apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I'd also suggest under cabinet lighting to counteract the heavy feeling. That, combined with some colorful glass pieces on the counters, should liven the place right up.

spend a few bucks to change the cabinet hardware, paint the cabinets and if you are really daring you could even paint the linoleum floor, i think i've seen it done on trading spaces or something and it turned out nicely.

Replace the handles and hinges on your cabinets. I don't see the "chandelier" that W&K refer to in their suggestions, but replacing the ceiling fixture with something a bit less utilitarian would certainly help. And, of course, that window ruffle must die.

I would take down the upper cabinets and put in open shelves to lessen the heaviness of the room. I would also paint the cabinets and change the hardware. There is inexpensive and easy to install floating floors that could be a quick fix to the linoleum (check out ikea and the hardware big box stores). A nice bright color of the walls and you will be good to go.

I'd suggest fabric, fabric, and more fabric. Change the window treatment-- get rid of the blinds & valance, put in some sheer cafe curtains in a color/pattern you love. Put your trash & recycling bins under the counter in that open space and cover them up with a coordinating curtain. A rug would help, as would some fun dish/tea towels hanging from the oven handle. Good luck!

I agree about changing the cabinet hardware. Paint the backsplash and take off the doors to the upper cabinets to open things up a bit. I also think putting a roman shade in that window would be a better option and if you have some colored appliances or even a bright pitcher on the counter, that would help a lot!

Well, I think even a few small changes could really improve the space. Ditch the trim above the windows (a handheld jigsaw could probably do this easily. If you want to hold off changing the flooring, a nice indoor/outdoor rug would add a bit of life and hide some of the existing floor. If possible, change out the hardware. The black against the cream makes them stand out a lot and they really date the room. A different light fixture, just something that's not flourescent, would be a big improvement.

If your budget is really tight, cabinet hardware can be spraypainted.

I'd tear out the ugly vinyl flooring, and install rubber flooring, which is cheap, and comes in tiles. I'd pick Dalsouple's Tomate, Paprika, Orange or Jaune Renault.

http://www.dalsouple.com/Dalsouple-DalColour.php

The room feels dingy because the lighting is not great, and because you don't have a good, crisp contrast. For example, the arctic white of the fridge makes the cabinets look dingy. If you are not planning on replacing the fridge, I would repaint them all a white that better harmonizes with it.

I would replace the counter with a laminate close in hue to the rubber floor -- maybe a clear orange with the lighter Jaune Renault on the floor.

Next, I would paint the walls and ceiling a warm white (not too yellow), and do something about the lighting -- overhead fluorescent lighting looks pretty grim.

Given the sort of natural light you seem to have in this room (which to me looks limited), I would try to keep things bright and cheerful instead of earthy or rusty, as they are too yellow, and in weak light, look dull (which is what I think you are reacting to according to this picture).

Good luck!

The cabinets have a sort of shabby charm, which isn't what your dream kitchen would have, it sounds like . . . but go with it. the shelves next to the windows are cute! plants and teapots, and I'd put a colorful set of cafe curtains on that window, punch up the wall color, add a rug like others have said and enjoy. it's got good space.

Hey also . . . . I have laminate kitchen floor like that and have toyed with the idea of painting just the little squares black to freshen it up (I can't afford to change mine yet either---went for the wood floors at my house, too). Anytbody think that would work???

If you don't like the ornate light fixture as it is, please don't paint it! It hurts my heart to think someone would paint that.
Sell it on eBay or Etsy (there are plenty of us who would love it as is) and use the cash for a new light fixture that you do like.

Pull up the linoleum and pray for wood. Or, put down sheeting and paint it. Replace the countertops with Ikea's butcherblock (super cheap, looks good/neutral).

Splash of red (fiesta water pitchers?) above the cabinets.

First, I'd paint the cabinets. This room, for some reason, feels like it should be painted a darker green (but not too green) or a nice, saturated red.

Once those are painted, the hardware may not bother you, but you may want to change it anyway.

I'm kind of guessing at the size, but you could do a nice tiled backsplash for a few hundred dollars (if that's considered "affordable" for what you have left). A nice backsplash will help draw the eye to the middle of the room, and not looking at the floor.

Also, like others have said, some under-cabinet lighting, but then I'd also look into a string of lights to go above the cabinets as well. it will cast a nice light up toward the ceiling. I can't really tell with that giant box light, but you may want to ditch that if it's affordable.

