STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

I think it depends on what you are expecting to be able to store in your kitchen.  Some people have more small tools and appliances that would be better off in drawers, others have lots of cookie sheets or cutting boards that would be better off in a cabinet.

We have a base with large drawers in it and it is fantastic, and I would never go back to storing pots and pans in cabinets w/shelving!  There's no stooping to search in the back for stuff or knocking things over in the process of pulling something out.  In one base, I have three drawers - one shallow at the top and two deeper below.  They store so much more than a traditional cabinet.  In the two deeper drawers, I have a wok, 3 flat skillets, a splatter screen, 3 saucepans, 3 large skillets, and my stockpot.  That same amount of pottage has lived in two (at least) standard base cabinets w/shelving in all of my previous kitchens.  And I still have the top drawer for all my oven mitts, measuring cups, graters, peelers, can openers, etc.  Overall, it's much more efficient and user-friendly!

We have a really small kitchen with 3 base cabinets total - one standard  base with two doors and a drawer above (for baking dishes, cookie sheets, cutting boards), one with the three large drawers (containing aformentioned pots and pans), one narrow cab with 4 small drawers (silverware, towels, wrap/paper/foil, tupperware), and the sink cabinet (under which are bins for compost, garbage, recycling).  That's it.  And I would be a raving lunatic about my lack of storage if it weren't for that cab with the huge drawers in it!

I my kitchen drawers!