I'd leave the cabinets, rip out the carpet asap, and put down black & white checkered vinyl tiles. Cheap and cheery!

do you use that door behind the microwave?

I'm totally with candice&shreve - those cabinets are lovely! I'd whitewash the walls, replace the carpet with black&white checkerboard tiles, and add some bright accents, in red, probably. It'll be brilliant!

when you need more counter space use the top of your washer and dryer. I know it sounds silly. But buy two big cedar cutting boards and put them on top, and there ya go! Instant counter tops. lol

What about placing a long cutting board over the tops of the washer/dryer to add to more space for food prepping, that can be placed away when you need to use the washer/dryer?

I had a similar set-up in my first apartment. You could get a slab of thinner butcher-block, and lay it over the washer-dryer if you needed some extra counter space (but, only for laying dishes on, I wouldn't use it for a chopping or stand mixer). Some discount building supply places carry odd bits of countertop for very low prices (or, ask at a local cabinet shop for off-cuts).

You could use the butcher-block if you moved for other things, like a kitchen table, etc. so it might be worth the investment.

Overall, I think bright vintage-inspired accents would draw attention to the charm of the cabinets, and draw attention away from the washer-dryer. At least, it seemed to work for me at the time.

Hope this helps!

Tear out the carpet. If you can't do that, maybe cover it up with those Flor tiles everyone talks about on this site? I don't know.

I love the cabinets, and think you should too. They are so cute and cheery. Hang some art. Get a coordinating piece of furniture for your coffeemaker and microwave. Maybe one of those wire racks used in restaurants. I found one on sale at Home Depot for $20 last year.

Embrace the carpet!!! Who says you can't have carpet in the kitchen? Carpet tiles are beutifull, easy to clean, antimicrobial, and you can take them with you next time you move. I think a fun pattern will give your kitchen a whao! factor. Check out Flor: Spring catalog page 25. Also find some pantry storage rack like this one on Craigslit to solve your storage proble. Painting is up to you. The blue is not bad.

http://www.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?DeptID=68320&CatID=68320&Grptyp=ENS&ItemId=174a3d9&cm_mmc=ShoppingFeed-_-Google-_--_-Cooks%20By%20JCP%20Home%20cooks%20Kitchen%20and%20Pantry%20Storage%20Racks

Hey guys, thanks for the ideas! Here's some answers to the questions that have come up:

Pureevil: the door goes to the attic so it's not very often used, but it is a pain if/when I have to!

The walls are white, not as yellow as they appear in the photo, and the cabinets are blue blue blue lol

I'm in central Iowa so no Ikea stores for hours unfortunately. I do like the idea of the floor tiles though, I didn't know they existed. They're kind of expensive though :-/

The cabinets come off as "frilly" and my fiancee and I are not very "frilly" people. Were both very clean lines, modern type people so these cabinets dont really fit that bill very well. I will talk to the land lord about doing some work!

Thanks for the tips and keep em coming, you've already given me some ideas

Paint everything a light color, put some sheers on that window to get in some light.

Echoing what other folks have said, the butcher block on the washer/dryer is a good idea, something like this is sturdy enough but easy to move out of the way:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40082918

You could also replace those two little rolling tables with something like this
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70011793
Not sure if that one is big enough, but you could put the microwave on the middle shelf and the coffeemaker on top

Also, replacing those white metal shelves would be pretty easy with something like the these:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00011428

You might be able to remove the scalloped trim on the shelves pretty easily, sand down, and repaint. Also, change out the handles and hinges. If your landlord won't change the carpet (you might be able to hammer out a 50-50 deal with her), then I would just let it go. It's neutral enough--just watch out for spilled tomato sauce!

I didn't see dimensions, but you might have enough space in the kitchen for a floating island to provide additional counter top space and storage beneath.

I'd put a small round table and two small chairs in front of the window, for additional counter space, breakfast table, plant stand and to fold or prepare clothes for washing. I agree with the other suggestions.

