Wahine, I'm on the same journey. I live in my very own (!) 900 SF house. The kitchen things I have are few but essential.

one larger Le Creuset enamled cast iron pot with lid. I use this for baking bread, making soup, boiling water for pasta.One medium saucepan with lid. Mine's a hand-me-down, but it works fine. One small cast iron skillet. I would like to have a smaller saucepan with a lid--its on the list.

Appliances that I find really useful are: rice cooker (mine's smaller and was only $20 or so) because I do love rice. Toaster. Slow cooker (a smaller one)---I use this mainly for cooking lasagne that I then freeze in serving sizes and heat up.

Glasses--wine tastes better in decent wine glasses. It really does. Coffee cups that I LIKE, not a bunch of mugs that I find ugly! I have a teapot fetish, so I have alot of teapots. I drink tea, not coffee.

I also have 4 dinner plates, 4 small plates, 6 bowls. And I never have enough dishtowels, somehow. Two mixing bowls. I do not have an electric mixer--I get along fine with a hand mixer.

I have lots of cabinet space, and so put everything in cabinets, including the toaster, when I'm not using it. Keep the clutter off the counter!

I did buy myself a sofa that I like, so that I can read comfortably and take a nap. I do not have a TV. My stereo is my iphone run through an old boombox for speakers. Works great.

I've found that having fewer things frees up my space and makes me happier.

Best wishes to you.