In my last home, I had 8' ceilings, and I had 42" cabinets with a narrow molding. Loved it! You can NEVER have too much storage IMHO. You THINK you'll never use those top shelves, but believe me, you WILL. I am not a fan of a lot of molding - just MHO and my own personal taste, but I think a big molding looks great in a den or library bookcase, but is too fussy for the kitchen (sorry!). In my current home, I have 9" ceilings, so I have 42" cabs, plus another short set of cabs stacked above them. I don't think it looks closed in at all; in fact I think it makes the kitchen look larger. Also, I toured a mansion (tour was for charity) that had a butler's pantry. The butler's pantry was quite small, but had custom cabinets to the ceiling - gorgeous, and the height really made it look elegant. Also, in my area at least, the realtors say that 42" cabinets are considered more desirable and "high-end". You may choose to believe that or not, but you will see real estate ads here that make a point of saying "kitchen comes with 42" cabinets". Sudiepav - I too am short (5'3"), and for me, I need a stepstool for anything above the second shelf (or even for the back of the second shelf), regardless of the height of the cabinet. So whether the cabs are 36" or 39" or 42", it doesn't matter, I'll need that stepstool. So not sure if a person's shortness would figure into this decision...I guess it depends on just how short they are!

I wouldn't go to 42 in..with 8 ft ceiling. The max height wall cabinet I would think of is 33 in high....then when you get to your molding decisions you have a bit more wiggle room and you can maintain a decent backsplash height. typical backsplash height is 18 inches..between 15 to 18 in backsplash is fine. Above sinks people place a shorter cabinet for more clearance while working. Backsplashes can be as short as 14 inches. If you have various runs in the kitchen and you want a much taller cabinet-39 or 42 inches for extra storage I would pick a spot to the side or end or different run rather than main work triangle zones. The top shelves on extra tall cabinets are too high to be handy in day to day use. Pick a special spot for this extra high cabinet....stick to 30-33 in high cabinet for the most part, with 8 foot ceilings. In your project, storage as a whole would be addressed with your configuration/entire plan....it should be a goal from the start to improve storage with efficient types of cabinets/inserts, etc. A concern is that you feel a need to raise the height so much because storage may be lacking...in final stages of your plan. Has your plan been reviewed here or anywhere multiple times/revisions??

Perhaps, in lieu of pendants, something like this: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Kenroy-Home-Corbis-4-Light-Bronze-Island-Light-93595ORB/300513035?cm_mmc=Shopping%7CG%7CBase%7CD27L%7CMulti%7CNA%7CPLA%7CInteriorLighting%7c71700000038836110%7c58700004241533705%7c92700035280099904&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIy96Bk8Dw3gIVjf_jBx0DyAHHEAQYBCABEgLtmfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I have 10' ceilings and 96" cabinets. I'm 5'9" and can't reach the top shelves but it bothers me not at all to bring out the aluminum 3-step ladder for the few times I need something (mostly holiday items) from those shelves. Luckily my 6'4" son-in-law loves to cook and does those holiday meals while being able to reach the top. There's not much else on those upper shelves other than wine glasses and some ice buckets; I just sold all of my china and crystal - so liberating !! I didn't want cabinets to the 10' ceiling because of the prohibitive extra cost, the look and also because of the Toll Brothers obligatory useless teensy kitchen windows that are 9.5' up on one wall. The discussion about using glass front cabinets in front of those windows, having to replace the trim around the windows, etc, lasted about 14 seconds. Nope. I insisted on having solid wood tops - 2 ginormous pieces - installed and stained to match because I didn't want to see the unfinished wood when I came down the stairs. Now I see giant dust bunnies and I've decided oh, who cares, lol. It's proven to be an excellent area for some serious art glass that I can't put "out" because of cat and grandchildren but if the house is ever on the market, the little bits of standard greenery will go up there instead. Long way of saying that, even being tall, I still use a stepladder but I think I've had 10' ceilings so many times that I'm used to it.