Outfitting a Kitchen

You know you want to cook, you think that you would like to cook, you can save money by cooking at home....but you don't have a set of knives,  and you're lusting for that set of Calaphon, because you know that will make all the difference. 
Check out Mark Bittman's "The Minimalimist" article in the NY Times. He gives excellent advice on how to outfit your kitchen for around $200. Seriously. His description of battled scarred pots and pans, pretty much sums up the state of my kitchen, and I'm proud of those scars!
I disagree with him on two points: I'd take a stick or immersion blender over a regular counter top blender, and I use my boning knife all the time.  But that's me, and my kitchen. You decide what's good for your kitchen, but use your own needs as the guide, don't let the pretty, staged kitchens on the Food Network be your guide. And as the Italians are fond of saying, "Pian'piano", meaning go slowly and bit by bit you will have the 'batterie de cuisine' that suits your style, exactly.