We sponge painted our Formica countertops in shades of grey as we didn't have enough money for new. Then sealed with polyurethane. They improved the look of the kitchen tremendously.

If you're saving for a full re-model, how far down the road is that? If it's only 2 - 3 years out, do minor cosmetic changes that you won't mind tearing up. Good idea from Anniemerriman to reface your countertops. Add an area rug to the kitchen area to cover the worn floors. Are you cabinets in good shape? If so, don't change their color, rather change the paint on the walls. It's cheaper and can make a dramatic impact. I'd change out the kitchen ceiling light for added impact. These can all be done rather inexpensively.

I love your sunset orange walls! And neutral for the rest. Is there room for a shallow-depth baker's rack on side of frig? I don't spend on other than white so it actually didn't stick out to me....but I found this frig painted with chalkboard paint. :)

I agree with waiting. Don't paint cabinets. To get new floors you will need to pull out the cabinets to lay them. Try the quick & easy on the counters, change hardware on the cabinets oil rubbed bronze, & if you must lay peal & stick over the lino. They are quite nice looking now. I like the light fixture. It could be lower or the table could be larger.

Sorry, it looks like you have already changed the hardware to ORB. Good girl!

Thank you for your suggestions. One of my reasons to paint the cabinets is that I plan to get a large, wood farm style table. I fear the wood table will compete with the cabinets.

I agree with replacing white fridge out for stainless that matches stove. Your kitchen isn't your dream but is clean and pretty. Save your money and disruption to life until total reno. Get a runner for farm table that has wall color in it to help it fit in.

If you are keeping the orange wall color, I would paint the cabinetry
more of a color like a light sage-green or warm-grey rather than “off-white”. I
regret that I cannot tell the wood species of the cabinets but one option
is to have a dark glaze (such as Benjamin Moore “Randolph Gray”) applied to the
cabinetry to add depth and interest.

Rather than spending anything on the floor until replacing it, I recommend only a deep cleaning of the linoleum floor. This involves a
thorough vacuuming & then using a thick-bristle nylon scrub brush with a
few drops of mild detergent added to hot water. An inexpensive & environmentally
friendly alternative is to add ½ cup distilled white vinegar to 1 gallon of
water. Keep in mind how important it is to rinse the floor a couple of times
using clean hot water.

Until you are ready to invest the money in recessed lighting,
please consider replacing the ceiling fixture with a larger one (still flush to
the ceiling) that will provide a larger spread of light / more lumens of light.

The side of the refrigerator could be concealed with some type
of painted metal or wood “trellis”, whether the traditional diagonal or 90-degree right-angle open pattern, or horizontally slatted wood. With the remodel, I would add either a sheetrock wall (floor to ceiling) or a full-height cabinetry panel to “enclose”
the refrigerator.

If remodeling in stages & presuming the various
tradespeople will properly cover/protect those surfaces that are “new”, I
recommend:

1. Replace flooring

2. Replace cabinetry (an option is to have cabinetry to the ceiling) or alter cabinetry components (Rev-A-Shelf is an amazing source) & refinish

3. If appliances are
   to be replaced, that happens in conjunction with the cabinetry if adjustments
   are required for larger/new model appliances

4. Replace
   countertop, now that the base cabinetry is completed

5. Install backsplash

6. Install
   properly spaced recessed lighting (lamping options are halogen, fluorescent,
   & LED) and consider more efficient under-cabinet lighting that is
   proportionately sized to the upper cabinets

Best of luck and I truly hope that you will enjoy your project!

Maybe a blend-- in that table will have different finish and character than cabinets, and won't look like you were trying to match it? It's always nice to have undercabinet lighting, lucky you. And your rug seems a darker tone than the flooring which is just fine, but who knows with new table maybe a colorful rug?

Your cabinets don't look so bad in the pic. Painting is hard work and many steps if done correctly. I have painted mine.
I agree with updating your wall to a more current color. ( greens, caramels, blues ...see Benjamin Moore suggestions)The red/orange fights w the cabinets. There is not anything in the rug to tie in the kitchen colors. Maybe invest in a pattern rug and ( custom) valance over the window with pattern. Table and fixtures are great.

The main thing to do is to replace the fridge with the one you want to have when the reno is done. Also replace the builder's special boob light with a track lighting system. You'll find that rustoleumtransformations.com has a counter top refinisher that looks great. Clean the floors, remove the rug, replace the oversize chandelier (unless it is for the reno table) I think you can get some more miles out of it then.

Your cabinets are fine! Change out fridge and flooring as they are the most glaring. I just updated all appliances and a world of difference. Your floor is what I notice the most. You do not need to remove cabinets as someone mentioned to lay flooring.

New counters when u cam...they have large pre cut assorted counter tops in many large box stores. You may luck out.

As someone mentioned painting counter and there are products I believe now. Not sure how they are or the look.

Good luck!

I also love your red walls. They add a touch of drama to what would be a boring builder's kitchen. If you lower your dining table lighting to no more than 36" over the table, it will obscure some of the kitchen.

Some on houzz speak approvingly of Rustoleum Transformations for countertops. Check it out. It seems labor intensive, but not too hard.

Replace the kitchen boob light with an inexpensive track fixture for now.

Lower your chandelier to about here. The track light is $40 at Ikea. The stainless fridge is considerably more.

Thanks, grover - always Johnny-on-the-spot with the visuals!

I know that I have lived with your kitchen and its faults, but I really think that I could live with it as it is until you renovate.

I would think twice about buying a refrigerator with the intent of using it later. I would only do it if you have your new kitchen floor plans in hand and know that the new refrigerator will fit in your new kitchen.

I would be careful using track lighting in the center of your Kitchen as you will probably block the light when working at the countertops....

Do the countertops. Your cabinets are lovely if you can live with them until a full remodel. I just painted my countertops to look like marble. They were just crappy Formica. I used the Giani kit and it is wonderful. If you do that first you might not want to paint the cabinets, perhaps just change the hardware.

I wouldn't do tracks so they're in the center but on the parameters out from the upper cabs about 8-10" then focus some as accent lighting on the cab fronts and use some for ambient light. Drop pendants over the peninsula. Her are track and cable versions.

Oh, I agree but was referring to the image showing track lighting in the same location as the original center light fixture.

The rustle un renovation products work great. I would paint the cabinets as you planned because the white with your walls will look gorgeous. The fridge won't matter as much once the cabs are white. I would add a stenciled backsplash for visual interest since your just waiting for a full Reno.

Darn iPhone. I don't always catch it changing what I've typed. I meant Rustoleum Renovations products as Decoenthusiast already mentioned. I have used the cabinet package and my brother used the tub refinished. There both so great I wouldn't hesitate using it on Formica countertops.

I wonder how your kitchen, etc. turned out - I like that warm paint color!