Sorry, but the kitchen does not look like it was planned by or for someone who is a skilled cook.
Sounds almost as if having a kitchen from a glossy brochure suddenly makes you a skilled cook. If so – congratulations! Good cooks cook well everywhere and, above all, with heart, which in turn cannot be bought!!! Just as there are bad cooks (e.g. me) who still enjoy cooking with people. Fortunately, there are never any "skilled cooks" or other blabber involved in that, and I don’t even remember the details of each kitchen setup but always remember the fun I had there with the people. They don’t waste time on such funny competitions over who has the better kitchen. I suspect probably did it just the way that suits him best and that he likes, instead of wasting time trying to outdo the neighbors. Bravo ! If only others could manage that as well.