maybe a few coats of magnetic paint it you want to be able to stick stuff on them?

I would have some dowels cut down to fit the holes and paint them a color you like. Affix them to the back with screw, washer and nut. Maybe just have them come out in the front an inch.

I love the cork idea but can't think of a way to make them permanent and temporary enough, I'm interested to see if anyone has a solution.

What about contact paper? It's relatively low tack and should come off without difficulty, and comes in a variety of patterns. I saw some cute ones on both eBay (search vintage contact paper) and Etsy, depending on your style. That should be easier to hang than wallpaper, and more durable should you need to scrub it.

I dont have suggestions for cork, but I second the magnetic paint (covered in white to match) and I think with some clever dowel/washer arrangement you could rig real knobs which might make you feel alot better about them.

Then maybe a woven metal backsplash or back painted glass and mirror clips? If i didn't have tile already i would be doing this for the color alone.

What about painting them with a chalkboard paint or a gunmetal gray color and see if you can find giant silver grommets at the hardware store or drapery/sewing supply store that fit the holes? I actually didn't mind the holes when I saw them...

Here's a grommet example I was thinking of: http://www.createforless.com/Dritz Home Curtain Grommets Large Pewter/pid128421.aspx?SI=9c7c1ff8-1669-4a12-9f39-4dd15218d4ae

You said you wanted the cabinets not to look cheap....I don't think cork fulfills that criteria. And think of how much more clutter there will be when you have posted your bills, shopping lists, and postcards up there! I honestly don't think the CABINETS are the problem. The white-on-white is the problem.

So...what do you think about painting the wall/backsplash so the white really pops? That's a cheap and simple solution. Or paint the cabinets. Or cover them with cool fabric/paper, affixed with double-sided tape. It's just another year's rental, right? The paper doesn't have to be EXACT dimensions of the cabinet. You could make a square inside each cabinet, so the white looks like it frames it. It might look cute - you probably have some cool wrapping paper right now which might do the trick. Doesn't have to be all the same, too. Maybe alternate every other door....you'll make it work!

I would get a big basket/tray to organize the clutter which (it happens to all of us) seems to have accumulated on the countertops.

The no-knob thing sounds frustrating. You could get a glass or ceramic knob big enough to hide the hole, then put a thin piece of 3-inch metal or wood piece on the other side (inside) of the cabinet, with nut and bolt, so it (the knob) stays put. It won't be beauteous on the inside, but....who cares? Temporary fix for something that's making you nuts. Looks like you only need six and there's a wide range of cute knobs there. You can take them when you leave! Hope this helped. :)

The URL isn't coming our right - put plus signs between Dritz Home Curtain Grommets Large Pewter.

I would focus on the backsplash. I think once you get some color there, then the white cabinets won't seem so bad.

Also, I use a footed pedestal for my utensils in my tiny kitchen. It is essentially a cake plate. This adds a decorative touch, creates space by getting things off the counter and contains the spread of "miscellaneous" kitchen utencils.

For the year that you have left in the place, I think that if you fixed the door, cleared away the clutter on the counters and put up some bright decorative items that you can take with you when you move - You might not feel quite so badly about the kitchen cabinets themselves?

I'd suggest 3 or 4 inexpensive & brightly colored prints or photographs in 20" IKEA Ribba frames along the backsplash & another above the stove - then lots of travel postcards in inexpensive IKEA frames lined up in a long row on the soffits above the cabinets.

For a funky look, you could use antique door knobs as cabinet pulls. (The hardware would cover the holes.) You could also apply wallpaper or wall stickers to the cabinets.

Maybe think about putting something on the backsplash, to draw the eye away from the cabinets.

Oh -- the post just below, about stick-on chalkboards, might be good to look at. If you can stick chalkboards on and remove them easily, that might work well with the black and white color scheme you already have.

This idea is out there, but I think it could work. Get a funky fabric and knot it just behind the holes in your cabinets and then let them hang just a bit, maybe even knot the hanging end as well, so you have fabric ties for handles.

