Want to setup basic home audio system

"Nails", Carpathian,.....Lots and lotsa big shiny nails.
 And quit sniffing that glue!
 (Didn't you at least have an, "Erector Set" or something as a kid)?
I could send you cabinets, "Flatboxed".
BIG, GIANT, flat-boxes
Besides, my "Di-Pole", designs do not use "Enclosures". Just tall and very wide baffles. It's the bass registers where things get complicated. And Very, very heavy! Currently working on a subwoofer system which is a "triangular vertical column". A sub on each of the three sides, "Per stack unit", to "0-sum" the movement of the transducers. So three "technically", vertical lines of sub's.  "stacks" of three subwoofers in each, "Compartmented unit". A-"Sub-Line source array", "Laser-Accelerator measured, Servo-controlled", creating three, "Cylindrical", waves. One each, launched from the three sides of the column. so you'll only need, "One-Subwoofer"! Regardless of the rooms size!
Just sayin...

Show off...
I tied my shoes all by myself today. 
Well, they're Velcro, but still....

 (Didn't you at least have an, "Erector Set" or something as a kid)?

I suspect he got to that point a little later in life. Most did.

@thecarpathian, ovinewar:  I’m with you — don’t spend more than you need to.  My thinking is that one could go cheap trying to stay within the lower amounts and end up dissatisfied.  So, specifics (and I’m a newbie, so pardon my limitations).

Using the music room site noted above, I found:

NAD C375BEE integrated amp, 150 watts per channel x2, upgradable, with shipping $755

Golden Ear Triton Seven floor standing speakers, with shipping $1069
                                        - Or -

KEF Q550 floor standing speakers, with shipping $1130

Either combo comes in over $1500 and under $2000 and would provide quality equipment with plenty of volume (not sure about these speakers’ efficiency, but 150 watts should be plenty) and quality sound.  Streaming via laptop or whatever.  What equipment would you suggest?

@diripio, I purchased the B&W’s brand new, a few years ago. Never had any issues what-so-ever. For what they are, they sound great. You could probably step that up to the 603 within your budget. I didn’t get them as the 602’s were originally satellites for a 5.1 system.