I would repaint the red walls first. Either a white or a light sage green, etc.

Please paint the cabinets! They are EXACTLY like the hideous ones Harriet Nelson had in her TV
kitchen....they looked bad in 1962 and look awful now. Take the doors off and sand them and the
wall cabinets change out the hardware and presto is will be worlds better and brighter.

I think the easiest thing to change is the red paint -- something lighter (I think I'd go white/off-white) will make the space less cave-like. Next, change the hardware on the cabinets, I don't think they need to be painted. As for the nook - a round cafe table with two chairs should fit.

I would definitely paint the walls. If it's possible, removing the cabinet above the window would make a huge difference in the amount of light coming into the area. Do a search of backsplash ideas on this blog; there are a lot of ideas for temporary situations. See if you can remove that wavy edging on the inset shelves.

I was going to say the same thing about the walls. You've actually got a nice natural palette going on with the brown/green/sand combo.Tone down the dark walls and bring in some natural elements/textures as accessories.

Paint the walls either white or, perhaps, a light green to soften the granite countertops. I'd also recommend a similar treatment for the cabinets - yes, they may be original to the house but the color is too dark for what you're aiming for and contributes as much as to the dungeonesque feel, if not more so, as/than the walls.

The hardware is fairly straightforward to swap out for something with more shine: the cabinets are fairly boxy and will accept almost any style pulls.

As for the breakfast nook, a minimalist bistro set may be the best you can hope for. A banquette under the window could work, but the seating the may only increase by one or two at most. If you have a dining room, you may be better off holding off until you've completed the painting and hardware.

Love your dogs! And you have great plants in there, too. Keep all of those :)

I have a couple of suggestions- leave the cabinets & hardware as is, just give them a good scrubbing (baking soda & water paste, then rinse, rinse, rinse).

Paint the walls a brighter color or white even. The dark red is sucking the light out of the space.

Add some under cabinet lighting- Ikea has LED strips that you can stick to the underside & they just plug in, so you don't have to have an electrician do anything.

The nook is a tight space. I have one in my kitchen & realized it just wasn't big enough for us to put in a little table & chairs or a bench (we are a family of 4). We added another row of upper & lower cabinets in our space, but the window would prevent you from doing the same. Hmmm... maybe a small round cafe table would work? How many seats do you need? See if you have any other small table to try out there. Or cut a piece of cardboard to mock up how it would look (you can look online for measurements). I hope you have another place for your pooches though- they look happy there :)

First, paint out the red, maybe with something sandish/greenish/off whitish, to go with the green granite counter. Once that's done, you'll be better able to decide what to do with the cabinets; they may not even need painting once the walls are painted, just a change of hardware. I agree with HeyJoanne: a round table w/2 chairs could fit nicely in that window space.

I dislike it when commenters state emphatically that something is awful. Your cabinets are not. How do I know? I have nearly the exact same ones in my kitchen (which was remodeled circa 1960) and a similar-hued floor. It's not ideal, but I am so glad that I didn't paint over the cabinets as many people suggested when we moved in. We actually get lots of compliments now. I agree that the hardware must go; we have porcelain white knobs with nickel back plates, which date to the remodel and give the cabinets a fun retro vibe. I painted the kitchen Benjamin Moore's Pale Avocado, and our dining nook is a dark chocolate. (Our counter is white, however, which made it easier to pick a palette.) The natural hues work really well with the wood tone, and I also have lots of earthy modern accessories, from baskets for veg/fruit to a fancy mortar and pestle. To keep with the midcentury vibe, we have a beautiful vintage teak dining table that is small enough for our nook, but is easily moved to the living room and expanded for dinner parties. Good luck!

And maybe take the doors off the cabinet over the window and the one on the left of the sink for open shelving?

ps, I agree about removing the wavy edging if possible. Our cabinets are very clean-lined, which I think makes a big difference. I also spent a full day scrubbing them down, as another commenter suggested.

you should check out retro renovation, often you see folks there refurbishing/rescuing kitchens that look like that.

I think toning down the colors and new hardware would go a long way. If you change out the hinges, just be aware that you currently have hinges that attach to the front of the door and the front of the cabinet. Many of the hinges now are hidden and secure inside the door. Changing to this type of hinge will require you to make some adjustment to the cabinet or door because of the additional width of a hinge. I learned this the hard way at the end of a DIY remodel when none of the cabinet doors would close until I sanded down the edge of each door to account for the 1/8 inch of the hinge.

I think the cabinets with their original hardware are the best looking part of this kitchen. Definitely don't paint the original cabinets. Give them a good cleaning and feed the wood with some Howard's Feed and Wax, they are really lovely.

The red paint needs to change. Do something calming and modern - a warm gray like Gray Owl from Benjamin Moore will lighten and freshen the whole space, and it will work with the cabinets, counters, floors, white appliances and white trim. Because there are a lot of neutrals that don't match in this room, you need a calming wall color to harmonize the whole thing. If you want a pop of red or other bright color, paint the little wall shelves by the table area in a bright primary color.

