AT reader Erika managed to nab an apartment in a great location for a decent price--the only problem is that the apartment is old, and had not been well-kept. She says: I just moved into my new apartment--and I already want to move out! Even though my landlord is pretty easygoing, he's also lazy and doesn't keep up with maintaining the apartments. My apartment is totally dingy, particularly the kitchen--I'm dying to repaint! What color should I paint this? Any other suggestions to make this kitchen better?
Hi Erika,
It seems like a paint job would definitely help personalize the space a bit more. We could see this kitchen painted a soft blue-grey with white trim if you like a more traditional clean look, or go bright! Yellows and greens might be a good base for your walls, and you can play around with the built in shelving. (We'd try to get rid of that random cabinet floating on the wall, though...) Considering that your place is a rental, you might also want to pick a lighter shade in case you have to repaint the walls to white...
Anyone else have any suggestions?
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You definitely need a warm paint color and some curtains. What about a sort of 50s/early 60s vibe? I see either grass green or sunny yellow walls, to give the space a punch of color - then cafe curtains in that window and maybe a nice retro tablecloth on that table. The table is small, so it'd be easy to find nice vintage linens on eBay.
Another thing you could do would be to get those repositionable WallSlicks or the vinyl wall decals from Parisitic, and put them on those cabinet doors. You could transform it into a chalkboard, if you wanted, with no permanent damage done to the cabinet... or you could just pretty up the ugly thing with some nice image. Parisitic in particular has some beautiful stuff.
Last but not least, plants are anti-dingy - they'll bring an enormous amount of life into the space, if you have even a little bit of a green thumb.
If you aren't allowed to take that cabinet down, how about just removing the doors so it is open shelves?
I think grass green would be pretty.
i'd be careful about yellows and greens because it looks like the tile is already a bit yellowish (stains??) and these tones will only enhance it. Unless you can cover those a bit, perhaps on the table like flowers or something. You have a decent amount of wall space so a couple photos with black frames would create great lines and help add hints of color that would bring the room together. I agree with the AT blogger and think that a blue would go nicely in this room. While the kitchen is one of the most functional rooms in the house (if not THE most), i'd try to resist the temptation to use the built in shelf for cluttering cans and dried goods storage.
I'm so glad to see this. Our rental kitchen is also all white with older (60's) white cabinetry, white walls, and a white floor (no tiles). I have also been trying to decide what color to paint it. I'm tempted to do something drastic like a darker, bolder color.
I also would consider things like:
- Scrubbing down those tiles with some (not so green I know) bleach solution
- What type of lighting/light bulbs are in there? Consider switching out for a different feel
- find some inexpensive drawer pulls to help upgrade the cabinets
- definitely do a curtain on the window, a cute printed fabric and some hem tape can be turned into a no-sew cafe curtain in a snap
- bright colored area rug(s) on the floor
- fresh flowers on that table
- if the weird shelf must stay, paint the backs with some bright colors and display fun colorful kitchen-y objects.
Good luck! And congrats on the good deal/location!
Get rid of the cabinet and put up three or four open shelves along that wall. This will allow the light from the window to still come in, but give you much more storage space.
Also, I would paint the inside of that built-in and center your table on it. It could be used to hold napkins, salt and pepper shakers, small fun toys to play with while eating...
Paint and plants will do wonders! I'm all over the green idea for a paint color - earthy and clean..fresh! As far as increasing storage (and making that cabinet look like it's on purpose) - how about finishing off the cabinet run by putting in a couple of shelves (floating or otherwise) to the left of that cabinet? Especially if you leave the doors on - it would be a nice balance. Is that tile on the wall? If you can't take it down, find a creative way to cover it...how about large panels of radiator grill material (you know, the metal stuff put onto the front of radiator boxes) with an interesting pattern. ? I've been meaning to find a cool use for this stuff myself.
I think this may be easier than you think to "freshen" up - good luck!!
I agree- definitely paint the walls, and get rid of that cabinet. I'd get some metal shelves instead that perhaps run across the length of the wall, or part way- there are ones at ikea where you can get hooks to hang a spice rack, towels, utensils, pots, etc. I do like the chalkboard idea to replace that cabinet. put splashes of color on the table or the sink. i'd keep the color palette to a minimum since its a small space it can make the space seem tiny and claustrophobic. good luck!
