Can you put recess lights there? I have seen retrofit pendants that you can do if you change your mind. I would put pendants in this design. More light is always better.

It is cheapest to have the wiring done while everything is open and you don't need to run wire and repair sheetrock later.

If it's pendants or nothing (not even recessed?), then definitely do pendants. You will appreciate that extra light in a space you use a lot. You can find lots of options for cheap pendants that you like enough for now. Once some cash frees up later, you can replace them pretty easily.

You definitely want some lighting there. As someone mentioned above it is going to be most cost-effective to do install all at once. There is such a variety of price points for lighting too, it wouldn't add tremendously to your budget to get that done.

You need good task lighting. 450 lumens at the counter. Have them put in two 6" white $15 cans over the island on a dimmer. 100w equivalent 16w led A19(regular screw-in bulb form) bulbs will produce 1600 lumens at source. Two will handle the island and can act as ambient room light as well. Costco has the bulbs Feit 4/$7.

Get the pendants. No one wants to be in the dark.

I fully understand budget constraints since we did the same when we bought a spec house. Find a structure you like and change finishes as time goes on. We had vinyl floors, laminate counters and carpet everywhere. All neutral colors and brand new so there was no hurry. We replaced things as they wore out and now have the granite, tile, and hardwood floors I dreamed about. Back then, we could not have afforded to pay for the upgrades in a house this size.

"...The builder are only gives us the option of pendant or nothing..."

Definitely add the pendants!

Your husband may be happier with recessed lighting over the island. My husband is almost 6' tall and he doesn't like the pendants getting in his way.

Yes to pendants. Pick the cheapest ones they offer -- and you can switch them out in future.

We have pendants, recessed can lights, and undercab lights, and they are each different and important for lighting the kitchen depending on the job. Good luck with your new house : ) .

Our ceilings are 9' also. The bottom of our pendant light shades are at 30" above the countertop. The electrician should have no problem installing recessed lighting above your island during construction.

I think you would regret not having option of pendants- both as added task wattage and switched on separate from recessed for ambient. Do ensure the placement is correct- is center on the counter top(not on island base as image shows).

Inspecting your electrical plan is critical-- think about switch and outlet locations in every room! Otherwise they will place them in the easiest location for the electrician. You may want to explore purchasing lighting fixtures on your own--- builder grade is often way over priced/and fewer options.

Put the pendants in. You can always switch to whatever type of lighting works best later.

Are you saying that you cannot have CANS where the drawings show pendants? If so, go with the pendants. If cans in their place are a choice, go with the cans. You can always add pendants later when you can afford to get what you really want.

I personally prefer cans as I hate cleaning light fixtures (and in a kitchen, they DO get very dirty, very quickly, especially if one has pets).

shead It is one of the bigger semi-custom builders and we have chosen the entry level plan. We were given the impression there would be lots of room for customization but have found the entry level to be very restrictive.

The more you customize the more time it takes the builder to manage the project, no one wants to believe this but it’s true. It sounds like you received “build, repeat build again” pricing, so that would rarely correspond to lots of customization. Electricians also charge more for can installs and ceiling fan pre-wires than they do for regular light pre-wire. This is likely why you can’t just interchange them. Put the pendants in, electrical is never a go back and do easy later job. Change the pendants if you want later, but at least you have the structural wiring in place.

Pendants are expected and should go in. Pendants aren’t an issue for us tall folks even if centered above the island

Absolutely get the pendants! We had our home built 2 1/2 years ago by a larger semi-custom builder (back when we built we could modify anything but they're much more restrictive now). The pendants are great to have even if you have plenty of cans around the kitchen perimeter. They are good for prepping at the island, parties, evening lighting (when the main lights are off), and doing other tasks at the island (sitting or standing).

Is the choice between pendants vs. recessed? Or pendants vs. inadequate light? Pendants are better than inadequate lighting, and adequate lighting via recessed lights is better than either!

I appreciate my pendant lighting over two major cookspace areas. Your mileage may differ. Being a log home, I didn't want cam lighting, and again, your mileage may differ. I like the fact that the pendants (which are two items in different parts of the kitchen, but have three bulbs each) provide me with excellent cooking light, even as we now verge into autumn/winter ahead. I find that the three lights provide lighting not dependent on any distant angle, and help mitigate unwanted excess shadows.