Try a round table for the corner sitting area, it will allow room for chairs and not feel so tight. CB2 has a couple good, inexpensive options.

i'd go with sage green tones that compliment the counter or a modern light gray. i wouldn't touch the cabinets - it's a huge project (and costly) which is why he hasn't done it. embrace the retro!

I would say paint the walls first, or find some awesome wall paper decal. The red is too dark with those cabinets and such. Cabinets can easily be changed too. I'm not sure what your budget is, but you could try out the Rustoleum transformations kits at Home Depot http://rustoleumtransformations.com/ - I think the prices on these kits are pretty reasonable. You should ask some friends to help with the whole project to speed it up, and sweeten the deal with some baked good or something. I look at my rental's kitchen every day and think of all the things to make it look better but the task seems a little time consuming, so i'm thinking of asking some friends to help do a little cabinet painting and whatnot. Good Luck!

I would go with a lighter color on the walls, maybe a nice light green to compliment the cabinets. Changing the handles on the cabinets could go a long way. Also, maybe paint the door a nice white? I am jealous of all the windows! You should add curtains to let some light in! It would make a world of difference.

Re: the cabinet hardware. Maybe leave it until after you've painted? Right now, to me, it feels too heavy, but maybe with different wall colors it would look great. (And heed what Cicely's Mom says about the hinges!) Also, unless you're looking directly into someone's house, consider losing the blinds. We don't have any and I prefer it.

I second the suggestions above about under-cabinet lighting. When I finished remodeling my kitchen, it seemed a little dark, which was disappointing. A few under-counter lights fixed things right up. Bonus: you can focus the light in areas where you do the most work.

Also, lighter paint instead of the dark red. Although white is optimal for getting the most light reflection, any pale tone will improve things.

If you don't feel like painting the cabinets, I think HeyJoanne's idea of just taking the doors off to make open shelves is a good idea. You could even do all the upper cabinets if you liked the look.

I think painting the red walls a light colour like white would be good, but I think I'd stay away from going too beige because I think it would combine with the cabinet colour to look drab.

New hardware alone would significantly improve things. If you don't want to spend the money, you could paint the original hardware with a metallic paint.

I think if you did decide to paint the cabinets white though, the original hardware as it is now could actually look good.

Good luck!

I agree with everyone else about painting the walls a lighter color, although I would absolutely not paint cabinets in a home that I do not own. Paint alone will make an enormous difference. For the eating area, my suggestion would be to extend the counter right across the area. It doesn't have to be exactly the same granite. If you want to, you could build something and use granite tile that looks like your counter, or go to the Home Depot and buy a premade counter top to fit the space out of a different material. Pick up some 2x4s and a couple of table legs and it would look really nice and be easy to build. We have a window in our kitchen that's about the same size as yours and we put a counter under it with barstools and it looks great, plus there is enough room under the counter for our dog's bed too. The hinges are easy enough to replace and there are so many really great choices for them as well as knobs to go with whatever you decide to do. Good luck!

I have a drop leaf table from pier one that might fit in the space you have. We keep it closed and just open it up for meals. We keep an ottoman underneath it for seating and two chairs on the side.

http://www.pier1.com/Drop-Leaf-Dining-Table-Black-Chestnut/2503853,default,pd.html?cgid=dining_room

I think the ceiling slopes, in which case you might want to paint the ceiling the same colour as the walls just to 'lift' everything. And get rid of those blinds! Replace them with something that provides colour, texture, pattern. You could even get away with half-height curtains in that space, to go with your retro cabinets.

If you replace the hardware with something silver replace your range hood with either a white one that matches your stove (in the photos it looks off-white, I could be wrong about this, perhaps it just needs a good scrub?!) or a stainless steel one. If you have room for one that combines with a microwave that would free up some counter space as well. Add some more silver-metal accents to reflect light and bring intention - they will tie in with your clock for instance.

Speaking of your clock and silver, add a silver metal magnet board underneath your clock for you calendar etc. This will help you declutter the fridge a bit, I do understand that the letters are probably mandatory for a few years ;).

You could also consider hanging some plants so that you can have greenery but not take up counter/table space.

Hope these comments are useful, best of luck with the project!

I would go white with the walls. I don't blame you not wanting to paint the cabinets. So much work! We have regular doors all through our 50's rental that are like that. The exact grain. I've just learned to ignore it. :)

As far as the hardware goes. We have terrible handles in our kitchen but the boring (space between the screws) is not standard so I've just had to ignore those, too. I would measure the hinge holes and the boring on the handles and take a look around to see what you can find. If worst come to worst you might just have to paint the hardware to liven it up. Or strip it? I wonder if it's lacquered black? It really doesn't look bad from the angles here but it's hard to tell.

I love that shelf in the wall. It echoes nicely the scalloping in the cabinets. And you are one lucky duck to have a landlord that lets you have pets and change stuff up!! Not to mention you're nice new appliances. Have fun making the space your own!

Oh, I forgot to mention if you replace those closed blinds with something (ANYTHING) else that will allow light to come in, that would make a HUGE difference. If you have to keep the windows covered for privacy, you could get simple white roller shades that allow light to pass through but still provide privacy. White Ikea ENJE shades would work.

