Because the counters are pink and there's so much counter space, I would embrace it and replacing the tile with something darker in a charcoal or slate grey, or a really shiny black to give the pink a lot of contrast. People will gravitate toward the boldness of the grey or black and won't be as inclined to think about your pink countertops as a design flaw.

Choose a different house?

agree about the black/gray. Look at vintage bathrooms to see how to incorporate pink in an inoffensive way

for what it's worth I've lived with far worse.

I don't even know what to think anymore.

I like this blog. But when someone is whining about the pink countertops in their large sunny expat kitchen in Saudi Arabia, I start to wonder at the frivolity of apartment therapy. You call this "fairly narrow"? Wow.

Ditto Aaliyah537

Also, kinda digging the countertops...

Okay, yes, the counters are bad, and the tiles aren't great. But I quite like the cabinets.

Double ditto, Aaliyah537.

That "ugly" kitchen is way better than the one in my place, trade you any day. Not helpful, I know, I'm with bepsf, choose another house.

Bright side: it's a nice big kitchen with a large amount of countertop space and a good working triangle between the sink, stove and fridge. From the pictures, the pink (which isn't so bad for pink, really) and the tiles behind seem to actually go together. Perhaps the tiles could use some regrouting and fresh face plates for the outlets. I agree with the grey idea - grey and pink can work well together if chosen carefully - but I would actually use the grey for painting the lower cabinets.

I could envision the upper cabinets staying white (or possibly a dark, dull pink?) - but a white that matches the bright white of the appliances (clashing whites invariably make one look dingy.) Maybe whiter blinds too for the same reason - or a different color or fabric.

The walls might need to go creamy to match the backsplash tiles more. Add some new nickel pulls, and perhaps a fun runner (like Dash and Albert) that has a bit of pink in it will make it all look cohesive.

For the two different tiles meeting, find a threshold (or make one out of some molding) that is wide enough to cover over the half-tiles and it won't look as noticeable.

I tried to keep suggestions to paint and easy hardware since I have no idea what kind of home stores you find in Saudi Arabia - looking forward to future posts!

Triple ditto Aaliyah, it's a rental! Hang some cute postcards, throw in some plants and put down a rug in the pantry to offset the large tile.

You wanna see fug & narrow? Here's the kitchen in the apartment we just moved into. http://marmonthills.blogspot.com/2010/07/white-hot-mess.html

Now gimme your cabinets AND the pink countertop.

Don't invest too much into this! It's JUST a rental, and not yours to keep! Invest in things you like (and can take with you) and ignore the countertops. Who cares if they're pink? From the sounds of it, you won't be there that long anyway.

If you're really all that worried about it, I'd change the knobs on the cabinets. Embrace the pink and get some funky rugs. (Prayer rugs from Saudi Arabia could be a cool take-home souvenir... Please excuse my ignorance if you're not actually supposed to walk on prayer rugs...) Draw the attention away from the countertop color with other stuff on the countertops - cook books, plants, kitchen utensils. Paint the cabinets a bright white so they don't look quite so dingy against the white appliances. Paint the walls a rich/pinky beige to tie it all together.

Although I somewhat agree with Aaliyah, we tend to live in rental apartments in the US, too, and we like to make them pretty. An apartment isn't defined by it's size.

I agree with claudmia (except for the painting part), and since renting is our family business (as well as being a renter ourself) I wouldn't invest in a place that is not yours. So no major renovations where you're ripping out stuff. It's money down the hole. Find a way to work around the space. You have the three main colors, the pink, brown and white. Get a color wheel and find accent colors that will compliment these two (you know the exact colors in your kitchen) and work with a palette of 3 - 4 colors. Buy your kitchen accessories around these colors. Rugs, dishcloths,paintings, utensils, dishes etc. This will help integrate the colors and make it a more cohesive space.

If it was a long-term rental, I could see making some changes, but as you are only going to be there for 2 years, I would leave it as it is, and enjoy the space and light and be glad it is clean.

Can we get a commentor cage match going?

I'll make popcorn, just gotta unpack my microwave...

that kitchen reminds me strongly of a friend's old place in boston. it was a basement apartment in a converted firehouse.

decorate to compliment the bones. what else can you do? you're not gonna stay home, right? it's saudi arabia. explore!

Are you serious? I love this kitchen! The only thing I don't really care for are the tiles..

My rental has medium brown and white two-toned cabinets, old old sink, dishwasher and microwave, country everything else and an odd pale greenish-tan paint job that was never finished.

