We have 10' ceilings but our cabinets don't go all the way to the ceiling. I don't use the very top shelves in the cabinets at all. If I can reach the shelf from a chair, then I keep holiday dishes, etc up there. If a ladder or climbing onto the counters is required, they are empty. I'm too lazy to go through the hassle.

Our last kitchen had that row of high cabinets all the way around the room. The doors had glass, and they were lighted. I had decorative things up there, but to be honest, they were high enough that anything decorative couldn't be seen very well. I hated cleaning them. With the lights on, those darn cobwebs used to glisten. To clean them, I had to get the ladder from the garage to reach. Obviously I didn't do that very often. But, in spite of it, I did love those cabinets. If I had not put the glass in them, I probably would have used them for storage or things I rarely used. This time, DH gave the thumbs down on those high cabinets, but I still would have liked them.

What I use the least often! The high cabinets keep the occasional-use stuff out of the way.

Above my sub-zero I have cabinets which are very high. I keep spare water filters and air filters for the fridge in there.

The Farberware and old kitchen dishes I had in college and will want as so as I get rid of them. Tins from cookies and the like. My big dishpan. Picnic supplies. I have enough storage without the high cabinets, so they're underutilized, but they look good. :)

I use them for a lot of seasonal entertaining storage. Stuff that I only use once every couple of months or during the holidays.

So I'm getting the sense that most of you have solid panel doors and not glass. I have a set of china and a set of Christmas dinnerware that I have no place to keep. Solid panel doors would make that possible.

Cheifneil- love the manual idea. DH always says he's going to file them, but they usually end missing.

Seasonal things like Halloween/Christmas/Easter cups/plates/candles/platters/decorations. Doesn't have to be a kitchen item just because it's in the kitchen. Those high cabs are a pain to reach but great for that "once a year" kind of storage.

Oooo. Seasonal stuff. Great idea! Now I'm getting into these. :)

hide presents for Christmas / birthdays

We have only 8 foot ceilings but our top cabinets still require a stool for top shelves. Top shelves are: wine glasses; coffee mugs; extra spices for refilling the regular containers; food grinder for pureeing meals for early eaters; dry goods; the good china.

Regarding the manuals, if there are electronics in your new appliances, you might want to keep them in easier reach. I devoted a whole bottom drawer to them, and refer to them often.

We have solid doors on our stacked cabinets with 9 ft ceilings.
In the top cabinets I store extra plates and dishes, platters, and extra supplies
that I only use two or three times a year.
We have a super thin light weight three step ladder
that we keep in our pantry closet to fetch those items in the highest cabinets.
Having such high cabinets is not the most convenient,
but it is nice to have the extra storage.

nothing!

plllog, isn't that what toe kick drawers are for? [LOL]

I second kateskouros. Nothing.

I've been so crazy about lightening my life and giving stuff away, I realized that when I do get into storage spaces, I forgot I had the stuff, or wondered why I kept it.
So no deep cabinets, nothing in the uppers.

And.. mine aren't glass, either.

I'm a little late to this party, but I'm so glad I found this string! I'm putting in a super high row of cabinets in a full remodel I'm doing to a home. I have been second guessing myself, but not anymore! Just found plenty of ideas on what to 'store' way up there!