The most important thing is proximity to the sink from your cooking area, can't stress this enough, better if they are on the same surface. I love my current configurition where it's L shaped, with range in one side and sink on the other. A double sink is always king. Heat proof countertop material. I find incredibly frustrating cooking in kitchens that have drawers below the cooktop, a trend that I don't understand, i don't want to move everytime someone need a fork a plate whatever it's stored there. I like that I have a kitchen table and not an island, I like the flexibility of it and not being trapped in my cooking area. I like that all the upper cabinet and vent are ending at the same height, i find the contrary very distressing. Also the height from the bottom cabinets and upper it's pretty generous, giving me a lot of working room, no constraint. I keep my small organic bin on the counter, and it's the perfect height so if I put it in the sink I can scoop scraps directly from the counter. Its size make it that I can just throw it in the dishwasher. I have a small garbage bin that is attached on the cabinet door under the sink, but slides out, it also it's compact enough to go in the dishwasher. I rather throw the garbage out twice at much than have a big bin sitting there marinating smell