Our old kitchen has somewhat similar to yours and we had to live with it for almost 5 years before we reno'd. I removed the wavey trim above the window (it was screwed in place and easy to remove) and the old window covering. We then bought a simple window covering that we liked. We also removed the ugly light fixture and installed a cheap fixture that we could live with for a while. We lived with our mint green walls, but in your case I think some paint would do the trick. You would be amazed at how a few simple changes will make if feel better.

rust-o-leum makes a countertop paint that you can buy at home depot or lowe's and they will tint for you at the paint counter. it comes in about 15 colors and it works pretty well (i just did mine)

Black lights and some velvet Hendrix and Doors posters. You could cover the cabinets with cool rock and roll posters. it would be so unexpected, no one would really notice the kitchen.
Robert Isabell died last week -- the doyenne of events planning in NYC (born in Duluth, MN). He lived in side by side townhouses in Greenwich Village connected by a glass atrium and insisted there be NO KITCHEN. That's an option also.

I had an almost identical kitchen with the black hardware on the cream cabinets. The cheapest thing to do is paint the walls and change the hardware. If that hardware you have is the same as mine was, it's an odd size that they don't make anymore so you'll have trouble finding something that fits in the same cabinet pull holes. So you'll probably have to use wood filler and paint the cabinets -- but that's OK since you can pick a color that complements your wall color choice or go with bright white to give the kitchen a fresher look.

For inexpensive hardware but decent looking hardware, look at Target and Home Depot where they sell pulls in packs. Target has chrome and brushed nickel ones for 10 for $9.99. Home Depot has very nice ones that are 10 for $18.98 (on sale). Otherwise, check eBay -- there are sellers who can sell you hardware in bulk.

And get some curtains (Target sells simple curtains in pairs for $15) or a bamboo or roman shade for the window. Nothing dates a kitchen like a lonely little valance.

I actually started to hyperventilate reading your post, that much beige is my total nightmare =O

It's not that easy to tell from your pictures, but it seems that the cupboard doors are actually cream (not that I'm any kind of a fan of cream) and it's the walls and countertop that are really beige.

Obviously you could paint the cupboard doors, but that really is a horrible job, and if you're already fixing up the rest of the house there's a very good chance you couldn't face doing that too. Also, it's hard to know how much effect painted cupboards would have if the coutnertop is still going to be beige.

You say you like warm colours but I think in this case I think an earthy orange would just enable the beige monster. Instead I think you should do something that might seem counterintuitive in what's not a very bright space, I think you should paint the walls a dark, cool green or possibly a dark cool (not purply) blue. Either of those colours would bring in some much needed contrast, which would "crisp up" the softness of the beige and cream. You could then put in curtains above the sink and in your nook that are patterned (so lighter) that would pick up these colours. And some pictures with strong colours and deep white mattes would also help. I also think your light fitting might look better if it was contrased against a dark colour.

I also think other accessories in strong colours (but not yellow, which never works at all with beige) would give you the upper hand in the beige wars until you can afford to put in a new kitchen that would work for you. And with that kitchen you can have your rusty orange walls and it will look lovely :)

The kitchen itself is not so bad really. What I would do:
1) Replace the floor - seriously, this is a nightmare. There´s cheap floor out there which could totally transform this space. It´s totally worth it. What´s beneath this linoleum btw?
2) Paint the ceiling a bright white. The kitchen feels dingy because it feels dark.
3) New light fixtures. Because see above.
4) Get rid of that window treatment.
5) If you can, replace the countertops. Ikea has some really nice choices and it will transform the whole kitchen.
6) Introduce color!

I absolutely hate that kind of vinyl flooring--mostly white with a fakey tile look. It looks especially awful when the rest of the kitchen is white-ish.

If you want to keep costs down with the idea that you're going to re-do the kitchen for real in a few years, consider stick-on vinyl tiles. A lot of them are not all that great but you can find some that look reasonably good, especially if you do two colors in a checkerboard or other pattern.

They are CHEAP and they are easy to do. You could probably do the whole floor for under $100, maybe under $80, and it would only take a day. You can lay them over the existing floor, just make sure it's really clean. (This is for short term use. Long term use may require removal of the sheet vinyl and other prepping.)