I am going to echo most of what people are saying and start with the red paint. I think an off white or a light grey would look great, just enough to be slightly different from the white trim that's there already. In my 1950's house, I have found that the greys really help with the wood tones that are from that time period. I would also maybe think about painting the door, a white to match the trim maybe? Because you're just renting, I wouldn't tackle the cabinets with paint. If you do change out the hinges, I would make sure that the current ones aren't leaving any damage that the new ones won't be covering up. Good luck!

i really like this kitchen. real wood cabinets [ not 80s mdf. could be a lot worse] !
a simple rectangle table to fit into the windowed space. id look for a table that you would actually like to sit at, and can be repurposed when you move. you could find a good second hand one with character. Chairs like this to play with the era of the kitchen.
http://www.dwr.com/product/salt-chair.do?sortby=ourPicks#.US4ndc01eqo

A warm off-white paint, will brighten the room and make the wood pop. id add some crisp white cafe curtains to the window/ door to make it cheery and consider slapping down some self sticking dark linoleum tiles. so easy to put down. and will take the distraction off the current floor and they are easy to keep clean. under cabinets lights are easy to put up and id clean off all the counters/ fridge magnets. will make it a more calm space. good luck! it looks like a fun project.

I agree that the cabinets are not the problem here. The red walls are the big issue. Light olive or taupe will be the easiest way to go. If they don't appeal to you, look at the Martha Stewart pastel blues and aquas -- I am partial to "Milk Pail." Consider curtains instead of the blinds -- something simple in white or ecru, but with a slight retro vibe. Is the back door painted? If so, paint it to match whatever you do with the trim (in the white family). I kind of like the 50s hardware because they go with the cabinets, but you might consider changing just the handles to a simpler type in black. That will save you having to change out all the hinges. On the other hand, changing to satin nickel hardware will lighten things up if you are up for the extra work.

Finally, I realize it is a small kitchen, but see what you can do to declutter. Maybe a low bookshelf or cabinet under the window in place of the high table? And replace the rug with something similar in color to the floor to improve the visual flow.

I have those cabinets, and very similar hardware (black), the quickest/cheapest/easiest change for you to start with is painting the walls. I agree with others a soft, pale green would look great with the counters, cabinets and floor. Maybe some soft white curtains to flank the larger window? Use dark hardware to tie in with the cabinet pulls? I love the idea someone else suggested about taking the doors off the cabinet over the sink and painting it, use to display pretty things.

As for changing out all the hardware on those cabinets - this makes no sense. The cost and time involved for sourcing versions to exactly match the existing holes and doing all that switchout will give you so little in return, I'd just wait on that until you get your own place.

BTW love that little built-in shelving for plants/cookbooks in the eating area, very sweet.

Agree with the consensus about painting the walls. I think a light dove grey would be nice. I don't think you necessarily have to paint the cabinets. Done right it would either be time-consuming or expensive. Different hardware would spiff them up.

Regarding the breakfast area, agree that a small/cafe size round table is the way to go. Implicit in having a table over there is a relocation of the doggie area. If there is no where else for the dog stuff to go, then I would thin about extending the counter run, as you've sort of done with that table, in a way that works better. For example, I'd put the dogs' beds where their water cooler is and "hide" their water cooler and other stuff under the table.

I would also point out that a major de-clutter would help immensely. There is sooo much going on just on the refrigerator alone! I know this is a family kitchen but do your kids really need that many magnets????

I agree with everyone's suggestion to paint the walls; I'd go with a soft white or a light grey with brown undertones. I would also paint that door and the trim bright white and swap all of the blinds out for curtains.

As for the cabinets, I wouldn't paint them either but you should definitely change the hardware; ceramic knobs and pulls in bright colors could be fun (check anthropologie for ideas). Depending on how much stuff you have, and how organized it is, I'd suggest taking the doors off of the upper cabinets and have open shelving. The wood is pretty, but less of it would definitely open up the kitchen and make the space feel lighter.

That nook is tricky, if you're handy, maybe build a wrap around bench and put a tulip table there?

Good luck!

Pick out one of the colors from the floor for the walls to remove the abrupt edge.

Please don't mess with the cabinets! *sigh* If something else in the kitchen had the same early 60s colonial vibe, it would be so retro-cool. I'm thinking of a wallpaper border (toile or drawings of teapots or such), hanging copper molds, gravel art from Etsy, a braided rug coiled across the floor....

I generally don't like wooden kitchen cabinets but I think these are actually quite nice (if you take off the wavy bits). I agree that the black handles and hinges are not helping, but chrome replacements would help a lot. I also agree on repainting the red walls, any colour would be better than that.

However I also think it would feel a lot less cave-like if you could replace those downlighters with either uplighters or else spotlights that could be pointed up to bounce off the ceiling and create a diffused light. I'm not sure if that would be possible with the light fittings you have, but if it is I think it would make a huge positive difference.

1. Leave the cabinets as they are for now. They are retro but in great condition and would look great after a good scrub.

