apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Maybe if you discuss precisely what you want to do with the landlord, they'll allow you to do it without violating the lease.

This happened with our apartment - the cabinets were in desperate need of a fresh coat of paint, and since we opted to cover the expenses and not change the colour too much, they let us do it.

Maybe ask about removing the border and putting a fresh, neutral coat of paint on the walls. Something that approves the appearance is a win-win situation for a rental - you get to live in a space you enjoy, they get to reap the benefits after you move.

This is a hideous kitchen? My kitchen could never hope to look this good... sigh.

The cabinets actually look quite lovely in that photo but it is a terrible shame about the paint/border situation. Hunter green? Hello, 1992. Haven't seen you in a while.

It seems unusual to me that you are not allowed to paint. Generally landlords do that when they've freshly painted everything in white, but to force you to live with that colour surely violates some human rights law. I would suggest picking a nice farm friendly colour ( a cheerful yellow for example) and asking very politely for permission to paint and remove the border. They likely won't object to something in the spirit of the home. Otherwise... maybe some sisal rugs on the floor. Perhaps you could try pinning either wallpaper to the wall? Or hang lots of distracting art?

It sounds a bit tacky, but you can use contact paper. In a previous apartment, I used the fake wood contact paper in the panel inset on some junky, medium-brown cabinets. I only added it to the upper cabinets, so it really lightened up the space. And because I was so anal about how precise the panels were cut, you didn't really notice. If you looked closely, you would, but nobody noticed enough to look closely.

Oh, and as for "repainting," you can always use fabric and starch. I recommend washing the fabric first especially if you use a dark color. I had to repaint a wall because my dark red fabric left the wall tinged pink.

Oh man. I really hate to be one of *those people* but that kitchen looks really nice! I love the insane amount of storage.

But I can see how the vast expanse of white might just be too blank and impersonal. And I'm guessing they might not look so nice close up, if they need "sprucing up." Hard to see from this far away. :)

First thing - see if your landlord will let you get rid of the mismatched border. I can't imagine they wouldn't let you fix such an eyesore, unless they're terribly paranoid.

Would some kind of window treatment on the windows be possible? That would really help tone down some of the super-white-space effect.

And of course, it wouldn't hurt to see if you can paint over the hunter green.

I actually do like the whiteness of the cabinets, though... somehow it seems very "farmhousey."

Agreed with SputnikSpak -- if the cabinets really need a fresh coat of paint, your landlord might (would probably?) agree to it and maybe even pay for the supplies. Ditto for the border.

Overall though I must say that from the photo this kitchen doesn't look so bad to me! I do think that white cabinets aren't all that great though, because once the shine wears off, boy do they show grime quick. (I had an all-white kitchen for 4 years. I swear I must have cleaned those darn cabinet doors every other day.)

If you do get permission from your landlord to do anything that might violate the terms of the lease, get it in writing!

The only thing I could not live with is the border. Surely, they are a sane person and will negotiate letting you remove that horror and paint the wall a neutral color.

I completely sympathize with not being able to have your living space the way you would ideally like it, but I must say that is the best-looking 'hideous' I have ever seen. Think of accessories to get it where you want. A throw rug, cute curtains, items on the walls using 3M removable command hooks, even temporary wallpaper (links to be found on other AT posts).

I'd change the blinds to a bamboo roman shade type things.

Also, if you are totally unable to get rid of the hunter green wall, if you can get some apple green rugs or vases or artwork or small appliances into the room, it wouldn't look half bad. :)

I love your cabinets! You have a lot of storage, and they are truly unique and the hardwear looks interesting and you have some great cabinet add ons.

If I were you, I would start by removing the lighting fixture above the sink and replacing it with something less institutional. Try a flush mounted fixutre in chrome and frosted glass.

To play up on the farmhouse aspect, I would replace the faucet with something a bit more vintage with spoke handles or more heavy duty like a begetable prep sink faucet.

If the landlord will not be reasonable about the neutral paint scheme others have suggested, try putting up fabric as wallpaper -- I think it can be done with startch as the glue, so that it is removable when you move out. Great baseboards by the way!

Maybe you could offer to paint it back to the Hunter Green when you move out?

And hanging some sort of taught fabric treatment could get really messy really quick in a kitchen.

I have never used the Sherwin Williams EasyChange wallpaper, but could be just the thing...
http://www.swdecorating.com/default.asp?fm=/easychange.asp|

I second the artwork comment!

There is removable wallpaper. How about inserting something interesting in the recessed panels. Marbled paper or something is easy and fun to make. Use that poster stuff to hold it in place or softened bees wax.

Well, perhaps some flor tiles on the ground, they're non-permanent. You might want to consider removing some of the cabinet doors on the top, to give a sort of open shelving feeling.