I would suggest buying or building a table on wheels which is as wide as but slightly higher than the washer/dryer unit and shaped somehow like the occasional malm table http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10120587. If put on wheels such a table can be easily pushed over the washer /dryer unit and back into the kitchen, when you need to do your laundry. Or even make two, each half as deep as the unit, easier to move. Plus one or two matching shelves over the unit and voilà.

All this provided there is enough space on both sides of the unit...

Floor - get rid of the carpet and put some vinyl tiles as suggested by lynn.

good point wmjr - also ripping up carpet can be fun, but finding out what is underneath can be a nightmare. A professional could be a good idea (but I'm loving the idea of a black and white checkered floor).

On the bright side the blue isn't so bad, many different color combos would work with it: greens and blues, bright colors, or just blue and white (toile).

The window and door are great features as well. Perhaps a baker's rack or something similar in shape would work well where you have the coffee maker to hold appliances you use every day and help keep counter spaces uncluttered? As well as free up the door way.

Ok, get ready for one helluvalong post...The cabinets are a little frilly...lol. I know I had those scalloped things on my cabinets when I moved into my house, and I could just pry them off...they were just added for a decorative touch. It looks like yours may be one piece with the cabinet fronts, but it's worth a try.

I understand not being frilly people, but I actually really love the cabinets...I think they could be quite unique. Here's what I would do personally...Paint the cabinets black. Remove as many doors on the top as possible (maybe the two(?) taller ones if not all) and paint inside white. Paint the walls a silver gray color. Use white and black dishes and glasses. Get some baskets or pretty boxes (I'm thinking those Kassett magazine boxes @ ikea, but you can find similar stuff where ever you have close.) to put on top of the upper cabinets for things you never use. Can you see what's under the carpet? If it's vinyl, I'd paint it some cool pattern in black/white/grey.

Get a bigger rolling cart for in front of the attic door...I have one that has the butcher block top and wire shelves (it's the same one that was in the kitchen island post a few days ago). You'd be able to fit your microwave on a lower shelf, and your coffee pot on top...plus all your pots/pans/etc on the lower shelves. Mine was a hand-me-down from my mom after she moved, but I think it was under $100. For a little more storage, hang some shelves behind the stove...maybe some artwork.

My washer used to be in my kitchen too. The easiest thing is to make a fold down counter. You could mount it to the wall where that whiteboard is and have it fold down to cover both the washer and dryer tops.

Good luck!

i'm with you, those cabinets are horrendous. if your landlord is game i would agree to the trimming off/prying off the frilly bit on top. painting them for sure, and the taking of the doors idea is interesting. it would open things up a lot. i think the most important thing to do would be to utilize the space ABOVE the cabinets for storage. it looks like you need some!

and yeah, carpet in the kitchen is just grosse to me... if you can't rip it up to put vinyl down (which shouldn't be crazy expensive if it is a small space, there are also peel and stick vinyl tiles that work surprisingly well) then i think the only solution is to just get a giant area rug that you like and go with it... probably one that you can throw in the wash!

First I would put up a roman shade or pretty curtain on the window to replace the ripped shade there now.

Next I would put the microwave on top of the fridge to free up space by the door for a table and two chairs. We have ours on top of the fridge and it's been working for us so far.

Put some art on the walls! Pictures, prints, posters, something nice. I'm depressed when there are blank walls! Plus it will distract ppl from seeing the washer/dryer there.

If you're planning on painting the cabinets, you could change the hardware on them too. Can find that stuff at walmart even pretty cheap. The wonky handles are a little weird to me.

Replacing the floor can wait. Try a bamboo mat rug or a different kind of rug down the middle to make it less blah.

Good luck :D :D :D

To TJ:

advice from long-time renter:

DO NOT do anything, you CANNOT TAKE with you to your next place.

DO NOT spent time to fix (not your space) - spent your energy for making more money - and ...

DO NOT spent YOUR money for something, that's not yours ....

Rather - SAVE all this Time, Effort & Money for a DOWN-PAYMENT for YOUR OWN PLACE..