2. Paint the walls in a lighter colour. Light cream, light sage (or a soft green with a hint of grey) or a light earthy grey would be good. Try each colour on a little patch of each wall first, and see how you feel about it. Make sure to get a matte or low sheen finish.

3. Paint your door white.

4. Remove all the blinds (if you don't have a direct view into a neighbour's home).

5. A light sheer white curtain can be placed on the window under which the dogs are hanging out. Install the curtain rod as high as you can on the wall (not just above the window) and make sure the curtain is long enough to almost touch the floor. This will give a little more dimension to your nook and make it a little more welcoming.

6. Install under cabinet lighting.

7. Try to declutter. I understand you don't have much space to put the things you like or need, but the more visible "stuff" on your countertops, on your fridge, on your shelves, etc, the less airy the room will feel.

8. Divert the attention. Try to put an artwork next to your shelves (a long rectagular one), instead of your clock and calendar. Chose one that has a retro feel maybe and some colours that complement the rest of the interior. That also could be a way to inject some colour - why not some red?

9. Try using tea towels that have similar colours to your artwork to "link" things together.

10. For the breakfast nook, a round steel table in a cafe style could do the trick. (like this: http://static-1.worthingtondirect.com/images/97320a.jpg) Alternatively, try a leaf drop table (a white one would be best).

Enjoy the ride! :)

I would paint the walls a light yellow to bring brightness & freshness to the room. Change out the knobs,etc. with a painted floral of yellow & blue. You might be able to do these yourself by getting wood or ceramic & then painting a design on them. Also, for a table, how about a fold-down table running along the wall under the window. Best of wishes for fixing up your place!

It bothers me when commenters hate on decor just because it's not currently trendy. Because my work involves designing new trends that will get consumers to spend money on new designs. Essentially I spend my days figuring out how to manipulate the public into desiring products they do not need to replace things they already own. Retail is all about making you feel inadequate unless you have the "new" stuff and reject all your existing stuff as shamefully not cool anymore.

So I have acute awareness of how fleeting all of these things are. Plus, I'm old enough to have seen many trends come and go. So please, people. Instead of looking at these kitchen cabinets and thinking "ewww, gross, they are SO 1962" why not recognize that they were built from solid wood (still in good condition after 50 years!), they are most likely appropriate to the architecture of the home, and they are a workable layout.

I try to differentiate between "out of style" and "bad design" because if it's good design, it still works even if the style is no longer valued. I think these cabinets are "good design" and someday someone will be thrilled that the original cabinets were never painted.

Just throwing in my two cents here... I think painting, removing blinds, and changing hardware will go a long ways. I love the cabinets, and if you can sacrifice the space, I think taking down the old cabinets on the sink side would do a lot to brighten up the space. Add a couple of floating shelves for some items. I don't know if you'll be able to do this and keep the cabinets in tact, but it's worth thinking about at least.

Walls - paint them white. White walls would go a long way to brightening up the kitchen. I don't recommend anything yellow-based or sand colored as your floors are already very neutral. Once the walls are white, so many things will stand out and brighten up the space, like that clock and your plants.

Trim - Paint all of the trim (window sills, baseboards, etc.) bright white. Also, paint that door white.

Window - Replace the window blinds with a cafe curtain. The extra light you get from having curtains rather than blinds would really help brighten it up.

Lighting - Add undercabinet lights. Many of them are plug-in now, so you would not have to drill into the cabinets.

I also agree that you should not paint the cabinets. They actually complement the stone and the green and if you don't like the countertops, and can't replace them, having them blend in a little more is the best solution.

For your breakfast nook, I agree with Nelly Reffet - round steel table, preferably one that looks like it came from a diner. Go retro!

I LIKE your kitchen!

1. Paint walls, ceiling, baseboards, door trim, and plant shelving nook a pretty light warm gray.

2. Tone down the visual clutter! Red towels and tea pot swap for white. Seriously clean out your cabinets and drawers and re-organize so that you can put almost everything that is on your counters away and out of site. That goes for your fridge too. If you have to have things on your fridge, limit what they are an put them on the side. Remove 1/3 of what is on the cute plant shelves. Move the wall calendar. Love the clock.

3. I would not change the cabinets. I like them, plus you cannot really change the handles without changing the hinges and I think there will be a mark left from the hinges.

4. Clear off the table with the fruit and coffeemaker. Turn it 90 degrees. Cut down the legs to regular table height. Find either benches or chairs with a small foot print.

Your dogs are amazing and I think your kitchen will soon be too.

our house had almost the EXACT same cabinets and I loved them--so much so that when we had a fire four months ago, I began a search for custom cabinets that would look the same. (It's the 1/4" overlay that makes the cabinets look so old-fashioned. Modern cabinets have a full overlay.) However, I DID paint them. I took the doors off and sanded them, and painted them Benjamin Moore Lemon Ice--a very very pale yellow. I changed all the hinges and knobs to a brushed nickel. The walls I painted Designer White, and I used very sheer window coverings. We have a charcoal gray slate floor and a charcoal countertop, and our backsplash is light green glass mosaic tile. I was going for the color palette of a brand-new daffodil: dark earth, pale green leaves, and light yellow flowers.

