The kitchen, after having so many of them to work in the single most important thing is work surface. If you are going to be doing food preparation, work surface is really really really important. I can not stress that enough. Yes you can get by with small work space, i have in the past, but really work surface is extremely important. The surface under counters can do in a pinch but then you need under counter lights, and when trying to pour liquids it can some times be challenging. An Island with some electrical outlets can be nice, just make sure you room to do real food prep. In America Kitchens suck in most houses, there for show not for use it seems.