The white cabinets are fine, it's the floor and green walls/border that need to be fixed.

This is hysterical. I'm an empty nester who was ready to redo my kitchen until the bottom dropped out of the economy. My kitchen---done in the 70s---looks almost like that, except that I had repainted everything white. There had been yellow accents. Having watched HGTV studiously for quite a while, I formulated a plan. I am from warmer climes, but live in Ohio, so I am working on a beachy, spa kind of look. My counters are the real thing so I am not changing them, but I found pale aqua glass mosaic tile for the backsplash. Putting them up has been incredibly easy. The walls are now a pale khaki, and the brass hardware will become black. The floor tiles will be peel and stick pale Italian travertine stone linoleum--and they are pretty good looking. I know , because I already have it down in the guest bathroom. And I have added lots of bamboo and wood accents---shades, boxes, wallplates...and I've invented my own work wall with wood blocks and hooks holding oak dowels. Black screws to hold them on the wall. Very Asian looking, and I was lucky to find bamboo utensil holders on sale to hook over the dowels. I'm not finished yet, but it is so good looking so far!

Try for one thing at a time. Appeal to their sympathies about the border, for starters. Seems unanimous that this is the #1 contributor to the ick-factor. Then try another improvement.

If they aren't receptive to other improvements, keep paying your rent on time and keep the place tidy and ask the landlord over after a couple months to make your case for a new color/etc. If you're paying timely and the place is clean, looks good and is orderly, they are more likely to soften up.
Its tricky as a new tenant. To your new landlord, you're a stranger asking them if you can do work that could potentially lead to unnecessary/costly expenses if you make a big mistake or screw something major up... They have no idea what to expect and what your skill level is. Hope you can sweeten them up a bit!

i think this kitchen can be really nice without much work. definitely paint the walls and remove the wallpaper. also, add a portable island or table in the center to break up the long expanse of wall/cabinets. this would also add some counter space near the stove which seems to be lacking a little. another thing you might do is add some ikea task lights under the top cabinets. these are removable. last, your lineoluem floor looks dingy next to bright white cabinets. if you can't replace it, perhaps paint a dark brown border at the base of your cabinets to divide and define the space between the cabinets and floor. light above the kitchen sink is pretty exposed. can you put a removable cover over it or perhaps a small (not frilly) curtain in front?

What I forgot to say was that all this is pretty easy to undo. As an army brat and navy wife, I tend to think this way despite living in my house for 40 years. The tile will come up and the old tile will be there, you can promise to paint the walls the same color when you go. Barring that, I'd cover some foamcore with a pretty color and velcro it over the wall paper, use the same color for other stuff in the kitchen, and perhaps a rug or big bamboo mat on the floor. You could also foamcore a backsplash and waterproof it. Believe me, that kitchen is a dream compared to a lot of the cinder block, black speckeled linoleum places the military gives you to live in. And everything had to look exactly the same way it was when you moved out! Good luck, the bones you've got to work with are lovely.

Those cabinets are gorgeous! That kitchen is 100x nicer than any of the fleabag kitchens I've had. Though I do sympathize re: green paint and tacky borders.

So far as window treatments go, maybe take down the blinds and put up something simple, white/natural, that lets a lot of light in. or just go with no window coverings, assuming you don't spend too much time naked in your kitchen?

I agree with picking out something and then asking the landlord for permission; it's worked for me in the past.

But if painting's still a no-go after that, an easy idea would be hanging a curtain wire (like this one from Ikea) and clipping some floor-length fabric to it. It would be easy to take down when you leave, or just to wash if it gets dirty. Then frame some vintagey food postcards ($10 from MOMA store) and block out most of the backsplash with that.

Add a rug & some apothecary jars on the counters and call it a day.

Also I'd probably just attack the border without even asking...

That sucks that the landlord won't let you do things that would improve the kitchen. And I don't get why they'd choose such a dark color for the kitchen and the horrid border. Overall, it's a cute kitchen. In the picture, I couldn't tell that the countertop was faux wood, not sure if it's more obvious in person.

I know it's not ideal for a kitchen, but what about FLOR tiles to cover some of the flooring? It would add color and you can wash them.

I saw this really cool kitchen on flickr where they cut up vinyl tiles and used them as a backsplash. It would look really cute in a farmhouse. I'm sure someone could suggest a way to hang them that makes them easily removable, like cutting something to fit the backsplash area and putting the tiles on that.

I'm the owner of the picture above (Ginger was already taken as a username!)

Yeah, my initial assessment was a lot harsher than the reality, partially because it was absolutely filthy when we moved in. Now that I've got it cleaned up I'm beginning to like it more.