If you don't want to repaint the cabinets, get rid of the red for a lighter color, and change the cabinet hardware. Another poster suggested white porcelain, and I agree. Use knobs instead of handles. And there was just a post on AT about temporary backsplashes--

I think those cabinets are nice. Especially the hardware. It's interesting. Don't touch them, it's not worth it. I don't even mind the red walls. Red and green (the counters) go well together. The real problem is the floor, and the white appliances. A darker floor (slate or dark wood) with stainless steel or black appliances would look so much better.

I have those exact same cabinets in my apartment, too. We own, so I could do anything I want with them, but I decided to live with them for six months and see how I feel after. Now, honestly, I kind of like them. They're sort of beat up, but they're actual birch, not particle board or MDF, and I like that they've survived this long. I also decided that there's more than one way for a kitchen to be great, and they don't all have to be bright and antiseptic. It's cozy and tactile intstead, and that's good for me.

Mine have a tendency to look orange, so I painted the rest of the kitchen in BM Quiet Moments and our beadboard backsplash a bright white. I also replaced the brushed nickel knobs with copper ones (to match the original hinges), and installed cheap LED strip lights from Amazon under the cabinets. I haven't done it yet, but I'm also planning to get a bamboo runner (which is not terribly expensive) and paint it to cover up the mottled brown vinyl floor we inherited.

What I'm saying is, I guess, that you can definitely make those cabinets work for you! Declutter a bit, do a bright backsplash (maybe something period-y? Painted pressed tin could be lovely), and make sure your lighting is on point, and they'll look good.

Also, I think you could have a great nook there by building a simple banquette to go in an L shape. It'd save you tons of room!

I agree that for a rental you should leave the cabinets and handles alone. They aren't that bad. I'd take the money you would have spent on hardware and look on Craigslist for a table or storage system that fits your space better. Lighter walls, less clutter, cute curtains on the window, and maybe a colorful rug to distract from the floor color. You can make it cute...

Having done a project like these recently...think carefully about replacing the external-mount hinges with concealed ones. Mine were similar and we found that the thickness of our doors was not standard and we needed deeper, hard-to-find hinge mounts to fit. Since we own the home, we opted to rout out the back of the doors to accomodate hinges that were more readily available. The old hinges were so ugly and grimy that we were willing to invest the time. We painted the cabinets in a warm, light grey and used vintage, unused coppertone pulls and matched the hinges to the pulls. The kitchen still looks vintage but since the cabinets are sturdy and well layed out, we opted not to replace them at this time.

I wish you luck with your project.

Especially given that your time and resources are limited, you may want to try to just embrace the period nature of the kitchen. I'd agree that the red walls are sucking the life and light out of the kitchen, but the cabinets themselves are a classic period piece, hardware and all, Instead of trying to do minor changes (which, frankly, will end up looking like minor changes) you could do some research on those knotty pine kitchens of the 1950s, clean and wax the cabinets and choose colors to really highlight the vintage nature. I know that we looked at a rental once that had that same kitchen and it was a selling point for us (we didn't rent it because it was over a drummer's apt.); although I am not a big mid century fan overall, the kitchen was so much more fun than the typical rental white or beige box in most places. Sometimes, going with the flow rather than trying to fight it can end up being a more satisfying (and cheaper and easier) way to go. FWIW.

I have a small nook in my kitchen as well. Instead of trying to cram a small table and chairs in there, I just added a small antique sideboard that serves as an island/extra work space (I have a large butcher block chopping board on it) and hung a pot rack over it. I do have one tall stool beside it so someone can sip wine and chat with me while I prep.

...and if you want privacy but light - you can install non-stick privacy film over the windows. Works great and is super easy to do.

Please don't paint the cabinets. They are not dreadful in the least and the use of white paint to cover cabinets in every kitchen is boring and screams "I had to cover these!" What is so terribly wrong with wood cabinets? (grumble, grumble). I don't even mind the hardware to be truthful. It's the wall color in there now that's suffocating the room and that's an easy fix!

If you lighten those walls as others have suggested (you choose the color - any lighter shade would work), open up the windows (I like the ideas of curtains, but you could even go without if privacy is not an issue) and put in a pedestal table with chairs, then the room will transpire without painting everything white, white, white. Although, I would paint the door white, of course.

Good luck to you and please post "After" photos as I'm sure whatever you do will be very charming.

Add another voice to the chorus of "don't change the cabinets or the hardware". I, too, have the same cabinets and hardware in my 1949 house. The cabinets are in fine shape, if a bit dinged up from so many years of use. I was dubious about the hardware when I moved in, but realized that with the hinges matching the handles exactly, it would be an all-or nothing proposal and I was not up to the task. I would definitely screw something like that up irreparably. I have learned to love my retro hardware and love seeing other homes with it still intact. I think the suggestions of other posters with regard to painting and decluttering will make the cabinets and hardware that much more charming. Good luck!

First rule of Apartment Therapy comment sections: always listen to PARNASSUS and THORNDALE.

