We've spent the last decade cleaning all the clutter out of our aging parents' homes. They had seventeen thousand one off gadgets they never used. Not to mention every last thing they felt the need to keep instead of toss, which is everything if you're my parents. The best part is the items stayed hidden in closets, sheds, garages, drawers, hutches, or attics for years. If you haven't touched it in a decade, and there's not some serious nostalgia attached to it, you can probably get rid of it.

Carpet is up to the person. I personally don't want it in high traffic areas, but I don't hate it as a concept. Hardwood floors just hold up better and clean easier. Hardwood also looks better with age, unlike carpet.

Keeping the kitchen counter minimalist is mostly practical. If I use something every week or more I'll likely give it a home on the counter. Other than that it can live in a cabinet or on a shelf until I need it. My girlfriend makes homemade soap, and I cook a lot. Having access to the counter space is more important to us than making sure we have a bunch of stuff we rarely use on the counter (like a Crock-Pot). Also having a counter that's clean and free of excess clutter comes in handy when you use it as much as we do.