I'll scout around, Aliris. This and a few other tips really helped make my kitchen the functional paradise it is (for me) today -- when I began, I was quite uninformed regarding design issues that are just accepted traditions and design issues you can change with impunity for the better. I'll quote the above Starcraft Builders article here just for reference: "The ideal maximum height of upper cabinets is about 32". The top shelf should be not more than about 26" from the bottom of the cabinet. Anything higher is "stool storage" -- you have to stand on a stool to get to it. There is no harm in having taller cabinets, even right to the ceiling, so long as you recognize that the top part of tall cabinets is usually unreachable and should be used to hold things only rarely used. Even the top shelf of a 32" cabinet is for most of us in the extended rather than the primary arc of reach. We can usually reach just the stuff in front of the shelf. (Lazy susans installed on the top shelf can remedy the problem, however -- everything at the back of the shelf can quickly be brought within reach with a little twist of the wrist.) The placement of upper cabinets can hamper efficiency. Most commonly they are placed 18" above the counter top. This has become the standard, not because it is the best height, but because it's where the typical 30" wall cabinet happens to fall when installed on an 8 foot wall under the usual 12" soffit and above a 36" high counter. This is, however, too high for efficient use by the most people under 6' tall. The best reach height for most people is just 57" -- about shoulder height. If the bottom of the cabinet is at 54" then almost everything in the cabinet is above the best reach height. Lowering the cabinet slightly makes the stuff in the cabinet more readily accessible. The best height for a wall cabinet is 14-15" above the counter top. A lot of countertop appliances, however, especially coffee-makers, assume an 18" height above the counter, and use every bit of it. If you have these tall appliances, then at least some of your cabinets will need to be placed higher than the optimum height. Lowering the upper cabinets just this 3-4 inches makes all of the bottom two shelves of the cabinet easily reachable, as well as at least the front half of the third shelf. Upper cabinet storage is now much more efficient with just this modest change."

I only did it on one wall of my galley. And I don't live there anymore. I miss it! The 18s were great. I could use all the bottom shelf and the front of the next two (I got a lot of shelves) without stretching. The 30" bottoms of course were even better... No important switches on that wall--just the one for the sink and undercab lights I think. You'll want an air switch for the disposal. No good photos of course. People didn't really notice that the two sides were different depths. Guess I only had 2 uppers. I fit all my dishes and glassware and mugs and stuff in one. Now, one thing to keep in mind is that these photos are from MY perspective. People of standard height did not see the undercabinet shelving while standing. Oops? (I'd do it again.) So you can hide things in plain sight from adults but kids will see them.

We have two 12" deep cabinets under the island (24" deep drawers backed by the 12" cabs). I told the designer he was crazy that I'd never use them. He told me I'd love them. He wins! I love them. One has glasses, cups, plastic kid stuff, water bottles, etc etc.... The other has lunch boxes, coolers, and all of the assorted things that go in them. Next to the stove we have a small upper cabinet that has some nicer glasses (tall beer glasses, etc..) and random mugs in it. The coffee mugs we use every day are above the coffee & tea makers. Wine glasses are in a cabinet next to the fridge with the wine. I wound up splitting up my old huge corner glasses cabinet into 4 places in the new kitchen and it makes so much more sense. Nothing is buried way in the back and everything is where we use it.

I think it depends. Our family is fairly tall...ranging from the shortest person (me) at 5'10" to the tallest (DH, so far) at 6'5". We decided that, for us, dishes in the upper cabinets worked better as the first two shelves are at a perfect height for us when taking things out/putting things away. We can all reach even the top most shelf of our 36" tall cabinets w/o assistance...I can't reach the very back of the top most shelf (we have 3 shelves + the bottom of the cabinet in each one, so the top shelf is pretty high), but I can reach half-way in. What we did do is put things like pots & pans, mixing bowls, casserole/baking dishes, etc. in the drawers b/c (1) they're heavier and it's easier to lift something heavy up then pull it out & down, (2) several are too big to store efficiently in upper cabinets (12" & 15" depth), (3) we have a lot more room in drawers so we can keep them together in the right zones, and (4) I'm the one that uses most of these items & I'm the shortest! I think my height is just right for either upper cabinets or drawers. I suspect 6' is the point at which it starts becoming better to use upper cabs for dishes & glasses. So...drawers: