6 Kitchen Fixes for Nomads

harrimann I've lived in a lot of rentals, and I've never ever ever lived in one that looked even 25% as good as the "rentals" pictured here. If I was a landlord, I'd be pretty angry if someone attempted to paint kitchen cabinets since most people are not going to do a proper job of it. (Brush strokes, finger prints, dog hair, bad taste, etc...)

mcmm I agree with harriman.....no rental property looks like these photos. no renter is going to invest in countertops, tin ceilings, or subway tiles.

szolie If I EVER lived in a rental looking like this...I would NOT have moved! I could send a pictuere of the average, apartment living kitchen and see what can be done. *sorry, just being honest in my opinion*

Rebekah Zaveloff Thanks for your comments! Of course, as you might have noticed, none of these pictures are of rentals, but a girl can dream...taking small elements and ideas out of each picture to illustrate the ideas. Some people who live in major cities, where owning a place isn't an option due to being priced out of the market, may live in the same rental their entire adult lives and aren't as shy about fixing up a place that isn't theirs - of course, with the landlord's blessing! I've had a few landlords that let me do whatever I wanted, and if they didn't like it, the requirement was that I had to paint it back before I moved out, but that never came to pass.

ARB Improvements Don't forget about changing the cabinet doors. Its a little higher on the investment scale but easy to do and will go a long way to alter the look of the kitchen.

annieminga As a person who has rented out her property, if I ever came in to see that you have painted my wood cabinets, changed my counter tops or my ceiling you would be evicted. People MUST by law get permission to change the structure from the owner. You can paint the walls IF it says you can in the rental contract. I was NEVER a slum lord. I made sure my home was beautiful and livable for any one. I have seen what passes as rental housing and I guess if a renter changed counters, ceiling tiles and painted cabinets it would be an improvement. However, in my rentals it's an eviction due to the amount of money I have to put out to strip hard wood cabinets, fix structural changes that are not up to code and what ever else was done.

greenbush I asked the question, and totally appreciate the feedback from both the Houzz users and Rebekah. Some things to know: first, our landlord has NEVER seen our house. It was purchased to be knocked down before the market crashed (along with several ever places on our block.) Second, we have permission to do anything we want. Literally. We're encouraged to update the place anyway we want, which means we are painting the cabinets, the walls, replacing the counters, tiling the backsplash and probably getting a new toilet. The tin ceiling is a definite on the list, for when we can budget it in. Basically, we are here for a long time, and we need to make it home. Thanks to everyone for weighing in, and Rebekah, thanks for taking the time to answer my question!

Rebekah Zaveloff You're welcome greenbush - and the answers from all the Houzz readers in the original question were terrific and inspiring!! Good luck on your kitchen!

Perry-Lynn Moffitt I would truly appreciate seeing some real before and after photos of legal, but thrifty rental make-overs. These photos of ultra fancy kitchens weren't helpful at all. I was a landlady for 23 years and never let a tenant make any changes without my permission, but I always upgraded between tenants and would look to design magazines and websites for ideas. Actually, any real before and after photos would be a wonderful regular addition to the HOUZZ offerings.

dallas74 Ha, none of those photos were meant to represent rental properties! When she suggests tin tiles, look at the tiles!! Just the tiles! I think inspiration was sought here. I have also painted every rental property I've lived in, and only ever improved it. I think doing it legally is a given. I agree, though. Some real before and after photos would be very interesting.

Molto Bene Studios Let's face it, there is really not much you can do in a kitchen without doing something to the cabinets, ceilings, walls and countertops. Any temporary changes I can think of are literally tacky -- decals, contact paper. A landlord who has a renter willing to invest in making some changes is a lucky landlord. A renter whose landlord is willing to invest a little in making sure that the changes made are quality - like paying for a professional to paint or refinish the cabinets - would be a lucky one and you could have a win win.

dancingfish As someone who has owned rental properties I have learned to say no to tenants who are willing to take on the burden of "adding" to the property themselves. Many times they are not experienced DIYers and can cause great harm. (last renter put in "great Shelving Unit" in the garage and covered all the sprinkler heads)
Bring in a professional and we can talk!