Scour those dingy tiles!! Use whatever you have to to get those stains off, because as a landlord who works for a company specializing in turnover, that's the first thing my eye is drawn to. Once you get it clean, tile is very easy to keep clean.
If you can't take the cabinet down, I second the suggestion of taking the doors off. Then it wouldn't be so.... in-your-face. Some trailing plants on the built-in shelving and maybe some cookbooks or something would look pretty. Don't put dishes or food on those shelves, it'll look messy.
I assume from the strings you have some horizontal blinds... yeuch. Get rid of them if you're allowed (even if you're not, take them down and put them back up when you go) and put up some pretty curtains in a light, sheer fabric.
A cheery yellow would look good on the wall (if/when you get the yellow stains off the tiles because then it'll look bad if you don't) or another light, happy colour. Maybe put some art up above the table. And maybe a new table - I hate to knock your table, but it isn't contributing. Wait, as I look closer, is it attached to the wall? That's interesting. Can you take it down and put maybe a pretty bistro table there?
on those built in shelves put small colorful vases or pictures.
they make vinyl decals for the tiles too...could help cover up the dinginess of them. they come is really fun prints and colors and you could create a fun pattern to take your eye away from the imperfections!
Cleaning and painting would definitely do wonders!
The table you have makes it look very yellow. I would either paint the table, or use a tablecloth.
Add fresh flowers, pretty dishes.
Curtains.
Can you powerscrub the tiles?
My first impression: hopeless. My new impression after reading the comments and thinking about it: potentially very cute space.
I just went to google images and searched for "1950s kitchens." Lots of ideas there if you want to embrace a cheerful retro look.
One of the first images is a kitchen painted apple green on the top half with a cute bistro type table like lemonader suggested. The cabinets are white and the window has a tiered curtain.
Another one has a pretty blue color with some cheerful red checked curtains and other red accents.
If you can't remove that square white cabinet (hopefully you can), at least change the handles throughout the kitchen. Cheap easy fix.
If you're doing a fifties look, that built-in could be perfect for a display of Fiestaware vases and pitchers. (Is it deep enough? It looks like their pitcher is four inches deep.)
Are those tiles supposed to be white if they were clean? That would influence the paint color you choose. Maybe even a Fiesta color.....
-it's amazing how many stains will come out with bleach and elbow grease. those tiles can probably be greatly improved.
-this small area with all this white is the place to be risky with color, if you are that type. what's your favorite color? i would find a pattern you really like for the curtains and then pick a shade to paint the walls from, and also pick a contrast shade to paint that tall skinny cabinet.
-center table on tall skinny cabinet. add cute stuff in there. use that conveniently placed outlet to put a tiny table lamp on your table.
-get rid of that weird cabinet and have shelves put up. also painted your contrast color.
-yes on rugs. wasn't there a cool "indoor/outdoor" posting from earlier today on a viva terra rug that's somewhat kitcheny?
-your kitchen has great potential!
-if you are funkily minded, could do a decoupage on the backsplash. i'm seeing this as sort of 50s/60s fiesta too.
You know, I always find inspiration from Flickr.
If scrubbing the tiles doesn't help, I suggest washing down the tiles with 100% Clorox bleach. Just let the bleach sit on the tiles and rinse it off the next day. If this doesn't whiten the tiles, then nothing else will. You can use an old toothbrush to get the bleach into the grouty areas.
You can also do this with white cabinets and white shelves (caution: here you should use diluted bleach and rinse off within a few minutes). I did this when I moved into my apartment and was very happy with the results.
Please be sure to open a window before you try this and put on some old clothes!
For cleaning the tiles, I suggest 1) a Mr. Clean magic eraser and 2) Clorox bleach pen. If the magic eraser doesn't take those stains off, use the bleach pen. It's a gel, so it will stick to the spots without running right off.
That cabinet has got to go (just don't tell the landlord)
I'd paint the cabinets and that flip-up table Green and the walls would go cream. Accent with a red & white valence over the window and red cookware, red rag-rug at the sink, etc.