I do agree that the cabinets are cool and very spacious. It's hard to see in the pictures but they do need a (prohibited) coat of paint quite badly. As mentioned by Fraise, the finish has worn off, and therefore they're all kinds of grimy.... and grimy in the kitchen makes my skin crawl.

My main concerns are the (1) 1992 Hunter Green (ha!) on the walls and the (2) mismatched border.

I will definitely look into the removable wallpaper. The walls, in addition to being hunter green, are also very dinged up, so covering them entirely would be beneficial. Thanks for the advice about the light fixture and the curtains, those are things I will definitely be looking in to. Thanks for the rug advice too, as I've been looking for something to put down, but wasn't sure what direction to take it. I've seen a few nice sisal rugs, I'll look at those again.

Here is the link for the vinyl tile backsplash:
http://flickr.com/photos/rockscissorpaper/2124017132/in/set-72157605827922484/

First of all, those cabinets are AWESOME. They shouldn't be touched of course! People pay thousands of dollars for cabinets like those..(at least I would)
Anyway, one thing you could do, concerning the wall color and unfortunate wallpaper border: Compile images of great looking kitchens with similar layout, white cabinets, wood top, etc...with colors you like and present them to the your landlord, explaining that you feel it would only increase the rentability of the place in the future, and offer to paint it yourself at your cost.
If he /she still won't budge, you could buy white beadboard and just secure it to the lower half of the wall with a few finishing nails, so it could be easily taken off when you leave
As for the floor.....just buy a big jute area rug to cover it up as mush as possible. Then for the backsplash area, you could cut pieces of aluminum to size and secure with lots of that blue poster sticky stuff.
I don't have any ideas about the border though..sorry.
For the floor, just buy a huge jute rug to cover as much floor up as possible.

You've seen some people's paint jobs. A scant 2 coats of patchy red and scribbly edging that runs up onto the ceiling. It gives me nightmares! It's no wonder most landlords find it easier to just say no.

I bet if you just went ahead and painted, by the time you moved out he either won't notice or won't care. Or you lose your deposit. You gotta ask yourself what $ it's worth to live with hideous forest green paint.

A rug. A tin tiled backsplash glued in place. and possibly change out the hardware: knobs and pulls and save the old stuff to switch back when you move.

Rip off that border. Paint (something rich and light/bright - robin's-egg blue would look fab). Kick down a sizeable rug.

Roman shades would be great, as would new hardware, but neither would be necessary, in my opinion.

When you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Go look at the fresh palettes for 2009, find a green that is similar to yours, and choose a contrasting color that will liven the place up. Also, you can add borders, details, or even bliks to the cabinet faces using a little 3M and some mitered moulding, some contact paper, or some "framed" wallpaper. The butcher block to me is gorgeous (considering that I have ugly peach colored laminate), but yes, go with Contact Paper on that, and get a good, decent cutting board and some trivets to do the heavy work on. Good luck :)

Check out this NY house tour: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/house-tours/house-tour-nicole-halves-her-haven-new-york-076325
The renter put down removeable click-lock hardwood flooring in her rental. After the wall color, the linoleum flooring in your kitchen would bug me most. And carpet in a kitchen is such a headache, especially if you cook a lot. I agree with other posters about a fresh coat of white paint on the cabinets. I'd be shocked if your landlord noticed (or cared) as long as you do a good job. I'd just do it.

i would ask to remove the border and paint, to update the countertops...maybe with those ikea cutting board ones (cause they would look similar but have a better and more natural feel), and to see if there's wood flooring under there somewhere. if so, remove all that other flooring and paint the wood floor. the cabinets look rad! just clean them and be happy you have so many and that they're cute.

ps...remove mini blinds and get new outlet covers, too.

So it doesnt say anything about wallpapering?

My friend had the same problem in regards to painting. Turns out her landlady had grown up in the house and had some crazy emotional attachment to it...

As for painting, I've been in many apartments with a liberal painting policy and it shows. I'm thinking that if you do go ahead and pick out your whole decorating scheme in advance (heck, even make a display board with paint chips, etc.), then offer to have professional painters come in instead of painting it yourself. If I were a landlord, I'd definitely go for that.

Paying pros to do easy work is disappointing, but for the cost of not living with that horrid green and wallpaper border, it will pay off in dividends! Best of luck and please send AT an update when the process is all said and done.

As someone who has been both a renter and a landlord of historic properties, the key is making improvements that are *improvements* in the real estate sene of the word and respectful to the nature of the property. Do good work, use the correct materials, and forgo crazy wallpaper or striped paint for a classic coat of color. That way, even if you have to return the walls to neutral when you move, you're only out the cost of a gallon of paint.

