Traditional recessed lighting (deep recess, using BR reflector lamps) tends to have a spotlight effect. The advice is typical given the above, but some times it is just impractical due to the location of stuff above the ceiling board and/ or other considerations. You should also calculate the number of lights needed. More info on the link below Here is a link that might be useful: LED recessed lighting guide

lol, if you are going to put in recessed lighting, I would go the extra step and remove the popcorn, its pretty quick and painless these day and this room is fairly isolated so it would be a good starting point. hang a fixture over the table replace the fixture in the kitchen with recessed.

i would not do a track. (and you're removing that fan, yes??!) recessed is fine, maybe 2 pendants over the island? get the Retrofit, LED recesssed lights, 4" or 5" . (Costco has some decent ones) make sure you buy the lights that dimmable and the switch that is dimmable. Get the 4000K bulbs. nothing higher, nothing lower. here are some general guides for you to look over. when placing them for task light, you don't want them too far 'in' or else you will get shadows, and not too far out or you won't be able to see the countertop both of these have islands. I think you could do a minimum of 8 cans May I suggest a few other decor elements? I love a good periwinkle, but instead of it on the kitchen walls, what if you did a tile backsplash in that color? you don't have much so it wouldn't cost much. And it's a straight shot, so it's easy to install some are glass, some are ceramic. I also love this rug (but in a runner) w/your wood floors. remove your white knobs and get a contractors pack of the brushed nickle pulls. (5" -6" would be fine) (look on amazon. $25-$35) use the bottom hole and make one other for the top portion of the handle would resemble this: Clear up your clutter on the fridge and use this wall on the far left (also put in some pendants) get a simple 1x6" wood plank, attach on top of waiscott so you have a ledge. then you put up your pictures on a message board. or frame out a chalkboard and hang up one of these.

You have a very challenging space to light with the angled ceiling and post. If you want to go recessed over the table, 2 would be better, but I would consider lighting the shelf wall with accents, which would require a sloped ceiling housing because a gimbal trim would not be adequate (same situation lighting the counters under the sloped ceiling). You could do gimbals on the flat ceiling, then I would only have 1 recessed over the table (or back to chandelier). I might not do pendants just over the sink, as the bar counter is a skinny depth, there is a matching one on the other counter leg not pendant-ized, and you have a column which offsets the balance and detracts from any pendants. But that comment is my aesthetic opinion, not a functional one, where pendants would work.