Use that same fabric in curtains or dishclothes or something.

Couldn't you just take the doors off? Make it an open shelf kitchen?

This may be a labor-intensive project (and too 'mod' for the rest of your apt), but how cool would it be to blow up a panoramic photo (landscape) or a portrait (self, loved one, animal) and cut it into four equal portions and cover the four cabinets with that ONE photo? Tee-hee. Hey, you never know what may look cool. It certainly wouldn't be boring.

I like the knotted fabric pull suggestion above, I think it's clever, but if you open cabinets with dirty/wet hands as often as I do....could be kinda gross over time.

what if you....put a fluorescent orange ping-pong ball in fishnet (as if it were "caught"), and stapled the fishnet to the inside of the cabinet and used the ping pong ball as a cabinet pull. Okay, has this office made me lose my mind entirely?

That's pretty crazy, huh?

You could use wooden toggles for handles, something like these: http://www.mjtrim.com/Catalog/Category/19.aspx
I second the idea of dressing up the cabinets by getting some of the fun and easily removable vinyl decals that are currently all over the place. Check www.etsy.com, there are a million varieties (or you could request a custom design) and they are usually inexpensive.

Oh, you could also use the vinyl decals on the backsplash if you prefer that to putting them on the cabinets. That way it wouldn't compete with whatever you end up doing for door handles.

The first thing I would do is straighten that crooked cabinet door. Otherwise, I think the cabinet doors are okay. To me, the problem is the large amount of stuff on the countertops and fridge -- my eye immediately moves to the blank space of the cabinets. I'd clear the surfaces as much as possible, then paint the backsplash a dark color, which should make it recede.

http://www.mainecottage.com/ProductBrowseCustomize.aspx?prodType=1&prod=262&step=COLOR_BROWSE

paint the backsplash and microwave box this pear green(i see green dishes in your photo), and beg someone to make/help you make "plus" ( ) signs out of 1/4 or 1/2 inch birch plywood wide enough to span the hole.

paint the " " another bright color (iris or the same green ), and drill a center hole that will accomodate a long bolt/nut. get square pieces of a bright(or black if " " is green)) matboard cut larger than the hole, and drill/punch a centered hole in it to accommodate the bolt.

to assemble: screw bolt into the " " shape, center over the open hole, and place the matboard square BEHIND the hole. feed the bolt through the matboard hole, and secure with a nut.

framed artwork, colorful crocks and trays for "stuff", and a bare fridge door will make you a happy cook.

I agree that cork wouldn't end up giving you the look you're after. The backsplash ideas are also very wise.

If you are hellbent on altering those cabinets, though...

I was also going to suggest contact paper, but think about creating a silhouette mural/design with the paper instead of just doing solid paper on the doors. Are you at all crafty? You might be able to make something really interesting and lovely (and completely cheap & removable!) with even just a solid color contact paper. It's (k)not wood has some cool uses of faux bois contact paper cut into interesting shapes against white backgrounds.

My friend had a similar problem with awful beige cabinets, counters, appliances and floor even though he bought his apartment. I got him to paint the walls a deeper color, which was an enormous help - as it would be for you, even if only the backsplash.

The only cork I could see on your doors would be big round plugs of it, to fill the holes and serve as knobs with a pin across the back to hold it in place.

the plus sign didn't show in the text, so i should've suggested an X shape.......the shape i have in mind is like the cross on the swiss flag, with 90 degree angles:

http://flagspot.net/flags/ch.html

I was going to be creative and suggest a fabric pull through the hole...but somebody already did. Great minds think alike! I think that painting the back-splash would also be an awesome touch.

I would say that the all white background would serve a perfect use to exhibit photos or art. For photos, you can always find the cotton corner holders and spray mount the photos. At the end of you lease, gently pull the photos off, rub down the spray mount gooiness left behind with nail polish and touch up if needed.