And try these shelves:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80094245
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S89834385
I like the idea of metal shelves. But if you can't remove the cabinet, I think you could add some cheap trim to the front (a rectangle on each door) to make it look a little more upscale. And definitely swap out the handles...Anthropologie's are cute and reasonably priced, but even some shiny new ones from Home Depot would make a big difference.
ooh...one more thing! If the tile is permanantly dingy, I wonder if you could buy some pretty fabric and use it to "wallpaper" over the tile using spray starch. I think it should adhere pretty easily, it peels right off when you move out, and you can find lots of tutorials on the web for wallpapering with fabric and starch.
I hate my rented kitchen too. Here is what I did. I took two plain wood boards and painted them white, drilled holes in the ends and suspended them with white nylon rope above the kitchen sink. Then I took several housplants and put them on the suspended shelving. It made a big difference, and not much cost or time, and they are very easy to take with me when I move again. See it at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alyeskagold/2406718534/
Guys steam cleaning.. NO CLEMICALS, and cleans!!! needs to be done professionally, and also greased lightining is the best cleaner...
You may be able to get those tiles clean with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, not as fume-y as bleach. My husband is a machinist and really grimes up the bathroom and the magic eraser is the best thing ever on the bathroom tile!
One other non popular thing.. If you are going to stay a long time.. redo the area.. rip out the tiles, plaster, get rid of the sink and cabinet.. I can't see the rest of the sink side, but you could buy the really cheap freestanding kichen with intergrated sink.. With this kitchen you are trying to put a bandage on cancer. Sorry
Or if that odd cabnet is all the storage you have there, I'd put a similar-height open shelves next to it, so it doesn't look so alone on the wall.
What's the floor like?
With paint I'd go with something warm..orange or red or warm yellow maybe? Greens&blues would just emphasize how yellow the tiles are.
Remember to paint the ceiling white too, it brings a lot of light and it's probably very grimy at the moment.
GOOD LUCK!
The best thing for cleaning tile? Spray'n'Wash -- yes, the stuff you use on laundry. It contains a surfactant that lifts grunge from soap scum to hard water stains. You won't even have to scrub hard.
your kitchen is pretty reminiscent of ours when we moved into our rental loft in chicago. we removed the cabinet doors and lined the backs of them with orange banner paper. we also had a wall-mounted collapsable table, which we removed and stuffed in our (one) storage closet, along with the cabinet doors, the medicine cabinet that we removed from the bathroom, etc. i'll put it all back when we move out.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/heatheranneulrich/sets/72157604207760975/
mrs, i love your kitchen! The orange is so cheery. I've bookmarked it for my inspiration file. Also -- amazing oil collection!
one question -- what do you use to make paper adhere to the back of cabinets in a rental? It needs to be something that will stick, yet come off when the time comes to move.
I wish I could see more clearly, but it looks to me as if that stuff in the wainscoting area is not real ceramic tile. It's too flat and even. If it is in fact that narsty fake tile wallboard, you'll have to work with your landlord to have it removed. I had that stuff in a flat before and the staining comes from inside when the backing leaches out onto the surface. Replace it with inexpensive beadbord from a home center.
As for the rest: paint a cheery colour, vinyl decals and snazzy hardware for the cabinet doors, change the light fixture (unseen here, but likely hideous as well). You could get that done in a day.
Textiles and accessories. Stuff from IKEA would make it a LIVELY space.
These placemats are vinyl, cut to fit those openings in the wall:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00126896
Happy chair covers:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00125590
Or tie on pillows:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20125589
Dishtowels:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90126825
Pot holders:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60128227
Aprons (can hang on hook for decor):
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10126829
I went looking for a picture of a white room with very colorful dishes on display, as well as the textiles they used. That made the room. You can also look at the before/after image of a deck in Sweden, here on this site. It has mostly colorful textiles and objects. That is all your kitchen needs.
Use a grout sealer with whitener for the tiles.
1. Clean the tiles with Fantastic. It works great on grease and there's probably a lot of it in the kitchen. I'd also use Tilex afterwards to ensure there's no mould.
2. Apply the grout whitener liberally and don't worry about getting it on the tile.
3. Let it dry a bit according to the instructions.
4. While semi-dry, carefully wipe the whitener off the tile, but leave it on the grout. Ensure that you do this before it completely cures while it's easy to wipe off.
The stuff dries really hard and it's water proof. Despite three people taking showers daily, the whitener on my bathroom tiles has lasted over two years. You can also use a dye if you don't want white.
It's as tedious as cleaning them with a toothbrush, but the results would be worth it.