What is it with kitchens?

Most of my home is pretty nearly clutter free but however much stuff I chuck away the kitchen always overwhelms me!

It is not very big although large enough for a dining table and two chairs.  I hate wall cupboards and have two free standing butcher slab-type units that I had especially made for me, which I love.  They have one shelf at the bottom and very sturdy drawers and on top I keep the kettle, food processor and related items.  I have a tall free-standing open plan unit which houses all my food stuffs and crockery and a larder fridge and large freezer.  Also a washing machine, so a lot of furniture in one room, but however I look at it I cannot see that I can do without any of it. I considered buying a fridge-freezer but quite honestly my freezer is always full up as I tend to do large shops as unable to shop every day, which would be the ideal.

I love the photo of Joshua Milburn's minimalist flat at www.theminimalists.com but you cannot see a kitchen.  Now I have heard that in America dining out is very reasonable and lots of people do that all the time (which would be heaven!) and also cuts out a lot of space and things needed for your home but I live in the UK and although a take-away is nice for  a treat I would not like to live on them.  Perhaps hard-line minimalists eat fruitarian which would certainly cut out having an oven, pans and baking equipment?

I always cook an evening meal from scratch so that I have to have a lot of ingredients about and as I am vegetarian and my son (who lives with me) is not, that makes for even more supplies.  I do not have a dish washer from choice as I think they are unnecessary and take up room but still I struggle every time I visit the kitchen as it always looks a mess.  Having two cats and a dog does not help as their food takes up a lot of room and I can't really chuck them away!

I am down to four dinnerplates, four bowls, three pasta dishes and (sorry) lots of mugs.  (They seem to multiply for no known reason!)  A cutlery tray and utensils which I use all the time, kettle, very small food processor and a sandwich toaster.  Only three pans and a milk pan, all of which are used, two cake tins and three baking trays.

I am constantly trying to eliminate items that are rarely used but I think I have done all I can.  I would love to know what you all use and what you think is unnecessary and also I want to see on minimalist sites photos of kitchens and wardrobes or hanging rails not just their lovely, tidy, minimalist sitting rooms.