If you have screw in recessed can fixtures and want to visualize the mini pendants without doing the can tearout first--you can pick up a couple of recessed can/mini pendant light conversion kits--Lowes carries a couple (nickel Model #: MPA-1PNK or antique bronze [Model #: MPA-1JBZ]) with no bulb or shade that screws into the existing edison socket, has a decorative base that covers the recessed can. You can play with different light shades as well. We did this for our remodel, and never bothered to do the formal can tearout. I think there may be other conversion kits at Lowes, but the cover and the shade did not match our kitchen. Hope this helps.

I'm not much help (sorry), but I have the same question! How high are your ceilings? How tall are you and your family members? I think these both factor into the answer. One site I found I believe said 30-40" off the countertops, but that might be for an island or table light, because 30" seems low (only 5' 6" from the floor if your base cabinets are 36"). I also seem to recall reading 6 feet off the floor was a good measure, but again, not if you are 6'4". You may just want to figure on a few inches higher than the tallest person in your house? Not to hijack, but I have 9'9" ceilings, and to complicate matters, a faucet that will reach up 32" from the counters, as well as a pendant I want to hang. So if I hang my pendant so the bottom is 6' from the floor, I have only 4" between the top of the faucet and the pendant, plus I would have to have 44" of cord for it to hang that low anyway (shade is 5" tall)! So obviously mine will have to hang at more like 7 feet, or maybe even higher to look proportional. I have seen it recommended here to hang a balloon or cardboard cutout on a string and live with it a day or two to see what height you like best. Good luck!

What's the wattage of the mosaic mini pendant? I would think using the light that mimics your vent hood would probably look okay if the sink isn't too close to the peninsula, assuming the wattage is high enough of course. The only concern I would have is a pendant over me instead of over the sink area; might not give appropriate light. Is the vent working? If not, could you take it out? Or maybe doing two smaller recessed lights on either side of that vent (depending how big it is across your sink area) would work better; then you would have the light properly over the sink? Hope those thoughts are of some help...

I love your countertop slabs, they are stunning. Based on all the criticism I looked at your layout and I see a lot of positives. You have a sink for cleanup near the dishwasher drawers and stove, and a second sink for prep work. That sink is not far from the fridge, so you can grab an armload of produce and get right to work ... and as you work the kids who just want a drink or snack from the fridge can get it without coming into the work L. This isn't a studio apartment, it is meant to work for a large family and so yeah, you may need to take 2-3 more steps to get around but that is somewhat unavoidable. For lights ... maybe something like this if you want something bold that isn't adding a lot of color: Huddardton Forge Erlenmeyer Flask Pendant Just a thought. Congrats on the new house. Don't worry about the people here who enjoy shooting arrows of doubt and dismay without offering to help identify ways to improve things. Some people naturally look for flaws and love to point them out (instead of asking why something was designed this way vs that way). It can't be a fun way to live life.