Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Recessed Lighting (what to buy)

Hey everyone, This is my first posting here on the forum so you're going to have go easy on me.
Here's the deal:
I am adding on an extension to my home. In total there will be about 1,500 square feet, 850 of which is new.
I would like to add recessed lighting in almost every room. I understand there may be certain lights for certain types of ceilings. The master bathroom will be cathedral and the livingroom/kitchen, middle bedroom, master bedroom and walk-in closet will have your standard 8' ceilings with insulation above.
I am also looking to put 2 lights in the soffit outside on the porch.
Question:
Are there different types of lights I need to look into for bathrooms use, bedroom use, or exterior use? if so, any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
cautious_one

Personally, I like recessed cans too. But not everybody does. They are not a particularly efficient means of lighting. You usually need more watts per square foot than you would with surface mount fixtures. And some people think they give a "cave-like" feel to a room. But as I said, I like the quality of their light, and they work well on dimmers. One nice thing is if you position them well and select the right trim, the can serve as both general and task lighting, and even accent lighting. This is especially useful if you know what the exact furniture layout will be before you install the cans.

There aren't so much different types of cans but different types of trim. Luckily, the trim can be easily changed later. Over a shower or tub, you must use shower-rated trim (closed glass with a rubber gasket). I like eyeball trim, especially if you're worried about glare or not quite sure where you want the light to focus.

There are only a few choices of cans, hundreds of choices as far as trims.

You'll need to decide if you like the looks of a 4", 5" or 6" can - there are larger ones too, but they're rarely used. The most common are 6" (more light) and 4" (compact appearance). There are fluorescent cans if you are concerned about energy efficiency (required in California for kitchens and baths), and halogen cans if you like the "twinkly" look of them.

You'll need IC (insulation contact) rated cans anywhere there will be insulation in the ceiling. You may need low profile cans is there are to be cans in a cathedral ceiling with limited vertical space. You may need angled cans for installation in a cathedral ceiling if you don't want "eyeball " trim or the ceiling is particularly steep. Cans may all be used outside, but none are rated for rain falling on them.

The sky is the limit as far as trims, and you should be aware that most trims cost a lot more than the cans they mount to.

Thanks a lot for all that information. I think I am going to go with 6". I am going to build the shower myself and only bring the walls 7' up. The extra foot plus the begining of the cathedral ceiling should leave enough space for sufficient lighting as well as ventilation of the steam.
Would you put the vent fan over the tub and shower or just install it at the top of the cathedral where the steam would gather?
The bathroom is going to be 7.5' x 10' and I think a light over the tub, a light over the shower and 2 more over the rest of the bathroom should be fine. Plus, I intend on installing a fixture on the wall above each of the 2 sinks.
The high hats would be on 2 dimmers (2 on each) and the vanity lights would just be on a regular switch.

sound good?

Thanks!

Sounds like plenty of light.

I'd also suggest you get a very good fan, and one a lot larger than normally recommended. I have a 220 CFM in my 5' x 6' shower room and I think it's about right, even thugh the industry recommendation for a room that size is 80 CFM or so. It's eliminated the mold problem I was having.

Look for a model with the lowest sone rating you can afford - 2 or less is preferred. Some cheap fans make so much noise that people disconnect them, and that is when the rot starts.

Post pictures?

Thank you, I will definitely take your advice on the fan size. As for photos, we will break ground in the Spring. Once the warmer weather arrives and the foundation can be properly cured, I will start taking photos of everything. I will most likely post them to an online album like Webshots or something.
I was thinking of scanning a few parts of the blueprint to share.
Busy day here at work, maybe Monday.

Have a great weekend!