Oh, no! Lots of offices still keep paper files! Some are required to. Yes, for hanging files you need the aparatus they hang from and Pendaflex or similar folders. The rails come in lots of lengths, but you might need to customize. Just make sure they're well screwed together or they can be a nightmare. If you're planning on hanging cookbooks, however, you probably need something stronger that's built into the drawer. As an alternative, you could get dividers in the drawers, and put rails in just part for actual files, and just stand the books spine up in the drawers. I used to sell books and kept travelling stock in milk crates that way. They're fine, as long as they're in tightly enough not to slop over. You can always put in a can or two as bookends when there aren't enough books. They make all kinds of accessories for file drawers. Besides hanging folders, there are box folders with wide bottoms and either open or closed sides, multipocket files, etc., and pencil trays, clip rails, and a bunch of stuff I can't remember. Some of them are a little harder to find, but they're out there. I think you should get six stools. :) Five for the island, and one (or two!) to squeeze in with. :) They do make folding ones...

you get more seating/surface space with a rectangular table, for one thing. But knowing the dimensions of your space would be helpful in making recommendations.

@GN Builders L.L.C That's what I was thinking, but would it be too close to the corner of the couch (if the couch was between the closets?) Unless I rotate the couch to face the short wall instead of the long one, but that might be too tight as well...

Nice article and good reference. Thanks. You do nice work!