I second whoever said not to paint that chandelier! If it's vintage (there are repros out there), it's worth some money. They used to go for $200 or more on Ebay though I haven't checked in awhile so the price may have dropped. They were a big Shabby Chic item a few years back.

As for FLOR tiles, they're not all that easy to clean. They're easier to clean than wall-to-wall carpet or a large area rug, but they tend to hold a lot of suds and require a lot of rinsing. We have FLOR in a large room and I have spent hours and hours soaking and hosing the tiles off outside. They also take at least a day to dry, so you kinda need to have spares to rotate in unless you don't mind looking at a hole. I wouldn't use them in a kitchen unless you don't cook much or do much food prep.

I just remodeled my kitchen for VERY little money. If you want a quick and cheap fix, here is what I suggest:
1) Spray paint your cabinet hardware. I used a metallic silver to paint my hinges and was really surprised by how nice they look. The current ones are so dated, you may just want to match them to the cabinet color so they disappear.
2) Sand and paint your countertop edge a matching color. I would leave the laminate alone, but that edge is an easy fix.
3) Paint the walls and backsplash the rust color you like. A nice bright color will really draw the eye away from all of the beige.
4) Get a bright, graphic Ikea rug.
5) Spray paint the light fixture a cream color that matches the beige. It would totally look like something from Urban Outfitters.
6) Remove all of the window treatments.
7) Remove the hanging pan rack.
8) Accessorize with colorful items you love.
9) If light will allow and you won't kill them, add some plants.

I would paint the cabinets. If you want to go with a rust colour on the walls, I would consider an off-white for the cabinets, something that's a bit more grey than just a cream but still neutral. I would want to be sure that it didn't read too yellow next to the walls.

I would also replace the hardware. However, replacing the hinges may end up being a bigger project than it's worth. So going with something black for the handles might be the best bet. I would just update the shape. If you can't find something you like in black, you could always spray paint something in the profile you do like to make it work.

If you really can't afford to do anything with the floor, I agree with the suggestion to get an area rug (something easy to clean...maybe even look at some of the nice outdoor rugs that are available now) just to add some interest and warm up the floor. You could always find a peel and stick vinyl tile that you could apply over top. I've done it before...super easy. But it's a waste of materials if you plan to rip it out anyway and not an eco material to begin with, so maybe not worth it. And your floor looks fairly neutral, so I'd be inclined to work with it and add a rug to break it up and add some colour.

I would lose the pot rack, and the window curtain. If you want to add some pattern or more colour, you can make a roman blind to go on your window. It would be a nice way to add some colour and interest.

Looks like your dishwasher is already in place, so I'm curious to know what the space is for under the counters in front of the window? I suppose you could put a stool, or garbage and recycling bins. But that doesn't sound to visually appealing. Might be worth adding some shelves there for cookbook storage if you need it.

I'd take the kitchen back to the 50's with a new red Formica countertop w/ aluminum edge, and a black & white checkerboard floor using 12"x12" self-adhesive tiles.

I'd also get rid of the dingy curtains and put up some nice new roman shades using some 50's-style reproduction barkcloth - and repeat the fabric on your chair cushions.

Keep the tole chandelier as-is - it's in keeping w/ the 50's vibe of your room - just add little red gingham lampshades to cover the lightbulbs.

Seriously, spend the money and bring the hardwood into this room. It'll be a great fix. Paint the cabinets and change out drawer/cabinet pulls. Try spray painting the ugly chandelier - it might be enough to make it livable.

I like bepsf's suggestions a lot. bepsf's ideas would be a great way to refresh your space on a budget.

As you consider a larger renovation, perhaps you should add the pictures from this renovation to your file because I see a lot of similarities between your respective kitchens: http://houseobsession.wordpress.com/2008/07/13/the-big-kitchen-reveal/#more-61

The table in the picture is similar to the red formica countertop that bepsf suggested.

Good luck!

You can start by burning that little valance. Then I'd throw down a couple of bright, modern rugs (think IKEA). If you have any cool kitchen appliances such as a Kitchenaid mixer or blender, show it off on the counter. Add a bowl of vibrant fruits, like lemons. Surely the light fixture won't be too expensive a fix right now?

If you're not up to painting all of your cabinets right now, try just replacing the hardware, or remove all of the cabinets to expose your neatly stacked dishes within.