It needs some tweaking, but damn. I like the pink countertops with all the white, and I'd love to have a kitchen this ugly. Not to mention bright and functional. And BIG.

Light grey walls and medium grey (charcoal) cabinets would make everything look more deliberate. Congrats on the new space!

My bathroom has (insert adjective here) pink tile, and I've found the combination of charcoal gray on the walls, plus the white bathtub, vanity, etc, really works with the pink. If you embrace the pink, even a little, you'll be annoyed a lot less. I went out and found an awesome pink-polka dotted bath rug and it really tied the room together (dude). A few pink kitchen towels hanging off the oven door will do wonders. But I wouldn't paint the cabinetry. You have so much, guh, that would be a JOB and a half. Focus on the walls and accessories, both of which can be had for relatively little money.

I would paint the tiles. Rust-Oleum makes a tub & tile kit but it only comes in white, almond and biscuit so the options are limited. The up side is, it's under $25:

http://www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-7860519-Refinishing-2-Part-White/dp/B000PTSBKW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1281994559&sr=8-1

Next, I would paint the countertops. Just do a search for painting laminate counters and you'll find detailed instructions that consist of priming, painting and sealing. A dark brown or charcoal would be nice and give you lots of options for a wall paint color. Here's what dark brown would look like:

http://www.freeimagehosting.net/image.php?fca93e0758.jpg

I would leave the cabinets and just change the hardware and the outlet covers.

All in all, I think you can make a dramatic change in there for around $250.

Good luck with it.

The pink really isn't bad at all, sort of a neutral kind of pink, and once you have stuff on the counters, I think it will fade into the background.

Measure and have some butcher blocks cut to length. Just use rubber bumpers underneath to keep it from sliding around. I've done it before. It works pretty darn well.

Seriously??? how spoiled are some people?? My first rental kitchen:
Brown and yellow ripped up vinyl
Bright blue counters worn to white in spots
Blue/red/yellow wallpaper with flowers and dutch girl shoes-even the back door was wallpapered.
Bright yellow cabinets painted in such a hurry no one took off any of the hardware.
Stainless sink, yellow fridge, green stove.
The worst part? The owner LOVED it and refused to let me change one thing!

This is NOT an ugly kitchen. It actually looks bright and airy and the cabinets, etc. are in good condition. Write back in when you move into a rental with a kitchen 1/4 that size with faux wood chocolate brown cabinets and peeling, stained lineoleum.

Paint the walls gray, get a few green plants and cute kitchen accessories and call it a day.

Look, we all care about the appearance of our homes (temporary or long-term), or else we wouldn't visit this website! One of the most rewarding aspects of decorating is the opportunity to work with what we have and to try our best to make it beautiful.
I'm from, and live in, Argentina. My home, compared to most of the homes I see on AT, is a hamster cage. I don't let that discourage me - I just love seeing beautiful homes, large and small, and what people have been able to do, whether they've spent fortunes or a few bucks. I feel blessed to have my apartment, and I know that I have put a lot of work and effort into it (although it's a rental!).
All that said, I too found my kitchen challenging at first because it had too many (and very drab) colors going on. However, I picked one strong color to repeat throughout the kitchen (in the china, accesories, etc), and it pulled everything together. I hardly ever notice the mismatched colors anymore.
Cheer up, and take it in stride. Instead of listing all the things you don't like, try to think of at least one positive thing about this house, and start from that. You might learn to love your kitchen, even with the pink :).

I guess I didn't realize one could find American-style vanilla taste in the Mideast.

Having said that...you are in a fascinating foreign country. For a limited time. Forget about the kitchen and go live a little.

I, too, have laminate countertops in an unattractive color. I've used various countertop mats, kitchen items, artwork, mirror, and appliances to draw attention from the color. It does work.

As many have commented, this place doesn't look so bad. However, if you are so intent on investing money on renovating or changing this kitchen, here are my recommendations:

1. Ask the landlord how much he/she would pay to fix the kitchen.
2. If he/she won't spend, ask if you could make renovations at your expense.
3. Assuming they won't let you take things out (like the countertop):

a) If the countertop is made of laminate, paint countertop with countertop paint by Rustoleum. You could tile them if they are made of something else, or just leave them alone.
b) Paint cabinets
c) Change hardware on cabinets
d) Clean grout or regrout tiles
e) Paint walls
f) Find accessories to match

I think greyish-pink, or charcoal-purple colors would do well with the pink. Chocolate brown or Black with the neutral colors could look good too. I suggest collecting some paint chips at the Hardware Store and using samples to come up with the best looking colors. Luckily, your kitchen is neutral and fixable. You just need to work with your landlord and know your limitations since it's ultimately a rental.

