Maybe add new hardware?

The only thing you can do on the cheap is hardware.

I hate the gold trim

it's like a strip of brass

I like your kitchen. Clear your counters and polish up the backsplash. Can't see the floor or walls; what color is your paint and is there a rug on the floor? Can you post pictures of the walls and floor?

this is the floor

Paint color. but hate it and changing it soon

I will thank you

Clear countertop. Change paint color and backsplash. Update hardware. You could also try and paint the gold.... Remove the doors and mask well.

I realize a lot of people like the modern look to the kitchen, but I like a more rustic look. Here is a real out of the box idea: If it was mine and my budget was small, I would remove the uppers and backsplash and replace with wood shelves. I would see if I could afford to replace just the lower cabinets. One blogger stained unfinished oak cabinets from a home center store and tiled up the wall. I would add some shelves like below. It is low budget because it was mostly removing cabinetry and replacing with less expensive surfaces, but in a style she liked better.

Her inspiration pic:

Part of her kitchen:

I am working on a basement kitchenette and have used some of these same ideas. I've refinished some old cabinetry I had in storage and made shelves. I'm using beadboard rather than tile because it is the basement. There is one in progress pic in my "my pics" ideabook. So far total cost is less than $500. I expect to pay a carpenter to set the cabinets and install the counters, so cost will increase - and that includes no appliances - and it is not as big as your space. It would be a total change on a budget if you can do some of the work yourself.

Mask well? What do you mean?

Meaning when you pull the doors off the spray the gold, make sure you mask the rest of the cabinet really well. You wouldn't want spotted doors.

Ahhhh ok now I got you

We installed a vinyl graphic on one of our kitchens to make it look more special; perhaps you could consider something like this as well? Printing and installation was less than $500, and it makes your kitchen into an art piece.

(as in, tape everything around the brass stripe, so you only paint that)

also, I have to say that the white gloss is back to being pretty current, and the custom rounded edges (which say 80s to me more than 90s) are pretty neat in themselves. if you can get out the mirrored backsplash and maybe go for a mellower tile -- say, either a gray (imagining gray paint to match) or a color (like turquoise blue). I think that works with either the brass hardware approach or any attempt to change it (to, say, a nickel finish).

also, depending on budget, you might look into whether there's an expensive vinyl flooring you could use to cover that... remarkable disco pattern. :) if thin, it could probably go right on top.

They have an Art Deco look to them. Here is an inspiration pic.

Ryan, put some ribbon LED lights under your cabinets. They attach to an adapter and the adapter plugs into the outlet. Paint the walls, maybe a light teal color, depending on what colors are seen from the kitchen. Add a neutral indoor/outdoor rug that you can just hose down when needed. If you lack storage space for the countertop items, buy some tins in variations of your new wall color and use those on your counter for storage. Clean and shine up those cabinets and your backsplash. This will be well within your budget. You can then save for a larger budget and search houzz for ideas that you like for a later renovation. Post pictures as you complete different areas.

I wish I knew just what this material is that is covering the cabinets. the boxes themselves are solid wood

I don't think your cabinets are the issue here, which is great because that's where the main expense is. New paint, no backsplash, maybe new flooring, and may feel differently about them.

Your brass inset is edge banding. Here is a link to a company that sells it in a variety of different finishes. It's peel and press so you can go right over the brass tape with an alternate color or finish.

http://www.outwatercatalogs.com/lg_display.cfm/page/40/catalog/Master_Catalog_Vol_42

Google search for peel and stick colored edge banding, and you'll find you can even purchase it on Amazon.

Declutter the kitchen and maybe use peel and stick tiles over the mirror backsplash, but all with be just a short term fix until you can remodel the kitchen.

Oh wow! thank you

Using the colored banding is a good temporary idea. You could also add strips of wood to the front edges of the cabinet doors and paint them. This will soften the look and hide the trim. See examples below.

[https://www.houzz.com/photos/white-shaker-ikea-kitchen-contemporary-kitchen-philadelphia-phvw-vp~1738799[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/white-shaker-ikea-kitchen-contemporary-kitchen-philadelphia-phvw-vp~1738799)

[https://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchens-traditional-kitchen-london-phvw-vp~40743029[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchens-traditional-kitchen-london-phvw-vp~40743029)

[https://www.houzz.com/photos/carefully-curated-kitchen-traditional-kitchen-milwaukee-phvw-vp~22664508[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/carefully-curated-kitchen-traditional-kitchen-milwaukee-phvw-vp~22664508)

[https://www.houzz.com/photos/northside-residence-kitchen-farmhouse-kitchen-chicago-phvw-vp~142277[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/northside-residence-kitchen-farmhouse-kitchen-chicago-phvw-vp~142277)

[https://www.houzz.com/photos/the-loft-shaker-kitchen-by-devol-farmhouse-kitchen-phvw-vp~15675787[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/the-loft-shaker-kitchen-by-devol-farmhouse-kitchen-phvw-vp~15675787)

Ryan your cabinets are faced with post form glossy plastic laminate.

Ok, thank you!!

Can I paint this glossy laminate?

Not successfully. Every brush mark will show, and it's going to be very hard to get the paint to stick long term. Laminate is designed in a way that nothing sticks to it so it stays clean. Maybe you can have the kitchen cabinets covered in Contact Paper.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/6-clever-ways-to-customize-kitchen-cabinets-with-contact-paper-194443

http://www.yesandyes.org/2014/10/rental-kitchen-diy.html

Using a Shellac primer might do the trick.

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/asktoh/question/0,,380712,00.html

painting kitchen cabinets