One "trick" to designing a great kitchen is to make it personal. Think about something that really matters to you: is it a favorite dish that you love to cook? or maybe when you daydream about your new kitchen your mind wanders back to a small-kid-time memory of sitting at that wood table peeling apples with your grandmother in her kitchen. Whatever comes to mind, try to imagine ways in which you might incorporate that feeling -- or ways to make sure you plan handy storage for the ingredients and cookware you'll need for that recipe. As you do this, your kitchen will begin to take shape, decisions will start to get made, and the things that really matter to you will come to mind.
One couple I worked with loved to make dinner for friends and were very excited to think about doing this in their new kitchen. Sometimes as a pastime after busy days at work, she liked to make beautiful cabinet knobs from old jewelry. She'd put these on her old cabinets to dress up her kitchen, and friends of theirs would add their own versions to the room from time to time as well. During our design planning, as I came to realize how much they loved color and the joy of sharing good food, I realized these cabinet knobs were more than just pretty objects; they also told stories of friendship and joy. Not only did we not replace them, they made many more so that we had enough for every cabinet door!
It's a personal touch and a bit of whimsy. It's a conversation starter, and something unique. Most importantly, though, it's something meaningful from a little part of their life and I'm so happy we incorporated it into this kitchen.