If you are planning an island then try to make the size that will allow you to have 3.6 feet all around and enjoy what you have to work with. The lighting position can be 12 inch centers from cabinet faces to wash color on the cabinets and bring out detail....try for spacing centered on the cabinets around the perimeter of the room. The lights need to be colors that work with the cabinets to make them look good....over the island you might want bright LED to give maximum work light.....lastly puck type lights under cabinets on the perimeter to make the back splash shine. Inspiration or possible rooms that might be what you are trying to envision. Candice Olson has a book about kitchens and bathrooms you can find online or in the library. She discusses recessed lighting in the kitchens I believe and online on her design site. Good luck.

Looks like your layout is best considering the glare on your tv and the space you have. I might try your ZZ plant and stand over by the fireplace in front of the electric plug. Art that you love above your fireplace would still help distract from the odd placement, it is what it is. I wouldn’t add anything on the mantel seeing that you have shelves flanking your table area. If this area is the entrance for you and guests, I also think the floor mirror should be moved, maybe you have a spot in your bedroom. Is this your first apartment?, it looks cozy and bright. You’ve got some cool things, too bad your record player didn’t have a better location so the wiring is hidden.

Hi. My apologies for going too encyclopedic pls bare with me 😄The recommended brightness for kitchen areas is 45 lumens per square foot. Your kitchen area is 143 sq. Feet. Which means it requires 143 × 45 = around 6500 lumens. Recessed lights are of 2 types 4 inch and 6 inch. 4 inch recessed light gives 750 lumens while 6 inch recessed light gives 1000 lumens. As you stated that you don't want any hanging fixture then use 8 (4 inch recessed lights) in total. Use them above your working areas in series and also you can place them in series throughout the ceiling for decor enhancement. Hope it helps. PS. Your kitchen is sick 🤘🤘.

It looks like the drawn plan does not match the photos for cabinet sizes. So along the stove/sink wall I have fixed the cabinets in what I guessed are the sizes and listed them. The purpose was for me to get the proper spacing between lights and see if one could land right over the sink. These lights would be spaced approx 40" apart in this scheme. 4" cans, place on counter edge and no gimbals. No need for lights in middle of room to light up floor. Also, 4000K is probably too cool (blue) for the tone of cabinets you have - the warm wood color will be misconstrued towards a baby poop color.