apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

can you paint the cabinets with the china white?

DEFINITELY paint, and get rid of that green trim. I'd do a medium yellow with white cabinets and trim -- very sunny. Paint the china cabinets white, too.

Could you repaint the chairs? Make them different sunny shades, like light yellow and orange, maybe a light yellow-green, then distress them a little?

I would also redo the floors if you can, to something a little more natural -- even a terra cotta tile.

I would do away with the window treatment, and put the shelf below the window rather than above.

Could you do a built-in next to thefridge that would hold the microwave? Something to coordinate would be best, maybe with storage baskets to hold the miscellany.

Finally, put something over the fridge on that long, high wall... art, plants, prints -- there's a guy at eastern market who sells vintage ads, and some food/kitchen themed ones would be fun.

I think a bright, fun wall color might do the trick! Or possibly just the one wall - the wall opposite the one with the cabinets. In my experience that can really open up a skinny room, make it feel less corridor-like.

Also, more light sources!!!! It looks like there is just that one ceiling light now. I would do track lighting in the kitchen, and a cool pendant lamp over the dining table.

I would replace the microwave cart with some wall mounted shelves (similar to the elfa system from the container store) and bring the top of the microwave to meet the top of the built-in. Get a few baskets or bins to fit on shelves below the microwave to organize the open storage. I don't know what's on the wall on the other side of the fridge, but a shallow wall mounted shelf or book case could provide more working space if there is room...oh it's probably the range/oven, so maybe there is space to add a narrow cabinet (9-12") between the fridge and oven.

And to reduce the visual clutter, see if you can add a small cork board on the inside of those tall over counter cabinets to take all the stuff off the fridge.

Charming space with lots of potential. What's your budget?

Paint will go a long way. I'd stick with the pale soft yellow and white, and paint out any of the wood tones that you can. Declutter prints on walls, window treatment, fridge front, small corner shelves, etc. Add storage shelves in microwave area, as discussed in other posts. Add one long narrow shelf above fridge, stove, microwave, with tchotchkes and pictures and prints on it. Get one large colorful picture for the wall opposite the kitchen in the dining area.

God luck and have fun.

Oh! What a fun space w/good bones.
I vote to paint all the cabinets and trim white, yellow sounds lovely for the walls, can you do a washable (maybe squishy) rug to cover the green linoleum?

Replacing what was likely a built-in once upon a time where the microwave is... do you have a salvage or re-store? You might be able to find something close in style and cut it down to size!

i love the idea of glass plant shelves, but you would have to keep the plants small. and get matchy white pots.
I'm not loving the dinette set, but a new cheery cloth would improve it and if you have the time, a new cushion fabric.

Also can you run a light up the wall and swag it over the table?

I agree with the vote for a rug to cover that linoleum (something mod and Chilewich-y?) and something more efficient than that microwave cart (concealed storage, please). Would your mom be sad if you refinished her wood so it all matched?

I would NOT paint the two wooden cabinets that face the table -- that looks like it might be original condition and it would be a real shame to paint those. Besides, they pop against the rest of it.

Plus, I'm betting that mom is a little more into a feminine look and doesn't want anything too harshly mod.

Ideas:
--Like others, replace the microwave cart. Something with closed in storage and a space for the microwave -- it might be nice to take it as tall as the fridge so there is even more storage -- maybe it could be closed storage below and open shelving above the microwave.

-- Take one shelf and extend it over the fridge and as far as you can to the window that makes sense (can't tell what is on the other side of the fridge) to help with more storage. Find a way to help mom hide or spruce up all the stuff on top of the fridge -- baskets? Glass storage jars with cool labelling?

-- Can you replace the light fixture with a fun chandelier? Maybe something with lots of sparkly crystals to reflect light.

-- Likewise, is there a way to get a matching or complimentary ceiling fixture from the ceiling over the dining table?

-- Since it's a rental, not sure you should replace the flooring. How about something in an updated floral with lots of yellow, white and green to tie the dining room to the kitchen floor? I'm thinking something with a vintage botanical look to it.

-- Definately a must: recover the dining room chair cushions. How about

-- Another must: You have a great opportunity to do something really cool on top of those two built-ins facing the dining table to make a dramatic entrace to the kitchen. I'm thinking of two beautiful bonsai plants, one on each side. Or something like that.

-- On the wall with the pictures in the dining area, it looks like in one corner there is a 3-shelf plant stand and on the other side is something lower. I like the idea, but the unevenness bothers me, and the taller one is too close to the wall shelf. I'd edit these out.

Here are a few of the things I see...
*Center the dining table and remove the rug
* Paint the wall shelves and corner planter white
*Replace/cover chair fabric
*Paint the cabinets and cover all green detail in the kitchen
*Line all three cabinets side by side along the side wall using the top to display collects or artwork/photographs OR relocate the display cabinets to another room (?)
*Swap the position of the fridge and microwave OR relocate the microwave to the top of the fridge (?)

I think the idea is to try to open the space up. The cabinets and fridge appears to close up the space.

It's sad the dining room wooden floor does not extend throught the kitchen. I think it would look much more continuous.

:)

Hi,

Seems you have a lot of work ahead of you but it will be a lot fun and I am sure your mother will love it.

I like your wall color choices and I would definitely paint the green trims to white but don’t block the window with a shelf.

I also like the idea of painting the china cabinets white (that if it’s ok with your mom).

What about a nice mirror in the dining nook (where the two paintings are) to bring in more light.

Another idea would be using two floating shelves in the dining nook to display the coffee set.

Have fun and make sure to post pictures of the final result.