Can I have whatever woodwork (including cabinets and trim) when you remove them? I love your cabinets and would love to replace mine with them. Please recycle.

What about painting the fridge black? I've seen it done before, and I would think it's much less work than painting all the cabinets. Having black appliances instead of white will make things look a lot less beige. There's special appliance paint made. I really think that will help a lot. I'm also in the paint the chandelier camp. The color is just so blah and dated, but I think it has pretty lines. Then add color to the walls and floor and I think once you throw in your accessories it will be much more livable until you can change it. Just spend more time looking at your pretty hardwood floors in the other rooms :-)

You may not need to paint the cabinets (although it would make a difference) but definitely paint the hinges and change out the handle/knob fixtures. Area rug (indoor/outdoor preferably, so it can be rinsed out with a hose in case of a spill). Cafe curtains. Skirt for the open area. Paint the walls.

Since the cabinets are beige, I wouldn't go with cranberry on the walls unless you want a country feel overall. Stick with taupes and tans, neutral greens, gold.

I'd hold out on the light fixture until you do your full remodel - taking the old one out will probably necessitate painting the ceiling, which is a pain in the butt.

Since you are only creating a temporary solution, please, please, don't use any more vinyl! It's bad enough that the stuff on the floor now is there, let's not create more wastage of a nasty product!
I actually think the cupboards are quite sweet in a way. I wouldn't bother replacing the hardware because the hinges match, and that will cause you a nightmare. Even taking off the handles and replacing with pulls you will have holes to fill and paint! You could though, take off the hardware and spray paint it a pewter colour to take the edge off the black.
Painting the cabinets will really not be that hard - since you are only keeping them a few years, you dont need to do an amazing job that will last forever!
I would paint them a crisp white, and paint the walls with a strong colour of your choosing (sage green, deep red etc). I would also paint the backsplash the same colour as the walls.
I second I Love Upstate - I would replace the countertops with ikea butcherblock. I actually have this in my kitchen and LOVE it. It is very cheap and was also very easy to self install. And when you don't need it in a few years, you can sell it on, make new things from it, or even landfill it :( without guilt as it's just wood.
You say the house is 50's - I would bet there is a much nicer floor under the vinyl!! But even if there isn't, I think you'll find that once you make the other changes, the floor won't stand out as much and you may be able to stick it out a couple of years.
Change that fluorescent fixture for something more interesting and if you don't love the chandelier, sell it on and find something you do. Check craigslist for cheap lighting fixtures! Good luck, I would love to see an 'after' of this!

The dark handles of the cabinets against the cream bother me because they look spotty. I think they would look less bad if the lower cabinets were olive or sage green. You could take the doors off the upper cabinets and paint the insides to display pretty china. The ceiling should be white or pale blue. Wood Ikea countertops would be fantastic if you could afford it. Painting or replacing the edges would be next best. Perhaps you could use inexpensive metallic tiles for the backsplash -- if it is to be temporary and there are such things -- or pale green glass panels, such as they use for bulletin boards. I would update the overhead light or at least the bulbs (they make warm fluorescent ones) and add lighting to the counter and over the sink. The decorative valances should be removed.

PS. Your cabinets don't really look that beige - are they more of an off white? You could find after you paint the walls and add some colour with some blinds/curtains that they look whiter.
Also agree on trashing the vile ruffles!

It reminds me of our kitchen before our recent remodel. Except ours had a whopping 3 sq feet of counter space in the entire kitchen!

Even though you are a fan of earthy colors I'd say go for brighter tones. Our place felt so much more cheerful when we painted the cabinets a glossy white and the walls a cheerful turquoise and added some bright white curtains and a few yellow accents. I can't say it was 100% my style but bright makes you think clean which is what you really want in a kitchen. It really isn't so bad. I think it will be totally livable with a good paint job and some better lighting.

Thanks J I

Here are some laminates I'd choose:

Either the Coral Boomerang or Red Cracked Ice:
http://www.barsandbooths.com/bandblaminates.htm

(I've also heard of folks using sheet Marmoleum as a surface for their retro countertops)

...and Pam at RetroRenovation.com has resources for that aluminum countertop edging.

Another way to update those traditional cabinets is to paint them black. I have seen some nice kitchens with black cabinets. Wasn't there a recent post on this? And definitely remove the valance/trim above the window, and replace the fluorescent fixture with an inexpensive fixture you can live with. Paint the ceiling a lighter color, paint the walls and backsplash, get a rug, and leave it at that.

