I would say in the kitchen I have not always done this. Some kitchens are pretty easy to navigate, and you can often tell the trash pullout by its location, that the door is different or the handle location is different, but in kitchens where I have hidden the DW, fridge, etc. there is usually a driving reason behind that, too, so I have also designed kitchens that aren't that user friendly. However, in a kitchen there is usually someone to ask.

A powder room or bathroom, on the other hand, should have everything from the basic soap and towels to cleaning supplies and basic pharmaceuticals all fairly easily found without asking.

I think people have gotten used to find-the-trash.

I never gave it much thought. It is MY kitchen, after all, first and foremost. My DM couldn't find much in the kitchen anyway as her kitchen hasn't been usable for 20 years so she's completely cooking dysfunctional. The rest of my guests ask and learn quickly.

The garbage is where it is because it its the best place for it functionally when prepping and cleaning up. For me. The sink has a soap dispenser built-in because I can't stand a wet and soapy bottle floating all over the place. One less thing to clean. For me. Yeah, I'm selfish. ;)

I don't let too many people help me in the kitchen anyway. Most of the time, it's more effort and time lost to explain how to do something than it is to do it myself.

When we were planning our kitchen we had a couple of family dinners (which for us is about 25 people) and we watched traffic flows. We were thinking of moving the kitchen and wanted to see where people sat, where they stood (in the small 9x11 u-shaped kitchen that we had), how they got from one place to another. I wanted to be in the middle of the action and in the old kitchen my sink was as at the far end of the eating/sitting area and so we watched that, we wanted it to be more open to the LR/DR without taking down walls and so we watched that.

We left the kitchen where it was but expanded it out to the deck by 4' and opened it up at the bottom of the U into the DR, we enlarged the doorway at the top of the U into the DR and both of those made traffic flows into the DR/LR easier and we put a prep-sink at the top of the U by the eating area/sittting area so that I am closer to the action when prepping and we formed 2 work triangles anchored by the 2 sinks for my sisters when they bring their contributions to the family dinners. As for finding the pull-out trash, when we have company we put a trash can under the clean-up sink because that's where everyone goes to anyway.

I think a lot of thoughtful touches that help guests also help cooks.

Picture a kitchen with most of the things that guests need in one place. Toaster, bread, coffee maker and cups, etc., all in one place. Near water, so they can make a fresh pot or get a drink with no bother. A beverage fridge if you're into that sort of thing. Access to the fridge. Maybe even the micro. And cleanup, too. Put those all on a wall near each other away from the range and a prep sink, and guess what--making it easy for guests also keeps them out of the cook's way.

We definitely had guests in mind when we came up with our layout. We went with a garbage can so people can find it. We did not panel anything and will even have open shelves for most used glasses and dishes. I like that our kitchen is self explanatory.
Our sons have friends over a lot, and I like that they feel comfortable helping themselves. It makes me happy that we have a house that is user friendly.
Part of the design of the open layout is so that if we have a party, no one is crowded into a dead end kitchen and there is more than one way in and out if people are milling around. We have several prep spaces if we have any guests pitching in (I have no shame, lol). That also was done to give me the right to shoo anyone out of MY primary prep space.
Our island has a high back because our stove has its own high back. I can easily see over the back end, but no one seated in the den or dining room can see much other than my head or eyes. I am not in Siberia if I have to go in the kitchen to stir something, refill or cut something. The mess is not visible to guests unless they are in the kitchen area, but the cook is.
We also put things in places that seem logical, liked baking stuff near the oven.

I sure wouldn't have this a priority in my kitchen. I don't encourage houseguests to fend for themselves (they're guests, not roommates), and if they're helping me how long does it take to say, "It's in there", or "second drawer, towards the back"?

Yes, I absolutely planned the kitchen remodel, with guests in mind, especially children. We have a big family and lots of nieces/nephews and friends' kids, so making sure things are easy to find is important. The fridge and other appliances will not be covered, glass uppers, a plate rack, rather than a plate cabinet and a small garbage under the sink...because that's where everyone thinks it will be :)

The island will have room for stools, so kids can help or others can sit and visit, while in the kitchen. For more comfortable seating there will be a few cozy upholstered chairs, by the wood stove and the dining area is open to the kitchen. A long banquette (seats lots of kids) on one side and chairs on the others. Also a buffet that can serve as a desk, when chair is pulled over and more plate rack/glass uppers on the hutch.

I figure if the kids want to help bake and prep, then they can help clean and put away dishes, too. So many people don't take the time to teach kids the fun part of the kitchen (baking chocolate chip cookies, decorating Christmas cookies with homemade dough, and chocolate cakes from scratch) that we want to make sure it's something they can do, when they visit us, at the farm.

I pretty much designed our kitchen for how I use it, but how I use it usually involves a good deal of entertaining. I made sure that there was a great big surface(peninsula) for setting out food, and a place for stools so guests could chat with me, but be out of my way.

The one concession I made for someone else was that I built in a spot for a folding step stool for my mother. Our cabs are to the ceiling and I can reach even the highest shelf with my ridiculous monkey arms, but my mom stands at 5 foot nothing and tends to take charge of every kitchen she's in.

I am thinking about guests some when I'm planning, mainly about how to keep them out of my way. I don't welcome help in the kitchen, but recognize that DH and many of our guests want to grab a drink and chat with me while I'm cooking. I'm trying to best plan a beverage area so they can pour themselves coffee, tea or alcohol but not be in my prep or cooking zones.