TM N55 I rented my spacious apartment for 15 years. I wish I had painted the solid wood kitchen cabs. I do know how to paint and those cabs would have to have been stripped, sanded and primed before painting 2 coats of cabinet coat. It's hard work, and if you don't do it right, it's not worth the hassle the landlord has the right to give you. Be sure you view jobs other professionals have done if you go that route. Some would just prime and paint.

redv very inspiring..... but if i were to paint laminated/mica cabinets, how would i restore them before handing over the apartment back to the owner?

75yearplan Even Suze Orman and the Wall Street Journal make the argument that renting may be the new American dream and that owning is no longer right for everyone. Does that mean people who can't, or don't want to own, should feel bad about investing in their "home." If you have the means, why not? Obviously, it's going to be different for everyone. What makes financial sense for one, may be stupid for another. And it depends on many different factors: where you live, what you make, what year it is, etc... And I think at this point in the discussion...it goes without saying that nobody would advocate that you start any repairs without clearing it first with the building owner/landlord. I've rented for 15 years now, and to be honest, may always rent. Not only do I consider my school loans a small mortgage, but I honestly have very little desire to own my own property, but I have always been extremely interested in design, and my landlords have welcomed a tenant who took pride in their unit... enough to spend time improving it. For those of you wanting some real life stories and some before and after pics, here are some links:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/real-estate/before-after-renovating-a-rental-in-prospect-heights-the-new-york-times-103905

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/15/realestate/15cov.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

*Also, here are the links to the rent vs. own arguments I referenced earlier. Interesting things to think about:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204409904574350432677038184.html

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/hey_nyc_are_you_living_the_dream_8os8IwRB3uC32oL0c5iQ6J

Laura Heller I live in a city with lots of long term renters. I painted the kitchen cabinets In the first place I ever lived without roommates. Of course I got permission first and honestly the landlord was thrilled with the results. The cabinets were old and in need of something, he wasn't going to replace them and I was willing to do the work. I lived there for six years...

Alicia You could have a tile mural focal point.. Just install onto board with a frame and secure to the wall.

http://www.AliciaTappDesigns.com

janishill I lived in one rental that was great structurally, but desperately in need of some TLC. During the 6 years I lived there I replaced light fixtures in the dining room, 2 bedrooms, and the kitchen. I stripped the hardwoods in the living room and the dining room. I painted the kitchen cabinets and installed new counter tops. I also painted every wall in the house. I put in flower beds, added a small fish pond, had the lawn sprayed for weeds and fertilized by a professional company, redid the driveway, painted the exterior of the house, installed some outside lighting, and other small things.

My Landlord was thrilled when I first asked if I could paint. Then I showed him what I wanted to do with the kitchen. He couldn't believe I would do that, gave his blessing, and took the cost of materials and labor off my rent!

I turned it into my dream house, then I moved out of state...

cyinmin If its not in the rental contract I'm afraid its a violation and the landlord can easily sue or demand compensation for 'damages/changes' done to their property.

Morgan Daniels I love the butcher block counter ideas. As a renter, I have replaced old windows with new efficient ones, painted the nicotine yellow a soft cream, put in wood floor when the origional carpet was so nasty it wouldn't come clean, and yes, painted the kitchen cupboards but their first coat of paint was sometime when my grandmother was a young woman. oh, the bamboo lamp in the livingroom became a fan/light as the former one was at least 30yrs old. I have also renovated a garage into a third bedroom and put a small porch on that same garage and was able to tell my landlord his garage would last maaaybe 3 more years (dry rott) whereas my porch - another 15/20. Anyway... I think your ideas are fantastic and are very practical if you are not renting a house that is a dream come true anyway. I am even thinking of doing the wood counter thing because a friend will be moving into the house I mentioned after we move out. My going away gift to them.
Thank you for the ideas and you had some great pictures.

thegreenbee I also can't imagine being allowed to do this stuff in a rental either!