Xandra

I agree with poetry. Try to use the space above the washer and dryer as temporary counter space. Or, you could probably find a cheap way to disguise them i.e. with plywood or something similar, that can easily be removed or pushed aside when you need to use them.

Since it is a rental, I'm sure you don't want to spend much money, but the carpet in the kitchen is no good. You could probably find a durable plastic to put over for the time being (I know I've seen it before),.. not sure if it would look cheap, but you might be able to find some interesting colors.

Now, is that a popcorn maker on the stove? I have one just like it,.... and I love it!

I agree with most. Walls & cabinets are interesting as is, if you just play with color, objects etc. A board/boards)of some sort across the washer/dryer area would give you more work space.

Though I also thought of removing the carpet, Xandra does have a point about saving your money to get your own place..... Maybe you could persuade the landlord to finance you in redoing the floor. It would, ultimately, be to his advantage, too.

I had similar problem with cabinets - painting is the easiest thing to do, so talk to your landlord. If you want to do it right - look for some DIY paining hints (sanding, priming, right paint are crucial). I removed doors and all hardware from mine, sanded the frames lightly, sanded everything from the doors, and I'm in the process of filling any gaps and groves in mine (pain in the b*tt, but the end effect is so much better then the before state). Paint with oil paint for hardest and most durable finish, but latex with gloss is ok, too.

The "frilly" parts: It looks like a piece of simple molding can save the top of the cabinets - just place one long piece on the existing "shapeful" thingy. The accents visible over the sink and drier may be easy to remove (I just had to "bang it out" from cabinet frames, cut the decor out and push them back in, fill any gaps, sand, paint. Sooooo much more space over the sink. You can also see if putting very flat molding over them would work... can't tell looking at the pictures.

Even if you leave them alone, you can get some counter top space by replacing that dish rack with wall mounted one (put it above the sink), or one you put in the sink (looks like you have double sink - so should have enough place to wash/dry at the same time).

I'd lose the microwave cart and try putting a little workspace between the fridge and range - you'll have a place to put a pan or pot in, get things out of the fridge, etc. Those Ikea carts would work, you can check other home goods stores (ex. http://www.target.com/Chrome-Microwave-Cart/dp/B00008616C/ref=sc_qi_detaillink). You can also get an inexpensive kitchen cabinet base (even without doors - you can cover the front with a little non-frilly fabric), make top prom cutting board and store pots and pans in it. If you have too little space for ready made cabinet, I'd still try to at least put a little shelf between those appliances - even to keep oil/pepper at hand.

You can mount a little shelf (or two) over the range, too (ex. by using simple wall brackets: http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=113255-28542-27012-2&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=3115651&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=sim - lots of styles at most hardware stores). Perfect for storing herbs and spices, some art, etc.

I can't see how much space is available in the coffee maker area, but I'd try relocating the microwave over there.

As a long time renter I am with Xandra generally, but I think paint is one thing I would suggest. It's not like it costs that much money or takes much time. A new coat of paint on the walls or the cabinets is only semi-permanent but will make a huge difference in how you see your space. I'd do a shot of color - like bright shiny cherry red or bright glossy yellow on the cabinets. The trim could be super fun in a bright color. I'd also see what's underneath the carpet. Maybe it's a decent linoleum that can be polished up, or better yet, a wood floor that you might be able to clean up and polish.

And by the way, I would kill for that amount of counter space. You can do plenty with what you already have.

To Xandra: thanks for the advice and I will not put any MONEY into it but I have nothing better to do really on the weekends and it wouldn't take long to do a little work in there if the landlord paid for the materials.

I emailed the landlord and he seems open to some changes in there. He's going to look and see if he can get some NEW cabinets (!!!)

Not sure about the floor yet but I suggested vinyl if there isnt hard wood under the carpet (which is very possible as the rest of the place is hard wood)

I do need more art and stuff on the walls. I'm an engineer and its hard for me to spend money on stuff that isnt functional! The fiancee is an artist though so she's all about it...

Yes Nawal - its a Whirley Pop. Makes the best popcorn hands down.