I would paint first and then look around and plan the rest of what you want to do from there, because I think it will look really different with lighter walls.

That little built-in shelf nook on the far wall is so charming. It's exciting to think how nice that whole corner could be with a light wall color, open window, and a little cafe table with 2 chairs (even if something bigger would fit, it seems like it would block the space you need to walk in and out of the kitchen).

I'll second the suggestions about a soft white paint where the red is and paint out all trim and the door. If it is a little too stark in the corner a cascading plant in the recessed area and a poster would offer relief from the cozy pine look. (Fortunately your white appliances do not abut the wall or else you would have the problem of two different whites.) Do get rid of the wavey trim. Leave the cabinets alone because doing a good job on these (sanding, priming, painting, sanding, painting etc.) is very tedious but cleaning and deglossing might help. Under cabinet lighting from Ikea would help and here is a unique suggestion: the darkest places in rooms are next to windows and since you won't be painting stick something white on the side of the cabinets next to the window or some mirrored or white decorative tiles. Try and match your sink rug to the floor color. With the pine cabinets you can go with a Swiss cozy vibe, a northwest Pendleton vibe or a tartan one. I would love to see a little table, benches and a pendant light in that area under the window.

1. repaint the walls in benjamin moore's color "flowering herb".....a light sage with
golden undertones

2. clean the cabinets and declutter the kitchen and fridge

3. change hardware to something artsy from anthropologie (leave hinges alone)

4. a round bistro table for the small corner with a storage bench under window as
seating along with a bistro chair
good luck!

There is a lot to like about your kitchen!

Changing the cabinet hardware is likely to be a lot of work unless you use a similarly exposed hinge. And the existing handles compliment the existing hinges so I'd keep those too. I like the wood a lot. Actually, compared to my plastic coated MDF cabinet doors, I'm quite jealous!

I agree on painting the walls. That would have a huge impact. A pale sage green or gray would be very nice and really compliment the existing cabinets and countertop.

As a few others have suggested, if the insides of your cabinets are looking as good as the outside, removing the upper cabinet doors is another huge change for very, very little work. There a couple of caveats though. One is whether or not removing the hingle will expose compression of the wood from the hinge plate. Also, there is a possibility the wood will be paler under the hinge due to 60 years of light discolouration on the exposed wood surfaces. Plugging the screw holes from the hinges is another issue and more difficult to hide without painting but certainly not impossible. And if you don't like the open shelving look, well, this is all moot anyway. ;)

I'd also remove the blind from the window.

And I'll echo the declutter suggestions. It's a daily challenge and something I need to work on myself.

For seating, what about a built in counter at table height running the width of the wall under the window between the edge of your counter and the opposite wall? That should be easy to do and relatively cheap depending on your surface choice. You could tuck a bench or a few stools underneath and it would maximize both the surface area of the top and the floor space to get by. And it would not hide that nice built in shelving you have. Depending on what your window looks out to it might be nice plus the natural light.

Anyway, just some ideas. Have fun with whatever you do!

"...hingle..."

Right on. My lack of sleep has given me the superpower of making up words. Apologies in advance.

Leave the hinges alone. That's the voice of experience. You may be able to change the pulls, BUT check the spacing on the screw holes first. There were a few kinds of hardware made during that era that are not readily available in non-custom hardware today. Since this is a rental, you probably don't want to put out that much money. Go for a light neutral of some sort in paint for the walls and add pops of color with accessories that could go with you when you move. I would center that table under the window and add some stools. I've actually seen some breakfast sets like that.

About the table corner, you could take off blinds and if you need privacy frost the window or use window film. There are a huge number of choices of film from almost clear to vibrant stain glass look. My neighbour used it and it looks nice. I am not sure about space size but could you put a new longer top on the table you already have so that it fills the space? The table looks too tall for eating, could you shorten the legs? Many kitchens have a drop down desk/eating area at the end of the counter. It is a great place for kids to be with you without being under your feet. Even if you can't all eat there, it would be good for snacks, crafts and work space for little kitchen helpers.

I painted cabinets in my last rental becuase they were a horrible industrial/prison kitchen dirty taupe. I SWEAR the paint wasn't dry before we had to move. make the easiest fixes first, such as wall color and decor before you make a decision to paint cabinets.

Not hating, but the regrigerator makes my OCD twitch.

Your cabinet & tile colors are like those in my kitchen. I chose a medium/light gray paint for the walls and it improved the look a LOT! (Clark+Kensington from Ace Hardware; color was "Baby Elephant" I believe.) Then I put on a fresh coat of flat white paint on the ceiling, and that made it much brighter. I also put as much stuff as possible out of sight. Even getting a 2-tier fruit basket made my counter look less cluttered.

I agree with those who said to paint over the red, and leave the cabinets. Cabinet work is a LOT of work and I think you'll see big changes in the space if you follow some of the other recommendations. I recently did something in my kitchen where I put bead board over the old tile back splash that didn't match my counters this is a picture:

http://pinterest.com/pin/123849058474898462/

The bead board is actually a vinyl product but you could use a wood product too. I think the wood is more affordable and easier to paint. We've opted not to paint ours for now. If you wanted to save even more money you could put up plywood and then do some vertical slats with some trim pieces to fake the look. If you cut all the pieces right you don't really even need to glue them. We used a liquid nails type product to adhere it to the tile and then did some trim pieces around the edges that really hold everything in place.

