Charley we have just started the mamouth task of our kitchen.
It is in a state today and now resembles a building site. We are taking down a wall to extend the kitchen so dh has had fun with a big hammer today. We are having a modern style kitchen, in vanilla, simple, sleek, shiny and cymetrical probably sounds boring but we are going to spice it up in other ways. Dh has been insistent on a spray tap and we have included some other useful items, pull out wire cupboards, all integral, inc microwave, large oven at waist height, seperate small oven/grill above, induction hob, large pan drawers, dishwasher is also raised to save on the back when loading and unloading, Soft close drawers and cupboards. We are also having an air conditioner unit fitted as in the summer the kithen can be an unpleasent place over here. We have a big walk in larder off of the kitchen, (actually it's a loo at the mo) but it will be a walk in larder, we are having panneled slidding doors on it a little like some of the funky wardrobe doors you see now.
Things to think about inc..... enough wall cupboards to save on bending down for things you use all the time.
If you tile the floor go for a smooth tile rather than a stone effect that is a nightmare for crumbs.
If you like glass wall cupboards remember that everything in it can be seen, I hate visible clutter so we have included two glass wall units but they will simply be to display Dad's collection of poole pottery (waste of space I know) lol
Inserts for the drawers and cupbords are really useful, pan dividers, cutlery tray that fits whole drawer so you don't loose things down the edges. Spice racks on inside of doors and my sister has a really useful rack on the inside of the door under her sink, it's fab for your w/u liquid, spare cloths, vanish stick, marigolds etc.
Sorry I've gone on a bit, will stop now. Good luck, and you are soooooo right it's alot of money to spend so you do want to get it right.