If you do not want to or not allowed to remove the carpet, I would place sheet vinyl over the entire floor. Quick fix and if there is a spill, it will not seep between the cracks like vinyl tile would. I did this on a yucky (often wet from rain) basement floor. I was guided to a product that does not have a soft backing so that it would be okay to get wet. Hope to see pictures when you are done. There are some great suggestions here!

I don't agree with the "don't spend money" rule. Maybe I was a renter too short to realize that, but looking at something that I dislike for a few months drives me crazy. Paint for the cabinets is what? $30? Few wall shelves - 20-30. A cart (movable - can take with you) $50 ? One vinyl peal/stick tile <$1.

If the landlord is ok (and will cover some/all the cost if you do it), you don't plan on moving anytime soon, are bored on the weekends, few little projects can make your place livable.

Hey Beautyeverywhere: I have the same problem- carpet in the kitchen. I do photo shoots in there and do have a small piece of checkerboard vinyl that I lay over a small area of the floor just when photographing it. I have often thought about getting a bigger piece and keeping it there all the time, but how would I get it to stay in place? Or are you saying to adhere it permanently to the carpet with glue or something? I wouldn't want it to be permanent, seems like it would just make the whole situation worse.

Also, of course my carpet in the kitchen is horribly ugly but oddly durable. My cats throw up on it, I spill stuff on it all the time- carpet cleaner gets it all right up. Also last week I accidentally let the water run (don't ask) and it ran out over the entire floor, soaking it. A shop vac got most of the water up and it dried within a day or two and you can't even tell anything happened. It didn't warp or anything, in fact, now it's extra clean, ha ha. Anyhow I do hate it but not really for the reasons you'd expect.

And that Flor stuff everyone loves- I don't get it- it's carpet, too!

You can remove the screws from the upper cabinets and store them. Keep the lower cabinets, just create more space! Go to a restaurant supply store and get deep long stainless steel shelving in 8' widths.

http://www.acitydiscount.com/12x72-Stainless-Wall-Mount-Shelving-w-Mounting-Brackets-WS-W1272.0.75181.1.1.htm

Start 14" down from the ceiling with the first shelf and do 4 rows so you get a very modern looking kitchen. The beauty of these shelves is the support placement is very flexible and can be placed on the studs, even if the placement is random, so that you have alot of support for heavy items. (When you move the shelving can be removed and reused in your garage or office area!)

For the floors Ikea has a white click style flooring that is a weekend project to install.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60138090

Very modern and clean and affordable. You can take that with you as well when you move and reused it in a another area!

I think the number one thing you should do is talk to your landlord. Often when you don't expect it,they are willing to help you out when you aren't happy with part of your apartment. I talked to my landlord when I was disappointed with our windows and he replaced all of them. More often than not it's a better investment to keep their current tenants happy than to have you leave and try to get another one, especially with something this horrid in there.

I would rip out the carpet first and try to do something to divide the two areas. it would be great if you could get stacking washer and dryers, and maybe eliminate that end part of the cabinetry under what is now the dryer. From there you could get something to separate the spaces, like maybe a thin bookcase or the industral shelving to slide between the laundry area and the kitchen. This would be good storage, and you would be able to put some personality into the room by putting things on it. And depending on what you put on it you could start to create a color palette that isn't so darn blah. You could even put the microwave on there and other small appliances, and get rid of unneeded furniture that just clutters things up more.

http://www.abbeycatchat.com

It's great that your landlord is willing to work with you. But, if he doesn't replace your cabinets, I would try to make the blue work. For example, a nice teal (like Benjamin Moore's Oceanic Teal #668) or maybe lime green (e.g., Chic Lime #396) might lend a nice contrast to the blue cabinets. Paint the cart with your coffee maker on it white, add some red or coral accents, some artwork, and a nice white curtain & you've made a huge change for relatively little effort and money.