Oh, honey! That is *so* not the most inefficient and ugly kitchen ever! You are spoiled.

And I agree: corkboard will be busy and vulgar. Paint that backsplash!!! Once you've done that you may not even be so bothered about the holes.

I agree with JefferyK. You might be able to even skip the paint.

You may want to try hanging some of your utensils underneath the cabinets close to the wall as well. You can pick up C-hooks or some cheap rails to mount underneath at Ikea. This would help break up the view and give you more work space. It doesn't involve glue or paint, and all you would need to do is screw into the bottom of the cabinets. Most landlords don't seem to be bothered by this.

I think the cabinets are cool!

First, see if you can get the crooked door hanging straight. Assuming painting or otherwise permanently altering the cabinets is not an option, I think your best bet for making this cabinet area more attractive is to add interest to the backsplash area and clear up the clutter on the counter. If you mount thin backerboard on the wall with 3m doublestick tape, you can paint, tile, or wallpaper to your heart's content then pop the board off with a putty knife when you leave. A cheap and easy solution to add colour to the white wall is mounting fluorescent posterboard under the cabinets, out of sight (clear contact paper over it for more durability). The fluorescent colour will reflect down in a mysterious way that changes with the light in the room.

This is another "out there" idea, but I've had luck with it:

Buy a few calendars featuring artists that you like, and hang the artwork on your cabinets (or on the walls above the cabinets).

The great thing about calendar art is that since it's so inexpensive, it doesn't matter if it gets ruined by cooking grease or spatters.

wow! I missed an afternoon and so many good ideas. I am not too keen on painting a. because kitchen's are a bitch to paint and then have to re-paint.

I am in love with Ikea but not having a car makes getting to one or getting home kinda difficult.

I have a magnetic knife rack that I am going to install behind the sink which will break up some of the white and clear some of the clutter on the counter.

I like the calendar art idea and the dowel-knob idea. i just have to do some hunting at home depot.

Thanks guys your awesome!

that'd be a you're...

I kinda like the funky pull holes. It could be worse (you should see my ugly wood particle board cabinets)!
I think a good counter declutter and some colorful objects are all you need.
If you can't get to Ikea, is there anywhere else in your reach where you could get utensil racks, etc., to mount on the wall? (Pottery Barn makes a good line, though more expensive)
A really simple (and removable) wall decal motif on the upper wall might work, drawing the eye up--I've seen pottery (plates or ashtrays) mounted in places like that to great effect. Do you have any type of collection that could be displayed?

I'm jealous, you should see my cabinets.

Your kitchen isn't only inefficient because it's small, it's inefficient because you've got junk everywhere.

I suggest re-organizing, (maybe investing in some of ikea's cheap 'gruntal' kitchen storage system to hang utensils).

You seem to like lime green, if you could paint I'd paint the backsplash that. Or, you could go with something really graphic, and put some wall decals (i like blik: http://www.whatisblik.com/walldecals.html) on the cabinets/backsplash. That could be fun.

Also, speaking as someone who has tried to contact paper cabinets...don't do it. It's extremely difficult, if not impossible to get them perfectly smooth, and then you also have to worry about the seams (most contact paper I found was not as wide as my cabinets).

good luck!

I like the cabinets. In the picture the holes make the cabinets look modern and simple. take off the doors if you can't handle it- and for the fear of visual clutter you will have to make sure your dishes look nice/ are organized to display. then it should really be ok.

This month's Domino Magazine has a great article on a 200 square foot apartment with a tiny wall kitchen- check it out- it may be helpful. I was pretty inspired by it- the kitchen is white and brown (brown painted walls and inner cabinets) and has a cool/ modern look with accents of silver. some fabric is used too. It appears that the redo would be realistic, affordable and you don't need a car;)

Ancient post, I know, but I'm looking at this and looking at the cabinets in my new coop and I'd trade in a heartbeat. Really.