Recessed can for kitchen Lighting ideas are  mostly in the general lighting category, but can be used as accent lighting when using an eyeball type trim to accent something like a picture. See the Kitchen Lighting Picture Gallery for examples of all the kitchen lighting in action.

There are a lot more choices for trim these days with recessed can lighting. Seems like All you saw in the past was the black baffle. The pictures at the top of this page show examples of different recessed can trims.

Recessed Can lighting comes in many sizes, but the typical sizes are 4", 5", or 6". There are also different types of housing for different situations. There are can housings that are for new construction when there is no drywall, and there are remodel cans that can be installed over drywall.

       New Construction Recessed Can             Remodel Recessed Can

There are also special can housings that are made for angled vaulted ceilings when you want the light to shine strait down instead of the angle of the ceiling.  

                                    Angled Ceiling Recessed Can

Special IC can housings  are made to allow insulation to touch them if in an attic, it's a good idea to get the IC rated cans if this is the case. In water situations like inside a shower there are water proof trims with a rubber gasket.

There are LED dedicated recessed can lighting these days that are dimmable.  Also available are retro LED can inserts can turn your existing can into a dedicated LED light! The Light output in the few that I have seen in action are even brighter than typical recessed lights so don't over do it just because it's LED.

     LED Dedicated Recessed Can                 LED Retrofit for Existing Can

I like recessed can lighting for kitchen lighting ideas as the general lighting in a kitchen lighting design because it is unobtrusive, and throws out a uniform light over a large area with multiple cans.

Fluorescent flood light bulbs that usually work best with can lighting. Check the housing for recommended wattage of bulb. The Blog article Recessed Can Light Spacing gives some advise on how many cans to use in a given space.