For the breakfast nook area a built-in type bar would be great. For the built in you could buy a "base" off craigslist or at a garage sale like a low dresser or credenza or build your own. I was thinking you could make cubby areas for the dogs underneath and then top it with butcher block from IKEA, which is pretty reasonable and have it overhang on that front edge to make it more of a bar area where you can sit on stools and look out the window. It can also double as extra workspace when you need it. Just be sure to put a plywood backing on the butcher block from IKEA otherwise it will warp over time—speaking from experience.

If this was your kitchen or your landlord was willing to help with the costs—after all kitchen updates will increase the value of a home—I would say do some work on the cabinets. But I think you can achieve big results by making small changes that don't include messing with the cabinets.

I have kids and a dog so I know clutter is like a monster that no matter how much stuff you recycle, give away, trash it never seems to go away. Unless your kids are REALLY playing with those magnets and staying out of your hair long enough for you to prepare meals because of them I would give them away or move them to another room. You can buy a magnet board or even make your own with magnetic paint. Either way try and move all that magnet stuff to the SIDE of the refrigerator that you see the least. I'm thinking the side that faces the door that looks like it leads outside.

My new refrigerator is not magnetic so I switched to some natural balsa type wood magazine storage for keeping the myriad of papers that come home from school, etc. close at hand but not plastered around the house.

I'd definitely change the window treatments on both windows.

I would focus on declutter, paint (the walls), lighting, window treatments. Your kitchen is small and is trying to serve may different purposes. Try and create spaces that can double as something else.

Was this the only house available when you were looking for a rental? I ask because I wonder why you'd rent a house with a kitchen that you so obviously dislike.

I've lived with a similar rental kitchen before. Like yours, it wasn't awful or ugly or non-functional, just a bit outdated and not my taste. I'd recommend a very light gray paint on the walls. You can probably pick out a gray tone from the flooring that will work well. The backsplash looks fine but it clashes with the counters, so I would choose an inexpensive renter's solution to cover it. My top picks: paint it white, have mirrored glass cut to fit the space (only if you're diligent to keep the counters clean, though, as the mirror will reflect any clutter), white beadboard, or contact paper. I used stainless steel contact paper on my backsplash and love it. It's very cheap and temporary but it adds a modern edge to my retro kitchen and reflects a little light. Changing the backsplash will let the counters shine. Switch out the hardware for something brighter (white or nickel, maybe?), but don't bother painting the cabinets unless they really bug you. Hang bamboo blinds or Roman shades as high over both windows as you can. Swag a light over the nook area and add under-cabinet lighting in the kitchen. For the nook, maybe a small, round Tulip-style table would work, pushed into the corner? I'd keep two wooden folding chairs at the table and tuck two more in a closet somewhere close so they can be grabbed easily when needed. Lay a fun rug down, too (I'm partial to a bold stripe or graphic pattern). Finally, clutter is your biggest enemy. Dedicate a few days to cleaning out your kitchen cabinets, being very brutal and objective about what you get rid of and what you keep. If you have things you absolutely want to keep but only use once or twice a year, get creative with storage outside of the kitchen. The attic, basement, and garage are obvious choices, but you can store things under beds, in bedroom closets, etc. Keeping the fridge and counters clean and clutter-free will go a long way in making your space feel brighter. Best of luck to you, and sorry for the long winded post.

And the winner for least helpful comment goes to Ms.Pea...

Seriously, put down the hater-aid. There is more to a house than just the kitchen. Nothing was ever said about not liking the house. Whats wrong with people wanting to make something their own? And renting a house, at least in my experience is a lot more difficult than apartments

Changing the hardware and hinges will cost more than painting the cabinets. Giving the cabinets a whitewash finish would be easier on your dime and your time. The red paint has to go - too heavy - replace it with a pastel colour - soft white/light blue/aqua. Matchstick blinds are inexpensive and would tie everything together. Think beachy look.

- Paint ceiling, walls and door(s) a bright (real) white.
- Leave cabinets and hardware as is. They will look great with all that white.
- Leave Plants and red clock.
- Declutter. (Find a place for everything that is on the counter now)
- As somebody already suggested turn table 90 degrees and cut legs to normal table height.
- Put two simple stools there. (like Marius in white or Frosta from Ikea.

After doing all this changes, it will be easy to ad a little cute decor here and there.
Have fun :)

I would embrace the retro feel of the kitchen and leave the cabinets and their hardware along. I also think you might have a difficult time finding new hinges that fit the current holes in the doors and that aren't very expensive. How much do you want to spend on a rental kitchen? Knobs you can take with you and use again, but will you be able to use hinges in a new home?

Red, white or off-white, gray and black was a common color scheme for kitchens of that era. I see you already have some red accents in the room. So I'd paint the walls white or light gray, and bring in some more red, maybe with a window treatment.