You're complaint identifies the simplest/cheapest thing you need to focus on: paint the cabinets.

(1) paint the cabinets a color that is muted and meshes well with your stark-white appliances (kitchens look tacky when the oven/refridgerator don't blend in).

(2) tear out the vinyl flooring and just live with whatever flooring is underneath for the time being. Whatever it is, it will look better and less out of place than that vinyl, which if you leave in, will limit the selection of colors you can use to paint the cabinets.

(3) depending on the budget, replace the single, glaring, light fixture with perimeter in-set lights.

Good luck!

congrats on buying a home! it's super exciting, but so stressful at the same time. so much to do, and little money to do it with.
if you're really going to redo the kitchen in the next few years, don't waste money on anything that couldn't be incorporated into the new kitchen. focus on small changes that will work with your remodel, and give you lots of bang for your buck.

some great suggestions from others....
colorful curtain
interesting rug
fun accessories
new cabinet hardware
and of course, the cheapest and most dramatic, fresh paint for the walls

i wouldn't waste my time painting cabinets that you're probably going to get rid of, or putting in flooring when your floor plan may change with the remodel. stick with inexpensive fixes that will have dramatic impact, and still leave something in your pocket for that remodel in a few years. congrats and good luck!!

IMO:
Hardware (including hinges) and light fixture change out.
Eliminate or move pot rack
Paint cabinetry.
Remove curly-cue border over sink, and possibly those dated shelves flanking the sink.
Replace floor with black/white stick on tiles until you can afford something better.

What's under the flooring? It might be wood. Even if it's just a subfloor, it would be an improvement; you could use deck paint and a cheerful rug.

I agree about the dinky valance over the window. Yech. Bring in some fun 50s fabrics and enjoy your retro kitchen.

Wow! Thanks so much for all the helpful suggestions.

So far, the only kitchen-related renovation task that has been completed thus far is that I am painting the fridge with Rust-o-leum stainless steel paint. Its hard to tell from this pic that I provided, but the white paint on the fridge was spotty and rusty in places.

I love the suggestions. I agree that maybe I should be calling the color scheme "Trapped in Cream Purgatory" but its just all such a mess of blah its hard to be certain.

That fluorescent light is definitely going to be removed and replaced. My husband calls me a faker, but I swear, fluorescent lights give me headaches, in addition to the unflattering light they cast. Because I am removing that, and it is covering such a large part of the ceiling, I have resigned myself to having to paint the ceiling, and I am in agreeance wiith most of the suggestions-- a bright white for up there.

Also, the window treatments are in the process of being evicted. They are beyond horrible. I have some fabric in my stash that is a red toile print an off-white background that I thought might look good as curtains, if I were going to let the shabby chic thing take hold of the room temporarily.

Also, I love the suggestions to remove the upper cabinet doors. That's on the To-Do list, now.

The hardware, which I despise, does trouble me. Replacing the pulls might be doable, but the hinges would need to be replaced along with them, and that is a bigger hassle and expense. Even if I could find pulls to fit in the old holes, the holes created by the hinges would definitely need to be filled in.

I don't know how far down the line our big kitchen re-do is, probably 3 to 5 years away, at a minimum. Still, I dislike the idea of replacing functional things (like the countertop) with something that I will throw away in a few years. I'm much prefer a coat of paint or something-- less waste.

The floor. Oh, the floor. See, we are currently involved in a lot of hard work restoring the other floors in the house. The previous owners buried gorgeous hardwoods with the most appallingly filthy carpet; I have been taking out the carpets and am working feverishly to get them refinished before we move in. There might be something gorgeous lurking under the linoleum, but I'm not going to find out until our big kitchen re-do. I wouldn't be highly averse to laying down new stick-on tiles, except, while, like with the countertops, I hate to do that, knowing I will be ripping it up in a short time.

Oh, and I love the red-chrome-black-white 50's retro theme so much, that I might need to save it for my "real" kitchen down the line...

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one on the fence about that shabby chic chandelier. Every morning I wake up and change my mind about whether to keep it or give/sell it away.

If anyone is interested, I've been writing about my work thus far on a blog started up for just this purpose: Nerds With Hammers.

