Take cabinets to the ceiling. You want have to dust the tops and you get storage for items less frequently used. Everything possible below the waist should be drawers, makes it so much easier to get to things and your back will thank you. Make sure you have under cabinet lighting. Movable shelves on the inside.

Figure out your storage and organization. Agree with Vicki, drawers are so much easier to use. If you can't do drawers in the lower cabinets, do roll-outs. If you have any blind corners do corner drawers. Ask for Blum soft close hardware and dovetail drawers.

When I designed my kitchen I imagined myself coming into the house with bags of groceries. Where do I drop them. How easy is it to put them away? Where do my canned goods go... Where do I put Pop Tarts and Kid cereal, so little ones can get them easily?. Then I cooked a meal in my head. Are pots and pans easy to grab? Sink within striking distance to stove for easy clean up? Can you reach dishwasher from sink with dominant hand? Trash in between sink and stove. When I moved into my house, I literally knew where every can and pasta box would go, because I designed kitchen to reflect what I needed and wanted. Good luck.