For the breakfast nook, I'd put an L-shaped bench in there if there's room, and use a lightweight table that can easily be moved if necessary.

You might be able to go to a Goodwill store and find old decorating books (people like me tend to keep them a l-o-n-g time before donating them) and go with a true retro look with some very modern accents in black, emphasizing the cabinet hardware.

A narrow shelf-type table under the window as a breakfast bar would be good in black, with a couple stools. And good for homework and after-school snacking, too.

I'd like walls that mimic the tile floors or at least pick up one of the colors. The walls and cabinets kind of clash for me but maybe picking up a dominant light color on the walls would "hide" the floor.

I like the built in cabinet, but I'd use it for a pantry and store lots and lots of clear jars with pastas, rice, cereals, etc. instead of using it for decor. The natural colors of the food will complement the floor tiles (and wall, if you go with a sandy color) and the clear jars will complement the period cabinets.

It's hard at first to think about how to do without the clutter of family living, but if you can go through and really edit your stuff, it sure helps with keeping things neat and clean and actually, it's very liberating as well. And resist replacing things! ha!

paint the walls light green, almost a mint, be sure to use primer. Live with it a while and see if that's enough. It's the cheapest solution and would lighten things up considerably. My kitchen is more contemporary but I have similar color cabinets and granite, and the combo works great. Add red and blue accessories or some other bright you love. It may be enough

I would paint the doors, get some additional lights and declutter the fridge! remove all those magnets to make it look clean.

Best way to get out of the "kitchen cave" is to paint the walls, trim AND cabinets white. White will go with the green countertops and the floor. I'd suggest brushed nickle for hardware but that's just because I used for the hardware when I had our bathroom remodeled. Oh . . . for trim, I'd use a white enamel for that little extra shine and light reflection.

I was thinking the same thing! Sage green walls, and then paint the cupboards a cream colour. After that you'll have a better idea of what else you want/need to do.

Can someone please explain what the point of remodelling rentals is? My roommates and I have passed on rentals because we hate the kitchen, the bathroom, or whatnot and when someone suggests to remodel, we're like what's the point if it's not ours? What incentives are there for the lessee?

My grandparents had these cabinets in their 1950s split level and the kitchen was GREAT! I say embrace the 1950s vibe you can achieve. They had an amazing olive green and turquoise design on linoleum on the floor and back splash.

here are my suggestions:
1. paint the walls
2. get rid of all blinds
3. focus on windows--make or buy some curtains in colorful retro pattern, make sure all the hedges are clipped and you have a nice view outside if possible, hang up a bird feeder.
4. coordinate everything (if the curtains are turquoise, make sure the rugs and towels coordinate, and consider matching canisters)
5. get rid of that table in the corner and make it a plant corner. Buy a 1950s table at a thrift store, maybe paint it in your coordinating color, and have a little indoor garden.
6. make the details go with your theme--get a new clock, a new calendar, use the built-in shelving for decorations. Take all the stuff off fridge, put one item on it for decor (like a vintage tea towel with a drawing of your state or something). Take out everything you can that is not part of theme.
7. for some reason, the stove hood looks out of place. consider making a little valance for it out of the same fabric you use for the curtains
8. I agree with suggestions for under counter lighting.
9. take the doors off the cabinet above sink and use the cabinet for books

Had to come back to this to post a link to a beautiful kitchen with cabinets and hardware like yours.

Even if you don't want to go for the full retro vibe, the soft blue is beautiful with the cabinets. Lose the red paint and the window shade.

I would paint the walls a very pale green to complement the granite counter top. Change the rug in front of the sink to a more neutral color. Next, the trim under the cabinets while wavy is perfect for adding under-the-cabinet lighting! Battery operated is easiest. and stick one over the sink. Add a bench behind the table for a booth look much easier seating. I would also add a framed magnetic bulletin board, message center to place all the magnets on.

I have to admit I didn't read through all the other suggestions, so I might be repeating some thins. I have been living in a rental. (over 10 years now). Most of my friends think I'm crazy for all the work/money into my apartment. To all those people I say simply "this is MY home"!!
Choose the color scheme you want by something you love that you already have! I think you must lighten up your walls, and change your hardware on the cabinets. The cabinets look good and it sounds like you don't want to paint them, that's fine, the hardware change will be bigger than you can imagine. Also, I don't have a space for a table in my kitchen either and very little counter space, so I bought a good piece of plywood, to fit where I wanted it and attached it with "piano hinges", this way it can go down when I don't need the space for dining or cooking. In another apt. I lived in the space was a bit larger but very narrow, so I found an old "sofa table" and painted it put a piece of plywood at the bottom and then I was able to put stools underneath out of the way, again I had more counter space and dining area. Now for the countertop, there are paints you can buy if you don't like the color, or depending on how hard you are on your countertops, I have used "contact paper" and covered my countertops which lasted for years. I agree with the comment above regarding the "under the cabinet lighting", it works great for me! I hope you enjoy what ever you do or have already done and remember you can always change something if you change your mind, mood or style! Happy decorating!