Oh, j i -- I am absolutely in love with that kitchen in the link you posted! Now I'm wondering if I drench the whole kitchen in a clean white, paint the countertops and lower cabinets a sage green, paint the hardware a copper color, put up some copper metal tile as a backsplash... does that grab anyone?

Oh, the other thing I forgot to add is as tempting as it is to go out and try to do everything at once I'd take your time with everything but cleaning and paint. Cleaning and paint make a HUGE difference in a space and will allow you to live with the place and really get a feel for what you need. There are so many things I have cut off my list from when we first moved in and a ton of new things that got added. I'm so glad I lived in the space for a while and waited on all the big choices. But fresh paint and some simple white curtains made it possible to live with the old for a while while you think through what you really need from the space.

Oh yes-- that hole under the window actually used to contain a washing machine (which was moved to a closet opposite the breakfast nook).

Curly-cue woodwork will be demolished-- though I kinda like the little shelves!

I love everyone's ideas. I don't really have any new ones to contribute. However, I will chime in on three things:

1- FLOR tiles. We have the fedora tiles and I love them. Durable, easy to vacuum or even sweep. They stay in place, so no tripping. The grey color is nice, but ALL crumbs (or anything light colored) will show up.

2- Removing cabinet doors is great. I've done it. Just beware that everything gets really dusty out in the open.

3- I've replaced hardware/handles. That's easy, but it can add up in price if you have a lot of doors.

I vote for wall paint! Or, you can even do something fun/dramatic with that ceiling.

Check out all of these options, including paint, tiles, with/without cabinet doors. You can get a good feel for some different options.

http://mochihome.com/?cat=5

Good Luck!

Forgive me if this is a repeat, but as someone who just did a COMPLETE gut/rehab of her own mid-century ranch, here are some quick fixes:

1. New Doors & Hardware: It would be really inexpensive and will get rid of the American Colonial look you've got going, which believe it or not is original to the 50s. (I had the same "Caloric kitchen" in my home.)

2. New Floors: Linoleum is very inexpensive and something fun, like an orange/white check design, would be great.

3. New Lighting: Very easy and can add lots of bang for your buck. (IKEA has great fixtures.)

4. New Laminate: Laminate sheeting for counter tops is very reasonable and you don't have a lot to do. Just cut, glue, and you're good to go.

5. Fresh Paint: A few coats will go a looooooong way.

Anyhoo, there ya go! Lots of luck and congrats on the new home!

I had a super-ugly kitchen for four years. The house was a cosmetic disaster, but a good buy. So, I lived wtih a whole lot of ugly for a long time. When I had my bathroom redone, I decided to suck it up and pay to have someone hang beadboard and lay new vinyl. I think that added only a couple thousand dollars to the bathroom redo, but OH! what a difference!

Befores:

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb99/mbc1963/House%20Pictures/Kitchenwindowsbefore.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb99/mbc1963/House%20Pictures/Kitchen/81505B.jpg

Afters:

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb99/mbc1963/House%20Pictures/Kitchen/81505B.jpg

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb99/mbc1963/House%20Pictures/Kitchen/81505B.jpg

Honestly, you'd be surprised how fast two or three (or four) years goes by, when you're working and redoing your house. My advice? Scrimp and save every penny you can, and live with the ugly kitchen - then you'll be able to redo it the way you want sooner. Don't spend money on interim steps unless you're sure they're going to make you really happy, or you'll just endure the ugly longer.

Wow, folks really loved the tongue and groove board back in the day, didn't they!?

I'd agree on taking down the upper cabinet doors like someone else said, maybe even line the insides with a pretty wallpaper like they've featured here on AT a lot.

That light simply has to go...there's got to be SOMETHING better and pretty cheap to replace it. Oh god, it would burn my soul. I'd want more lights around, directed onto the counters myself, instead of over head light- anytime you go to chop somehting you are blocking light from hitting your hands- if the headache argument doesn't work, go for safety.

Then I'd do the cabinets in a crisper white (save money and use whatever white you are doing your ceiling with) and I'd paint over the hardware. It wouldn't be gone and it wouldn't last forever, but it wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb either. Either I'd paint it whatever color the cabinets are, or go with that same stuff you did your fridge in.

Then...I'd accent the remaining doors and do the window trim with a light subtle grey- probably on the door as stripes that make the tounge and grooving more...(forgive me) groovy.