Good luck. It's already a billion times better than many of my NYC apt kitchens. It looks bright and clean.

Get over it! It's bright, clean and big!
Now, keep calm and bake something!

could you post some pictures of that narrow, ugly kitchen you speak of? cuz the kitchen pictured doesn't look so bad to me... just needs some sprucing up with accessories and maybe a little paint.
I agree with all the posters above; you're temporarily in a large sunny expat in Saudi Arabia, something most of us poor Apartment Therapy readers can only dream of! Be thankful for what you have, embrace it and go out and experience the culture!

Go with it. AT did a post about candy colored kitchens last week?! Make matching curtains that are reminiscent of a french cafe, use the pink in the counter top. Get a pink Smeg fridge! or pink flowers, pink kitchen utensils, throw in some reds, blues, blacks or whites... A fun kitchen rug and voila!

Make the pink look like it happens on purpose! and that you LOVE it!

The pink isn't terrible. Check out the post on the pink and brown bedrooms in the Hotel George. Paint the upper wall a nice, warm brown. Put some rugs down the middle, get better blinds and some pictures. It will look fine.

i think the pink is cool, as well as the cabinet doors. maybe you could strip the cabinet doors, give those a nice light stain and go with what "mostly late" said by painting the walls with warm brown. also, contrasting the pink with bright light green (kermit) highlights like pots, pans, and appliances, will do wonders. i think you have great potential here, good luck!

wow - we've got judgmental comments, here!

turn that frown upside down, saudi arabia. i actually think the pink / tan combo could be the beginning of genius. it puts me in mind of some joseph albers paintings i've seen: http://dart.fine-art.com/aqd-asp-i_144506-buy-artlistinginfo.htm
i'd say, rather than dull the space out with more with greys and nuetrals, keep the tile and counter just as they are but amp up the walls and cabinets with two more nervy paint colors - say, raspberry and burnt umber or golden rod and clay. it's a trope albers played over and over. you want colors that sort of vibrate off one another. and you've got the sunlight to make it work. better yet, take the upper cabinet doors off (i hate upper cabinet doors) and paint the inside yet another color. something just shy of eye-gauging. perhps farrow and ball ditch blue? (check out their website for amazing color guidance:http://www.farrow-ball.com/colour-schemes/content/fcp-content)

definitely loose the cabinet pulls, but again, i wouldn't go with tired old silver / stainless / pewter (boring!) but punch it up with something graphic like these guys from ikea: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50153665

also - every counter looks better with some halogen light - add puck downlights under the upper cabinets.

so - two (maybe three) cans of paint, a screwdriver and some $2 puck lights. the price is right.

the good news is, it's a rental and you're there for two years - have some fun with it! it's an opportunity to try something out without commitment.

wow some commenters are harsh! I didn't read about any plans to completely renovate- I read a question about what color to paint the existing cabinets and a request for ideas on ways to hide or replace the backsplash tiles. Yeah the kitchen is sunny, but I bet in Saudi Arabia, sunny translates into HOT, and there are three different colors and sizes of tile visible in these photos- that is a lot to try to coordinate even if the tiles individually are ok.

I agree that the white cabinets don't work with the white appliances- the charcoal grey suggested above sounds like a great idea to me. Maybe cover the backsplash with those peel and stick metal tiles designed for renters? This kitchen is blandly ugly so some pops of bright color like elstudio suggested could bring in that quirky feel.

Good luck!

I'm really confused by the commenters. Two years is a heck of a long time to live somewhere in my experience. Anyone who doesn't think that is a long term rental doesn't move very much. Every day counts, doesn't it?

Also, this site is "apartment" therapy--it showcases major efforts people put into their "apartments"--their rentals. "Its a rental suck it up" doesn't really cut it.

Plus, the landlord will foot part of the bill for the suggested changes--woohoo! You'd be crazy *not* to re-do the apartment with this option.

I also don't get the "get over it and go live a little" comments. She is living--in her house. And she wants it to be nice. Plus its not like she moved to an outdoor beach resort. She'll be cooped up a lot in SA. (I'm making up that she's a "she"--she'll be even more cooped up if this is the case. Call this orientalist if you like, but I prefer to live life with facts, and this is a fact.)