There is also a significant difference as to how an independent landlord and a property manager reacts to these situations.

Most independent landlords won't keep the security deposit of a renter who painted walls or (already painted) cabinets with the correct type of paint and who did a good work.

We had landlords once who were hesitant to let us mess with their historic property, so we spiffed a few things up with the attitude of "deposit be damned" and "beg forgiveness later." When they came over and saw the improvements, they were thrilled. From there on out, we had free reign to fix, repair, and improve (mostly on their dime, as they would often take supply costs out of rent). They even held our rent steady for 3.5 years. When we left, the place was in better condition than before and the rent was raised to reflect it. Everyone was happy.

As a landlord of an historic property, I tried to understand that even though drab olive green wasn't my choice for a bedroom, it was worth some possible hassle down to road to keep great renters that took such good care of the place. I was more than willing to repaint some walls (and I did when I later moved into the house) and remove some shelves.

My advice: If you're willing to risk your deposit, paint the cabinets. If you remove doors, wrap them and their hardware and store them carefully in the house. Keep the place --and especially the yard and garden, if you have one -- extra spiffy. (I convinced a lot of landlords I was skilled enough to handle interior work by working the curb appeal angle first.) Then go in for kill on wall colors. I assure you, they'll most likely cave.

You could get some decals (the kind that are removable). Dollar tree had some cute ones awile ago. Or make your own with contact paper. Big ole rugs? i would take down the blinds and put up roman shades or curtains. Removable wall paper to make fake crown molding between the wall green and white. Try www.craftster.com too. Theres LOTS of ideas over there.

Do NOT renovate without landlords' permission. You can lose much more than your security deposit. If you do shoddy work that has to be fixed by professionals, you can end up in small claims court. And forget about ever getting a good reference if a future landlord or co-op board wants to check.

In some cities, like NYC, a lawsuit with a former landlord makes it nearly impossible to get a new lease elsewhere.

Always ask first.

there is absolutely no way your landlord actually likes it looking like that. The floor, the walls, and that border have to go. try ikea flooring that you can just take up whenever you leave. it's super cheap and easy to do yourself. and you could get the natural color to match your counters. spiffy up the cabinets with a fresh coat of white paint. i liked the bead board idea someone else had. it would be easy to return back to the horrid green if you left. and i bet if you took down the border, or covered it up with a new, nicer one, he'd never even notice. he obviously doesn't care that much about how it looks if he allowed that mismatched border to be put up in the first place.

oh, and faux tin tiles would also look amazing as a backsplash, and you could also use them over the green on the walls. lowes has them.

I've been renting a lot in the last few years. The hubbies job moves us. Because of this, I have a deposit be damned approach to all of it. I'm not saying mess the place up, or do a bad job, but if all you want is to put a new coat of white paint on the cabinets, to make them look clean again, I say do it anyways. In a year, the landlord won't remember, or care that there was originally more grim there.

In one of our places they just used primer to paint the kitchen cabinets. The place was beautiful, except every slight touch to the cabinets made them look dirty. I hate dirty, so I just bought a gallon of more expensive paint, and did a few cabinets at a time. The landlords never did notice one way or another, and we got our deposit back because the place "looked so much cleaner than the other apartments they did walkthroughs on!"

That kitchen is beautiful!
No matter how unfortunate the old hunter green paint is, nothing can make those beautiful cupboards look any less charming.

definitely get permission from your landlord in writing. the key is to make a good argument. only ask to redo one thing at a time. your landlord has no idea what your skill level is. a lot of people think they're capable of some projects and end up doing a horrible job that looks worse, (make sure you don't fall into that category). once you do one thing well and your landlord sees the results, they'll be much more willing to let you make other improvements. also, be very specific in what you want to do. don't just say "I want to paint." take in a paint chip, find a catalog photo with a similar kitchen/color you want (to help them visualize and show that it's a current style, i.e. something that will help them rent it in the future). also, be realistic about what you want and be willing to compromise. any landlord will be very hesitant to let you paint a very bright/saturated color since it's more difficult to paint over and other people will be less likely to have the same tastes. if the landlord turns down your color, ask if there are any colors they would permit. lastly, be prepared to absorb the costs yourselves. the landlords will likely have a "if it's not broken, don't fix it" attitude, (and ugly trim usually doesn't count as broken), but they'll have a hard time turning down free improvements.

good luck! I'd love to see photos if you do make any improvements!

I loooooooooooooooove your cabinets! Oh my, you are so lucky! Look at all that charm and storage!

The walls and the floors suck though. I hope you can get permission to at least remove the border and paint.

The cabinets are wonderful! Why don't you move out and let a person with taste enjoy them!

The room that passes as my kitchen should be this hideous.