i would definitely invest in some sturdy shelves for above the stove to store your coffee maker and microwave, just so you have more room to walk around (plus it'll look bigger/cleaner). i like the cabinets, but if u don't and can't change the shape of trim, then i'd actually suggest a bold wall color to compliment them like a deep chocolate brown. maybe u could add some metal sheeting or faux-tin tiles as a backsplash--my mom did this in her kitchen using double sided tape and it looks great!! good luck!

start with the floor. get something you can sweep and mop and wipe spills up from. the cabinets are gorgeous! Put in a butchers block table and lace curtains and vintage can planters and voula! go with making it look vintage, go with the flow. :P

Good news folks! Sounds like there's a good chance the landlord will get brand new cabinets and floor if I put them in!! I'm going to Home Depot tonight to look at stuff. I'm going to stop at a few other places to see if there's some decorations or window dressings in my price range. I'll also be looking for a metal rack for te coffee make and microwave and some shelving for above the stove. Thanks for the tips!

In addition to all the things suggested, you could cover the washer and dryer with a curtain or tapestry that can easily be moved when you need to do laundry. Cheap and an easy way to add some style.

That's great news on the new floor and cabinets! I'm fortunate enough to not have carpeting in my kitchen, but my cabinets are in much, MUCH worse shape...

As far as the washer/dryer goes poetry and others had some pretty good ideas! HOWEVER, if you are getting new cabinets you may be able to throw some sort of enclosure into the mix, think "hidden laundry room in the pantry." This may prove more difficult with your separate units but maybe your landlord would be willing to get you a stackable washer/dryer.

It's always worth it to ask, your landlord may know of another unit that could use your current washer/dryer. If they are unwilling to spend more money, purchasing your own could be another option, as long as you can take it with you when you move! Just a thought, otherwise the butcher block idea is still great compromise!

Glad your landlord is open to some changes! Carpet in the kitchen is awful.

If you do replace the cabinets, please do the environmentally-responsible thing by donating your old ones to a thrift store for building materials. It looks like your cabinets are in good shape, with vintage hardware, and they are probably solid wood/plywood as opposed to the particleboard that most cabinets are made of today. Someone will be very happy to have them. As long as you take them out gently so they're still in good shape!

I don't know exactly where you are, but there are a bunch of home improvement thrift stores throughout Iowa - check out the directories at http://www.habitat.org/env/restores.aspx and http://bmra.org/listings/browse-by-state?catid=31
Most stores do have trucks and can pick up donations, plus you (or your landlord) can get the tax deduction

I also think your kitchen is cute. The cabinets and the blue paint look to be in good condition, but not the carpet. Add red accents (towels, pottery, artwork, whatever.) I couldn't tell if you had a double sink, or not. If you do, you could get an in-sink dish drainer to free up some counterspace.

If budget is an issue, why dont you try peel and stick vinyl tile in an alternating stripe pattern like this one?

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bG6G4xCe6SM/SdoN_zjpCaI/AAAAAAAAA3I/q8iGSxSDuxo/s400/Lucky%2BBrand%2BJeans%2Bfloor.BMP&imgrefurl=http://www.liveoaks.net/2009/04/striped-linoleum-flooring-at-lucky.html&usg=__gYVPG0AwZTkRN6RD0SXMO2YxOm0=&h=400&w=300&sz=21&hl=en&start=13&sig2=4BWk8cz1mYPj1oxGwhnNrw&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=mSr7qU4MVzh6tM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=93&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dstriped%2Bfloor%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=GziSS6edL4XTlAe-14z8AQ

Landlords usually like it when tenants paint (in my experience, anyway) but can be picky about colors.

I don't know what the rental market is like where you live, but what were they thinking, putting carpet in a kitchen? How do they expect you to keep it clean on a day to day basis? And it could not have been cheaper than putting in simple sheet vinyl??

