Help me pick storage shelves/cabinets from IKEA

[Auroras mom]

We have this inset wall to the left of the pantry in our kitchem, in our eat-in dining area. We do most of our homeschooling there, and I need storage. I eventually would like to install custom-cabinets, but that will be pricey, so will wait a few years probably. For now though, I thought some IKEA cabinets/shelves would be awesome.

I can't decide on what exact pieces would work best for our needs, and also am conflcted about cllor. White seems like it would be pretty, but the grey-brown would perhaps blend with our rustic/Tuscan feel, and dh prefers the brown-black, which I like, but worry would make the space seem so dark.

I love this idea of taking two of the cabinets and truning them into a nicer piece of furniture:
http://www.acharmingnest.com/2012/09/turning-ikea-into-custom-built-ins-part.html

I like this:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S09874648/

but it might be about an inch too wide for our space!

so we were thinking this, except with teh cabinet w/ drawers int he middle:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S39874637/#/S69874650

and possibly, instead of the open cabinets on either side, they have these:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70176265/#/60176275

So, could you guys help me decide which set to do (two cabinets side-by-side, or the one cabinet, with the two narrow ones on the sides, or the three, and I could possibly fit them if I remove my baseboards. Also, what color do you think?

Here are pictures of the space: It is brighter when I open the blinds, of course, and I have decorated a tad more adding some color here and there (still have not painted)..






http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn9/lilbunnyfoo_2008/2012_01_17_8854.jpg



Different view of kitchen/dining area
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn9/lilbunnyfoo_2008/2012_01_17_8867.jpg
__________________

[Auroras mom]

Anyone? I have to decide in the next day or so, and am having some anxiety over the choices.

[Thankfulforgrace]

I think brown black would be great and not too dark as the space seems so wide open. And I'm drooling over how clean and pretty your space is.

As for which shelves I have no clue. I usually go with whatever has the most storage ;)

[Auroras mom]

All that open space ends up feeling really crowded b/c there is nowhere to put anything. It's a conundrum.

Soyou don't think it will make the room appear too heavy or dark?

I was thinking the darker would show more dust?

[Thankfulforgrace]

I think it needs to be darker to match everything. I think white would look off (other than matching the pantry :wink)

[Auroras mom]

So I went with this combo, in the brown black, with the center cabinet being the one with the drawers in the bottom half.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S69874650/#/S39874637

Thank you for helping me think through the decision. :)