I think these comments are made by people that have not had the chance to live in a foreign country. Sure it is an exciting experience. The joy varies depending on the location. Even when its fun, it is also taxing--its called culture shock. And if you check the graphs, culture shock lasts longer than 2 years. It comes in waves. One way to deal with it so that you stay happy is to have a peaceful house that you like, not a house that makes you frustrated.

I speak from having lived in South America, South and Southeast Asia, and Western Europe, all over the last 4 years. Its not all fun and games. Its not vacation after all--its life. And life requires a nice kitchen.

And no this is not a star kitchen. So its not the worst kitchen in the world--its still not great. "My kitchen is worse" is not really helpful.

In short I am confused as heck by all of these comments. I was looking through the comments searching for helpful suggestions to apply to MY rental kitchen--which at 12 months I consider very long term b/c I move country and continent so often for work that I often have 1 month or 2 month rentals!

And I think many of you overlooked that the author of this post already did point out the positives. She is looking for a way to counteract the negatives. As in, she is looking to perform apartment therapy.

On the kitchen
1) if keeping the pink countertops

--go grey. Dark grey like slate grey for the tiles; paint the backsplash the same grey; the cabinets a light/dove grey; nickel hardware

2) if changing the countertops
Go grey here. Keep the rest white. Paint the backsplash the same white as the cabinets. Change the cabinet hardware.

If you can't stand the counters you could reglaze.

http://www.miraclemethod.com/photo-gallery.htm

I just re-read and noticed you are interested in ways to make it "funky". @elstudio has some really good ideas to ramp up the color with darker pinks and yellows - I think the trick is to bring in some dark, rich values. I was also thinking you could get a quart of paint that matches the counters and use it to paint details along the inside molding lines of the cabinets.

'quirky' not 'funky' (but same general idea?!)

Ditto, @hardcorsi - you said everything I was thinking. This is Apartment Therapy, and as this site becomes bigger and better and fancier and incorporates *more* than just budget-sprucing apartments, we still shouldn't forget this core mission: to make rentals nicer to live in. It's actually been fascinating to watch commenters' values shift as this site evolves.

The kitchen does have good bones, and I honestly think the size isn't too awful, but that backsplash tile is totally sad and requires way more than regrouting. And the cabinet hardware seems out of place (too American country).

I wouldn't go gray. From the pictures, it looks like the whole house has a "warm" palette. (Um, the desert, right?) So why try to make it something it's not by cooling the colors down? It would be too jarring to walk through the warm house and suddenly be in a "cool" kitchen.

@hardcorsi, yes, yes, yes.

This kitchen is not nice, and I agree it can be improved cheaply.

I would not paint the cabinet, this is the part that looks newest. I would change the backsplash, the job was not well done on these to begin with, it'd be a quick weekend job, and the landlord would probably pay for something neutral and cheap (white subway tiles would be best even though it's a very popular option). And simpler than painting cabinets is painting walls and these walls could improve a great deal with some light grey.

The separation between the kitchen and the pantry could easily be fixed with an aluminium floor transition piece. It would be much less noticeable.

The next thing as mentioned a few times above is to add many accessories of one color to distract from the pink. I would go bright orange personally.

Have fun in your new house!

They are just jealous you are living the life they wish they add, but they chose to marry and have kids at 24 instead of waiting and living a little... :P

I'm having a difficult time taking you seriously. If this is the BIGGEST issue in your life, you've got it WAY TOO EASY. Talk about being frivolous.

Sigh, haters gonna hate...

From one pink counter victim to the next, I found this palette to be quite useful and inspiring:

http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/07/simply-color-morgan-satterfield.html

Best of luck!

@MLRosegarten

who ever said this was her bigger issue in her life. Like everyone looking at this website, she is interested in getting her place looking nice. No?

What's the problem with that.

I think dark midnight/navy would look nice with pink, cream and white in a 1950s formalwear sort of way. A cheap way to do this might be to paint the walls or bottom cabinets, particularly at the perimeter of the countertops and tiles. And put down a navy rug/oilcloth/whatever. Chrome fixins would look good with this too.

The counters seem more of a mauve. You could go with the classic pallet of soft grey, charcoal, and chrome/stainless steel. If you can change the backsplash (re-tile or even just paint) I'd go bright white. Paint the cabinets a light dove grey, the walls medium grey or even charcoal. Chrome handles and pulls on cabinets. Chrome and glass accents on the counters, replace the mini-blinds with graphic grey and white shade or curtains.