Finally, whatever color I lined the inside of the shelves with (I love bright so probably a bright teal or yellow) would be the one I'd use for curtains, backsplash, rug and lastly, I'd paint your tole light in that color- a bright bright solid color (I know! Blasphemy! AT rules are A) You shouldn't repaint antiques, or B) you shouldn't repaint antiques in anything but high gloss solid white) or I'd use the same faux steel as you used on the fridge. Yes it could be worth some money as shabby chic, and I have one and it's not painted, so I certainly do appreciate the look, but those colors are not the fabulous puke green and yellows mine has- those are just dingy colors (Again, no one hit me- I'm sure there are exceptions). I'd give it lampshades too or I'd change to a prettier bulb shape. Be careful though, you need a really low wattage, because I put in some tiny 60 watt bulbs in mine and it was as bright as the sun (whoops). Also I'd shorten the cord or lengthen the chain it hangs from- its got this big wad of cord sticking out. I discovered it's frighteningly easy to rewire lights.

I think you could get there pretty fast with paint and minor changes.

it reminds me of of my grandmother's kitchen. functional and light. i would concentrate on cooking good food and making good memories until i got to remodel. i don't hate it at all

vex:

i'm glad you liked the picture. you have some great ideas.

i recently renovated my own kitchen. we had our kitchen cabinets sanded and painted, replaced countertops, etc. (i'll try and link to pictures later).

id probably stay away from the copper hinges. without a doubt, the best part of our cabinets are the hidden hinges. it makes the kitchen feel very calm because the hinges don't compete with the hardware. if you can spring for concealed hinges DO it. otherwise, paint them the same color as your cabinets.

also, i'd keep the cabinets cream/white. same with the backsplash. bring in the green and copper through accessories (decorative plates, canisters, picture frames, etc.). you won't regret it.

finally, i second the comments of I Love Upstate and stellamarbella regarding the Ikea butcherblock. Ikea "Numerar" is a tried and true product that can transform a kitchen for pennies on the dollar.

painted countertops DO NOT last (even as a temporary solution) and many are not food safe. trust me!

- replace the handles on your cabinets (i wouldn't bother with the hinges)

- rug!

- can you paint the countertops a bright color?

- change the light fixtures

- take down that ugly scallopy thing over the window

I'd change the hardware on the cabinets, paint the walls and backsplash (and maybe the chandelier), and knock out the cornice (or whatever the correct term for that carved board above the window is). I'd also add a rug, maybe a skirt under the sink, and new drapes on the windows. Oh, and it might be worth running rope lights or something around the tops of the cabinets (behind the lip so they're out of sight) to brighten that black hole around the edges of the ceiling.

I think it's cute.

Be sure to check out John & Sherry's blog, too (brick ranch remoel, kitchen layout almost identical):

http://www.younghouselove.com/photo-gallery-2/

I have the same exact tile in my apartment & I hate it as well. I bought a long runner from Ikea that seems to cover most of it up! The one suggestion I have...especially after reading that you'd like to take off the upper cabinet doors. I've used Contact paper on the outside of my cabinets since I'm not allowed to paint, & I was thinking that maybe you could find a nice pattern and put it on the inside of the cabinets. It would be a great way to highlight your dishes. & Amazon has some great choices for pretty cheap.

Some neutral lighting, warm-orange walls, crisp white cabinets (painted) and a natural-fiber rug. Oh, and bamboo blinds. That's for sure what I'd do.

1: Paint that ceiling! Oh my God what is that colour?

2: Tile an new splashback in orange or red earthy tiles

3: New light fitting

4: Lay some cheap wood laminate flooring

Done!

I work for a kitchen design showroom and think some simple inexpensive, temporary fixes can totally make a difference.
-Changing hardware makes a big difference
-Cleaning your cabinets w/ warm, soapy water will freshen them up.
-Remove the window treatments to let more light in
-Paint the walls a bright cheery color that makes you happy
-Remove that scary pot rack
-if your budget allows, replace that fluorescent light fixture
-Add a natural fiber rug. I like sisal or seagrass for its durability and ease of care.
Good luck and congratulations on buying your home!