Yes, I thought about guests....That's why I insisted on a non-NKBA island in my kitchen, when both KDs I consulted cautioned I didn't have room for an island. It is a classic "barrier island" and passively assures that nosy wanderers stay OUT-A-MY-WAY!

That's why I HATE paneled appliances. I hate hunting for the fridge and DW in other people's kitchens.

It is funny, but some of my fondest memories of entertaining is having a few close friends doing the last of the chopping with me at the beginning of a party or helping plate the freshly cut cheese and lay out the cold antipasta. I also am incredibly lucky to have some good friends/relatives who insist on helping clear up afterwards. Our first house had a large kitchen and so we had many helping hands and it went quickly. Our new kitchen has not been put through its paces yet, but will once we get things sorted out. I love having the room to fit anyone who wants to linger or pitch in. I have enough room to do my thing and not feel crowded. I'd hate to give off a vibe of "get out of my space" to an invited guest.
When we entertain, it is usually for a group between 25-60. I like doing things in advance, but some things are so much better done fresh at the last minute. Real life also has a way of putting me behind schedule at times. I love how we all pull together to make it a success and I always pitch in when I am the guest and am close to the hostess. I do what I can when I am not a very close friend/family member as well. I have gotten to know some other people better by helping at the end of their party or being helpful if I get there early (but not too early, lol). I always ask what I can do to help out and usually get a chore or 2 even if they say "I have it all" at first instinct if I say "are you sure?"? I can usually see the gratitude. I have been there and really appreciate it as well in my house. There is always something little that needs attending to, even if it is to keep someone occupied until I can properly get there myself.

We also seem to be the "Kool Aid" house with extra kids over here many days of the week. I want them to feel comfortable both in getting something and for cleaning up. If they are going to be "regulars", then I make it so that they don't need to be babied. I had some friends' houses that were real havens for me as a kid. I had a rough home life, but some wonderful extra moms who made me feel welcomed. I'd help set the table and clean up, often more than the host child. I'd like to pay that forward with all the kids who come to hang out here. I think if you make your house welcoming, you will do better with your kids as teens and you help them socially at school as well. I was always too embarrassed to have friends to my house because of my odd parents and know how it feels to not have that chance. That is a good part why we did not get the marble counters we coveted. We'd rather be relaxed about the care than to stress over it and make others feel stressed. Life is too short. We also do not have light carpets, or any carpets in the main living areas. Paper towels are handy and the kids love using the Roomba to clean up any dry messes.

Our living room has some nice antique seating, so that is why adding a main level den was important. The kids also have a big finished basement to play in. Our sectional was meant to be flopped on and people can put their feet up on the coffee table without me freaking out or even needing a coaster (glass top). I see other houses that look so pristine and delicate and know they would never work for our family. They can be pretty, but if they are too high maintenance or fragile, then I will admire them elsewhere.

Dianalo- Your house sounds like a fun place to visit...your children, friends and extended family are lucky to have you in their lives :)

A powder room or bathroom, on the other hand, should have everything from the basic soap and towels to cleaning supplies and basic pharmaceuticals all fairly easily found without asking.

When anyone new first needs our bathroom, we're quick to explain the half- and whole-flush buttons on the top of the toilet before they even get there. There's nothing worse that standing there looking at the toilet wondering how to get the thing to flush!

In the same spirit, we'll probably volunteer that the soap dispenser at the sink is for both hands and dishes. I know that my SIL's soap dispenser has puzzled me for years, but then it's mostly empty anyway. If she only read GardenWeb, she'd know about Never MT! Hmm, maybe I should get her one for Christmas.

A significant portion of food purists do not care for Reichl. In some cases, loathe might be the appropriate term. I enjoy her, but freely admit I am not a purist.

Oh, how did I do that? Never mind:)

lax: LOL! I'm still pondering whether that's a compliment/thoughtful touch or not.

I'd like to think it was a thoughtful touch, although it turns out my 6yo uses it as much as she does. The first thing she said when she walked into our mostly done kitchen was, "Why have cabinets go that high? How do you reach anything way up there?" I was glad to be able to have a rebuttal handy with, "I have no problem reaching, and for you I have this."

I definitely planned for guests...and massive amounts of children since my home is often filled with both. I went so far as to put a sink specifically for hands and snack washing in the walkway/next to the fridge to keep the cooking zone free of that sort of thing. I also made sure there were ample working counter areas because there are often 3 or 4 people prepping meals at the same time. Food is a group event in our family!

I think with the trend for paneled appliances and trash pullouts most people have at least thought of the idea that it may be paneled and both are generally going to be convenient to the sink, and the DW is going to be 24" wide the vast majority of the time. Unless they are house guests though, and even then, to some extent I wait on them so they don't have any reason to throw things away or put things in the DW--its done for them.

I'm planning for guests in my new kitchen like many of the others above, by having a separate coffee/beverage area with its own sink with trash handy. There'll be fridge/freezer drawers there (paneled but I'm confident guests can figure it out after it's pointed out to them the first time) and a trash under the sink. Soap dispenser built in, which shouldn't be confused with dish soap since it's obviously not a dish washing area.

Okay, I didn't actually plan it for guests. I really planned it for hubby to keep him out of the work aisles while I'm cooking. But it should work just as well for guests. :) I like to have the cooking/prep area to myself and I definitely prefer to clean up and load the dishwasher on my own rather than have guests do it for or with me. Husband on the other side of the island enjoying an after-dinner coffee while I clean up means the perfect working kitchen for me.