Or...

http://tinyurl.com/274czsv

Look to this outfit for a more colorful way to embrace the counters and the existing backsplash. Medium browns, tans, olive, loden, copper, rust, cadet blues will co-ordinate with mauve. I'd go with a mapley tan on the lower cabinets, then 3 or 4 shades lighter for the uppers. Paint the walls a light to medium shade of cadet blue. Use copper accent pieces on the counters. Use colorful ethic textiles for windoe treatments and area rugs.

I love that so many people offer interesting solutions and even offer names of paint colors as well as other projects. Unfortunately, outside of the US, Canada and Mexico the paint products that you list are unavailable (i.e.rustoleum). The best that those of us can do living overseas, is to take a paint swatch of the color suggested and attempt to have it matched.

I suspect the palette is meant to echo some desert at sunrise or similar.
I used some tones from Utah's desert when decorating my apartment. Granted, it does not involve pink, but a guest calls my "Red Rocks Red (iron oxide) " simply orange.
I don't precess the color that way, but against midnight blue, yeah, I can see what they see.

If you riff on the desert theme, you could add richer versions of the colors. Toss in deep caramel or chocolate browns as the dark neutrals, rather than greys because of the browns already in use.
Maybe use rich woods as counter top bowls.
I'm a green fan, so I would find the color of the flora of the desert (sagebrush and olive in my close by deserts--what's in Saudi Arabia's deserts? do any have showy flowers after a rain?)

To funkify it, use strong browns with pinks. It's a pretty common combo in candy stores, I've noticed.

I like the kitchen, even if I don't love the pink.
I do look at the photo and think "needs textures."

M

I think that people got a little frustrated about the tone of the post, more than on the actual look of the kitchen.

I agree the kitchen is not THAT bad, but I would improve it too if I was her, doesn't matter where I live.

Actually, I do think that this post is very good for this website, as this kitchen is pretty typical in its neutral-uglyness sort of way. You could live with it, because it's clean and practical but you wouldn't feel 'at home'.
It's true that it's a real challenge to make over a kitchen in a flat you are only renting.
Your options are limited.
And I believe that this issue is WAY more commune among us than, let's say, which Eames chair would fit in my giant loft in NY!

Truth is, I think there are more people renting ugly kitchen than there are with big architectural challenges.

Myself, I just moved in a nice 2 bedrooms with lots of light and wood floor... with a kind-of ugly kitchen. You know, not THAT ugly but not great either.

Here is what I did, on a tight budget:

- I removed ALL the doors of the cupboards. Took 30 minutes. For the lower cupboards, I put nice curtains (gray linen). For the top, I left them open, painted some sides or insides.

- Painted the fridge with black board-paint (if not possible, use photos or comics books!).

- Change the light fixture in something warm! I just put a nice Japanese paper light thing, but ikea has some amazing and cheap fixtures too.

- For the pink: again, Ikea: for like 10 or 15 $, they have big and long cutting boards. Buy 2 or 3 that can cover some of the pink.
The rest can be hidden by either plants, accessories, a light, etc...

- Paint the walls! While I am a pro-white walls all the way, I do think that small rooms need paint to make them look bigger and brighter. Plus, your pink and your green will be faded if you paint the walls in a brighter color.

-I would put a rug and take off the blinds in your kitchen. Put some plants on the side of the window.

- Finally, I would say something I find very important, and not only for kitchens:
When I live in a dull space without historic moldings, beautiful wood floor, charm or personality, I find myself becoming very anxious. I grew up in Europe, and I need a bit of ancient, a bit of stone, a bit of wood in order to be able to breath and feel okay.

So I try to make the space more ORGANIC... Like I pick up a branch and I paint it a little bit. I use a log to make a seat or a table. A big rock, a plant... anything. My shelves are not laminate or ikea but real wood, and don't look very perfect at all. I like to see defects. Some people like it very neat and clean, but I like my space to have a bit of a soul. And it doesn't matter if the counter is pink and the cupboards are green, the real challenge is to humanize it.

Okay I am going out on a limb here but you aren't happy to be living in Saudia Arabia and you are taking it out on your kitchen, right? You kitchen is nice. Enjoy getting to know the culture rather than spending your time fixing up a kitchen that there is nothing wrong with.