Thanks folks. I am also trying to make my brand new home look like it has been there forever but just updated. At least that's my rationalization for putting in all the can lighting since it's so practical. Having a great room works wonderfully for our family but it does present a dilemma of getting light in the right places without stringing lamp cords everywhere. The lighting plan for the seating area now will be supplemented with lamps on a sofa table plugged into floor outlets and a ceiling fan with a light kit. In addition we'll do the mini lights to highlight the bookcase/fireplace wall. If this isn't sufficient I will have to add more table lamps around the room. The dining area will get a chandelier and 2 mini's over the table and wall sconces flanking the china cabinet. Just as a side question: am I correct in believing that PAR light bulbs are all halogens? I keep reading about how 5" cans with PAR bulbs are all the rage. We live in Florida and I don't want anything that hot all over my ceiling, that's one of the reasons I've been thinking that 6" cans with incandescent floods will be the best thing for now (hate fluorescent lighting). Am I on the right track?

There are CREE LR4 lights. These can be found at the website I've linked to. The price is ~ $178 (housing + trim + LED lamp module). The price for a LR6 is ~ $90+. If you need to use non edison base modules, the HD version of the CR6 will not do. Here is a link that might be useful: LR4 polar-ray

My bath has no fan & I do fine by cracking a window just a bit. Helps that I live alone & have no need to shut the door during a bath or shower. I also like having a floor fan running in the hall just outside the bath. This is really only necessary during the cold, winter months. Any other time, I just open the windows! I guess I just don't want to have to cut into the plaster & make a hole in my brick for a vent.

The amount, placement, and style of fixture should be based on the room function, design, and level of the house. For instance, an 11x12 kitchen has very different requirements than an 11x12 office or 11x12 bathroom. 6" would typically require less fixtures and different spacing than 4", and is usually cheaper and less aesthetically pleasing to many people. And a basic grid of lighting is not the default solution for lighting.