Every time you consider cost, the total cost has to be considered. Cost of the recessed housing. This could range from ~ $10 to > $50. The housing for the CR6 should cost between $10 to Cost of the bulb / lamp. The EcoSmart version could be sold at your local home depot for Cost of the lamp/ bulb replacement, frequency. For CFL cans with the integrated ballast, ballast replacement should also be considered as access to the top part of the can is required. Cost of the trim piece. Like the recessed housing, this could also range from $10 to $40+. In some jurisdictions (e.g. California), local energy efficiency laws exist to severely curtail the use of incandescent lighting (including halogens). Direct insulation contact and air tight cans may also be required. Check with your city. On a related note, the phasing out of incandescents has already begun. The upfront cost of the complete EcoSmart CR6 unit (can + light) could be >$10+ more than an incandescent bulb, can and trim. However, even without considering local energy efficiency laws and the mandated phase out of incandescents, the energy savings will make up the difference within a couple of years.

Here's a front view photo. Measure the space you have underneath in front of your cabinet, they should fit. Also mount at the front for the best task lighting. You can't see the lights from the front. I can see them from the adjacent sitting room open to the kitchen but if they are off it doesn't bother me. I haven't bothered to order a light rail, since the dealer & I are not speaking. Have you read davidtay's UCL lighting threads ? These lights are a really nice option for direct wire, dimmable, LED bars. I do not like LED strips at all. The ones the electrician showed me were so dim and I couldn't figure out the material charge from the estimates so I ordered my own lights and paid for labor. The install is easy, if you are handy you can do it yourself. Color Kinetics has the installation guide on their website I think.

chris45ny - Yes we are planning to have 3 stools. No... it can definitely be swagged over to the beam. I've had different opinions about where it should be. I prefer it over toward the beam, but my DH and his contractor friend think it looks just fine where it is. flwrs_n_co - Thank you ... I love the penisula! We were unable to make an island work in the kitchen, since it was too small, but I'm so happy with our design. As for someone hitting their head under the light, no its placed high enough. My DH is 6'1 and he has plenty of head space. palimpsest - thanks for your opinion, but the DH would kill me if I asked him to move another light fixture. We're unable to move a box under the beam, which is why I thought to swag it over if anything. I'll live with this for a while until I figure out what I really want to do.

I don't see a problem with your basic idea even the wood frame. However, it is necessary to add an electric box such as a metal "pancake" in which to terminate the romex and to mount the light fixture.