I’ve never been much of an IKEA shopper in the past (I’ve not really needed to add much furniture to my life in the past, and when I have IKEA was either too expensive when I wanted something cheap and temporary, or not durable enough when I wanted something substantive and long term. And for much of the time I was getting furniture, the nearest IKEA was in PA.), but having gone recently to assist friends, I’ve seen a lot more why people pick up the matching bits. I suspect that when I become a member of the landed gentry (homeowner) in a few years I will be an IKEA shopper.

I’m so happy that this worked out for you, and that the new additions aren’t going to be the wrong style for the rest of the kitchen. And I’m really enjoying the before and after pictures. You’ve got great appliances in there. Looks like you could probably put some floating shelves over the new counter, or on the wall to the right above the outlet.

I can tell the age of the house by the layout of the kitchen. All those doors into other spaces, the efficient size of the kitchen (no part is more than a step or two away), The dark, 6-panel doors and doorjambs. Someone lovingly updated the kitchen though, which is nice. Myself, I have a hard time with the rabbit-warren rooms, mostly because I have a thing against rooms that are as much hallway as room. Living rooms are especially prone to being functionally a hallway to other rooms, and it always interferes with how I want to lay out furniture.

And I’m loving the before and after pictures, it really gives a great feel as to how you are making the space your own.