task lighting and for brightening up the space, but look forward to adding more fixtures for variation. Also, I have no undercoutner or overcounter lighting at all and I hope to add that, as well.

Hope my sharing helps you in some way! Let us know what happens.

Sandy

Our kitchen is semi open and is 13x16. Our table is outside of this area on the other side of a hutch that we have as a divider. Our main lights are 3 5" cans on a dimmer--2 at either end of the main walkway and one in the center of the work area that is separated off the main walkway by a peninsula. Over the peninsula I have a 3-light pool table type fixture which has 3 40W bulbs(actually now cfl but not sure of strength). I work mostly at the peninsula so the 3 cans + peninsula lights are the main general lighting and then I turn on other lights as needed. We will have 3 pendant lights over a 9 ft stretch of counter with our prep sink in it (this counter is in front of windows)---only two of these lights are in place (3+ years now) and I look forward to eventually having the 3rd one over my baking area. We have 2 "pendants" (bare bulbs at the moment) over our main sink. I also use the lights in our vent hood when I'm at the range.

The overkill part of our plan is another 5 can lights along our perimeter counters. I rarely need these--but I was thinking as I got older they may be nice. I probably use them about half a dozen times a year. We have 6 undercabinet lights which I use even less often. I feel as though they could have been skipped. We have a 1-bulb ceiling fixture over our table which is adequate. When we need extra light I bring in a floor lamp. Once we work on the eating area we'll put in a better light.

Recap: Most used lights in 13x16 ft kitchen: 3 5" can lights for general lighting, 3-bulb fixture over peninsula, and sink pendants when needed and vent hood lights when needed.
Rarely used lights: 5 additional 5" cans along perimeter counters and undercabinet lights.

I've been very happy with the lighting of the kitchen and probably would keep all these lights if I had it to do over again. I'm glad we put in lots of switches so that unnecessary lights don't have to be on.

Hope this helps! Good luck.