To TJC:

a. thanks for liking my idea of not putting your OWN money into a rental.

b. If you have an urge to put your hands into a "good" use during weekends to improve your surroundings (and landlord is going to finance it) - GO FOR IT !!!
(You never know, if this skill of remodeling could not be used later ... hey - in this type of shaky economy - any skill, which could generate income (even part-time) - can prove VERY useful.

c. As for covering empty spaces on the wall - I have the same feeling - walls are the CANVASES to be put in use (it goes probably with our "engineering soul") - if it is there - USE IT !!!

d. For tacking the stuff on the walls - last time - I used VERY succesfully STAPLE GUN - it leaves only tine holes, which could be just "painted-over".

e. What to DISPLAY on the walls ? - Your drawings, your girlfriend artwork, posters, pages from magazines you liked & did not want to throw away, postcards, photos....

...anything, you could think about .... just, please, DO NOT GLUE or WALLPAPER !!! ...wallpaper looks great - but it is a nightmare to get out !!! (- from my own experience - removing wallpaper was almost a cause to family break-out ...)

Xandra

Lots of good suggestions here. I know it is hard to embrace things in a rental apt, but cabinets are a bitch to paint well, so my attitude in the many, many rental kitchens I have had is to live with the cabinets and make them blend to my style as much as possible. One way I find to "modernize" is to use a tone on tone color palate, in other words, pick a similar color to the cabinets, I would probably go towards the greyish hue and put it everywhere else (moulding, walls, etc.) Part of what is making it cutesy is the light blue against the white.
A few alternate floor solutions that can be laid over your carpet and not look like a temp solution and are relatively inexpensive:
these interlocking cork and foam tiles:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Cork-PRINT-Puzzle-EVA-Foam-Tiles-Mats-Flooring_W0QQitemZ370343525526QQcmdZViewItemQQptZTile_Flooring?hash=item563a31bc96
they are also available in white, grey, black, etc.
They can be cut with a utility knife and are easy to install wall to wall, even under the w/d and appliances.
I have never personally used this so I can't speak to quality, but have been wanting to try it out, is used like a custom area rug, cut it to size to cover the carpet, ne need to tack it down, just lay it over carpet:
http://www.designyourwall.com/store/Custom-Temporary-Vinyl-Adhesive-Floor-Covering-c-4.html
these are what I like for you, though almost impossible to tell what really would work with colors:
http://www.designyourwall.com/store/Blue-Tile-2-vinyl-applique-flooring-pr-1354.html
http://www.designyourwall.com/store/Green-Faux-Linoleum-vinyl-applique-floor-covering-pr-1173.html
http://www.designyourwall.com/store/Texture-White-CN42203-pr-4918.html
and then the window is a real opportunity, I would do some curtains, with some graphic print, in a high quality cotton. This place has very affordable, very nice options, and samples are cheap:
http://www.halfpricedrapes.com/
I like these with the blue:
http://www.halfpricedrapes.com/casablanca-printed-cotton-curtains-drapes.html
but certainly there are many other options if that is too girly/dominoesque for you.
instead of a blind, you could do this on just the bottom half of the window:
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr5/R-100155257/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
very easy to apply and remove.
I would probably put a little table with some modern chairs in front of the window, floating a little off the wall. There are some inexpensive bertoia and eames knock-offs available at overstock right now.

Anyway, even if none of these suggestions are to your taste, I always find the key to rentals is to work with what you can't change and cover every surface you can.

Good luck!

www.homesweetbrooklyn.blogspot.com

As a former landlord, I would insist on not cutting up the cabinets; if done poorly, it would look bad. They'd look nice in traditional white paint. The walls could be any pastel you like; retro is fine if not overly cute. I had a carpeted kitchen that was vile. Unless there's something nice under the carpet(unlikely), ask the landlord to put in commercial vinyl tile; it's cheap, easy to maintain, and lasts a long time. B&w is a good color scheme.

I've had the laundry in the kitchen; it's pretty handy. You could make a skirt for them: attach eyeloops to the wall, and run a loop of elastic around them. Like an elastic waist skirt. And make a matching cover for the dials, if they bug you.

Unless you plan to be there for a long time, don't spend a lot on a rental.

Vinyl flooring might not be your thing but they sell squares at Home Depot that are less than a dollar per square. The room doesn't look that big so you wouldn't be spending a fortune.