My terrible ideas so far, haha

The big circles are fans and the small circles are downlights. I've got a proposed pendant over the dining but not sure about that either...

Your KD should be doing the lighting plan. That includes switch placements, dimmers, and analyzing spread patterns. What you have will not work. If you must have the fans, they must have lights. And you need under cabinet.

You can also use a small table lamp in a kitchen--it's a great look!

With that placement, there will be shadows without lights in the fans. Any closer on the recessed will get strobing.

You might want to post a layout here. Not s blueprint. And elevations.

kitchen area

You can do better. That island is awfully small, and has no workspace. Especially when you’re asking it to be such a workhorse. Because there is not enough counter space anywhere. It’s all sacrificed to style.

If I am reading the plan correctly, the downlights will be located behind the person at the counter. They will be working in their own shadow.

Money spent on professional advice = time and money saved on a better kitchen design.

Sorry but you really needed a KD and IMO ceiling fans should never be in kitchens or DRs Proper venting in the kitchen is a must for above the cook top which at least is on an outside wall for good venting.I have no idea why you can’t have pendants over the island and the DR table. At this point I would go to a good lighting store and get some pro help.

Thanks for the comments. I understand what i have there at the moment is not really ideal for lighting so was looking for some helpful advice as to what would work better :-)

In a perfect world a kitchen designer would probably be amazing but this is a budget renovation in a small space in a small house.

Janet - i think i need a fan as its a hot room in Queensland.... and we have no ac. We dont have gas to worry about. I am considering not having the fan but i think i would definitely use it and would make for a more pleasant environment in summer.

Sophie - I was really just asking for advice on lighting but if you want to critique the kitchen design thats fine but some suggestions on how to do better would be more useful. The island is 1860 x 1040 with only a small sink so approx 1200 x 1000 free bench space on there. There is also 2 lots of 900 x 600 bench space on either side of the cooktop. Of course we would love more but im not sure how we can get any more in this small space? Feel free to share your ideas. You should see the current kitchen we have which has exactly zero bench space, this is going to be a huge improvement.

Patricia - sorry maybe ceiling fans are not needed where you are... There is a rangehood above the cooktop which can be vented outide so that is covered thanks. I am proposing a pendant over the dining table.

Will definitely be going to some lighting stores but was hoping to get some good advice here to ease my mind.

I

Current kitchen! Zero space. This is where the new study nook will be after reno.