well, if you ever intend to use the counter on the island as work space, rather than just snack or drop space, it certainly needs *some* kind of dedicated lighting. I think a pendant with a little character could be really nice there.

Yes definitely

I almost always prefer kitchens without pendants. I vote for none.

Pendants are much preferred over the stainless lights you have now. I'd replace them with pendants.

love all the examples

I would go with recessed lighting. I would have considered to sconces on either side of the range hood terrible shadows there, and that would have been pretty. I most pendants are not "work lights" more decorative I would need to be a forced downlight to achieve that.

also maybe add some battery LED puck lights under the shelves to light up the counters.

I would have taken the opportunity to remove that 3-light bulb fixture completely. Can't tell from the pics but are there only 3 cans lights in the entire kitchen? You need more lighting & the best lighting comes with a variety of light options...recessed lights, sconces if that works, under cabinet, etc. I like the look of no pendants over the island if that complements one's kitchen. In your case, not only do you need the extra lighting that pendents can afford but you need some "character" as another Houzzer suggested. I can think of a dozen options that would work but also dependent on the style you want to maintain. How about an industrial look fixture with a colored (metal) shade; bring in another metal, something in copper...anything to add omph to a B/W kitchen.

This picture, tho I like the room and the pendants, exemplifies what I mean.

Here you can see that although all the lights are on the counters themselves are not well lit. The room really is not that bright, and each of those pendants looks t have 3-4 light bulbs in it. Why? Because the light is going around the room and not forced down to the work area. You can see by the sink and the edge where the can lights are actually reaching the surface, are bright white, but the side by the stools is shadowed, and this is a white kitchen. Please remember I am in no way not liking the kitchen or knocking it, just coming from a standpoint of functional lighting.