Considering you are going to renovate the kitchen in a couple of years -
1. Put down new lineoleum, whether it be sheet or self adhesive squares in a warm color. I have helped people redo their kitchen on a very tight budget using the squares and it looks okay.
2. Repaint the kitchen cabinets a nice ivory and put new hardware on them.
3.Put new laminate countertops solid, no pattern
4.DEFINITELY take out the flourescent light and put in recessed lighting, it is not expensive to do at all. And it is something you can still use when you renovate
5. On the floor put a seagrass rug.
6. Put little lights on the countertop to get it cozy and intimate

Yes, I second many comments here. The best thing you can do sometimes is just take the doors off the cabinets and open up the shelving. That way your cute dishes will provide some atmosphere. The other easiest things I can think of is lighting: which makes all the difference in the world. Try a little indirect lighting- rather then the overheads which emphasize dinginess. And make a splash of color to the backsplash. If you don't even want to bother with that, hang up a couple cute things and get to work decorating your fridge with pictures. Having nice things to look at will provide enough of a distraction until you can afford new flooring and all that other jazz.

If it's easier than painting the cupboards, paint the walls and/or tile (is that tile under the cabinets?). Yes, you can paint tile.

I have a friend who has painted the grooves in her cabinets, just to give it an accent. Something to consider?

Wow, JoJenks, thanks for the link! John & Sherry's house is almost identical to ours-- haha, the before shots, anyway. Thanks, its great for inspiration.

Wow!
Seems like you are doing some great stuff already!

...but I want to come over to your house and rip that floor out and just paint it black for now.

Since you plan to remove the upper cabinets, you can paint the lower ones black and leave the hardware, which will blend in.

there were sooo many comments i didn't read each one but i think the most fabulous thing to do is paint the walls black! chalkboard paint would do the trick! you definitely need an elegant, dramatic color to off set the ho hum boring cream/beige. paint is the fastest, cheapest trick to transform an entire space, and painting the walls is faster and less daunting than the cabinets! dark flooring, too. get cheap tile to cover up floor until you can install espresso chocolate brown wood flooring, or use rugs very liberally in dark colors. i also think a black n white checkerboard floor would look lovely!

less complicated simple fast inexpensive fixes:
1. remove that ugly valance! leave the window open, or add a clean lined, simply, modern white covering (fabric shades or flat panel)
2. take out the small useless wood shelves on either side of the window.
3. add two plants, one on either side of sink to add symmetry, life, and color. they will take up the vertical space where the shelves were.
4. remove pot rack.
5. depending on your timeline, and how important it is to you, buy the inexpensive stainless steel appliance converter kits, and cover all the appliances so they appear to be stainless. if you're expecting to replace them soon, however, don't bother with this step.
6. paint the edge of the counters black if you do black walls.
7. on the right side (oven side) install painted pegboard to hang pots/pans and supplies artfully and aesthetically. depending on if it's a doorway there or not, you can even add a shelf, bar and stool, etc.

i think your hardware is fine, especially if you paint the walls and backsplash black.

and last but not least, what i feel is the most important step:
add shelves in the big empty hole under the cabinet under the window. stores books, decorate items, and displayable pottery/dishes. the hole is very distracting and...well...ugly! you could paint the back black to match the walls, but a better idea would be to use a pretty wallpaper in whatever pattern grabs your fancy!

that's your free advice from a real interior designer! :)
you're welcome and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE post pictures of the quick fixes you actually do!
thanks!

It's worth looking over the younghouselove.com website. Their kitchen looks similar to yours and they have a lot of "How To" articles. They did a wonderful job. http://www.younghouselove.com/photo-gallery-2/

if you think you will still like it when you do your big remodel, you could take up the lino and do stained concrete for pretty cheap. Or haunt your local Lumber Liquidators for a sale on cork flooring.

Also measure your countertops; IKEA sells some insanely cheap butcher block and formica pre-sized counters that could update the space fairly easily provided their sizes can be cut down to your sizes.

Decent cabinet hardware is pricey, consider spray painting yours. Hammerite is awsome stuff and comes in most metallic shades as well as white and black.

If it were my place, I would eliminate the top cabinetry and donate it. Then, I would replace them with open shelving to help give the kitchen a more airy feel. If that's not your thing, paint the cabinetry in a fairly light hue, otherwise you run the risk of making the kitchen feel even more closed off than it looks in the pictures. Also, do small things like changing the knobs, adding a new backsplash, or redoing the flooring with laminate tile. I don't know what your budget is, but there are plenty of things you can do with this space. It has good bones.