Paint the cabinets and paneling white. Put away the appliances in the counter. Replace the curtain with something more crisp looking. I would also consider painting the built-in breakfast area too but not necessarily white. Maybe green or blue?

It appears well appointed, lots of counter space, but all that wood is so dark. How about painting it out or replacing the doors with something light to match the countertops, brighten it up! I'll bet just painting the wall around the door would be a big improvement.

Kitchens and bathrooms sell houses. If I were a prospective buyer I would agree that it needs a lot of work. If the tile backsplash cannot be replaced, definitely paint the cabinets to match the tile to make it stand out less. Make the door wall and door a feature by painting it a pale aqua with white blinds in the window. The blinds can be secured at the bottom so they don't swing with the door. Cabinet hinges to match the paint color and stainless handles. This is a galley kitchen, can you see a difference? [houzz=]

I think that you should just give the wood a good polish with Lemon oil and re-invent this kitchen into a chalet style ,the wood brings warmth so why not have the illusion to be in Swizzerland and decorated that way find a few things like plates make some curtains for the window in , get a weather station and rest it on a shelf near the window .I wouldn't paint the wood let the new owner make the decision ,I can visualize the potential of this room and all I see are the Alps :) I will post some pictures ....

http://www.marmaladeinteriors.com/images/interiordesign/BeaverCreekSkiChalet/images/8.jpg
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http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=swiss+dots+kitchen+curtains+&FORM=HDRSC2#view=detail&id=789F45534525221664E0770305A5EEFA135BB203&selectedIndex=3http://www.artposters.com/showprint.aspx?pid=109012#.UZdz1rVwrng

The decorations on the tile date it. There are kits you can use to refinish tile. That would be an affordable alternative to replacing it. I would also recover the bench cushions and get new throw pillows and valance. Are counters real butcher block or laminate? If they are laminate then I would resurface or replace them since butcher block laminate isn't popular anymore. If you are handy it's cheap and easy to do it yourself.

I like the natural wood cabinets but most people don't these days :( so I agree the natural wood in the kitchen should be painted.

List the house as is but the price should reflect the amount the work needed to bring the kitchen up to date.

Are you listing the house as a 'fixer-upper'? Dytecture is right, the price should reflect the amount of work needed.

Paint the cabinets, change the hardware and if possible replace the countertop. You'll have a look that is much more modern and appealing to buyers.

Is this a home, or a mobile home?

It's clean, the counters are decluttered, the floor is a classic neutral, so you are well on your way.

Have you settled on a budget for fix-up? The feedback you are getting indicates that people see they'd have to do a lot of work. The appliances look dated; replacing them is a big expense. There's no way around that, so leave it for the buyers.

If you don't want to spend more than $20, take down the dated backdoor curtain, the valence over the breakfast nook window, and the wood valence over the sink. Touch up the cabinets here and there with a $10 spray can of shellac or varnish (or use a can with paintbrush, of course). Wipe the wood cabinets with $5 worth of Pledge or Scotts Liquid Gold, replace all the light bulbs with $5 worth of fresh new ones (they get dim with age) and polish the windows over the sink and the in the door.

You can probably do all the following for less than $1000 if you do the work yourselves. If someone is going to use the kitchen without remodelling, remove the old decor above, put some fashionable or classic cheerful fabric (like Genevieve's red polka dots) on the nook cushions, and paint the whole thing top to bottom. Make sure the sink cabinet matches the rest of the kitchen. Keep the black hardware, don't paint over it, make sure it is clean. If you need extras to match for the sink cabinet (I can't tell from the photo, then buy them, they are readily available). Replace the laminate and backsplash with a light color. Replace all the light switches, outlets and cover plates with the usual almond color. Use GFCIs. For an extra $200, replace the three light fixtures with something new and fashionable from overstock.com or another discounter. Scrub the windows until they gleam. If the cabinets have not been decluttered yet, go through them, and make sure they are at least one-third empty on each shelf to make them look spacious. Take everything out of the cupboards, wipe down the shelves, and run the glassware, plates, etc. through the dishwasher so that everything is gleaming when the cupboards are opened. Things left unused in cupboards acquire a grimy coating (and dead moths) that looks old and sad. You want this to be bright and cheery for a quick sale.

Please do post photos again after you have made the changes you choose.

Here are some great photos of a budget-friendly paint redo: http://allaboutvignettes.blogspot.com/2011/06/favorite-feature-back-splash.html

Here are some professional home stager photos. What is particularly appropriate to the pine kitchen situation is that she uses up to the minute fashionable color accents with neutral painted surfaces to make the house come alive. Orange has been fashionable for several seasons; orange pillows, soap dishes, etc. are easily found at Target and the home discount places such as TJ Maxx. http://www.movingmountainsdesign.com/portfolios/before-and-after-transformations/

What is your budget for this and how quickly do you need to sell? Could price to sell and do the absolute minimum, as mentioned, stage as ski chalet, add large vintage ski poster (art.com) on wall of the kitchen booth (love it!), put a fondue bowl in the middle.

If you can do the work painting wood white appeals to the most. And, change curtains and accessories.

replace the countertop and paint the cabinets white. Remove frilly curtain and clear the countertops of appliances.

Lot's of great idea's....thank you. I will answer some of your questions.....It is a house not a mobile home, we just replaced all the light fixtures in the kitchen and breakfast nook. We just re-covered the bench cushions and pillows are brand new to match the bench. Refrigerator, Stove and dishwasher are all under 5 years old. We don't have a budget....just pay as we go. The house has been on the market since April 1 this year and we have fixed up everything in the house except the kitchen. Will let you know what we decide on doing.....great ideas to ponder tho!!!

Paint it and get new hardware that all matches. The mismatched cabinets stand out badly. This has to be minimized somehow. Even if it is priced to sell knowing the kitchen needs all new cabinets and counter tops people want to see it's potential and say- it's dated but I can live with it for awhile. I think painting the cabinets and walls will lighten the room and bring cohesiveness to the room.

I get the feeling you are not pressed for a quick sale, so you have time to do some updating. Looking at the first picture posted by Olldbobbi, I think that it would open up the space more if you take down the small cabinet next to the sink.

@lmassey: thanks for the info about the appliances being less than 5 years old. In that case, they are fine. The new lights should be fine, too. You've put in a lot of work already.

If your house has been for sale already for 7 weeks, chances are good everyone who is seriously in your market in your price range has seen it already. If you make the simple changes or the paint changes, you should consider replacing the MLS photos of the kitchen with new ones. Then a new crop of buyers will see the updated version on line. You never have another chance to make a first impression, so target the new crop of buyers with a fresh new look.

Even if the pillows and cushion covers are brand new, they are not adding up to date style. Please consider replacing them. Look on Target's webpage http://www.target.com/c/decorative-pillows-throws-home-decor/-/N-5xttp , then click "decorative pillows" and then sort on "best sellers". What shows is what is popular, and traditional wide window plaid is not it for young homebuyers. The fretwork patterns are particularly popular this year, as is the Threshold line of coordinated patterns. Cushion covers can be easily redone by wrapping them like a package and duct-taping the bottom folds that no one will ever see.

You want your house to sell, and the longer it is on the market, the less you are going to get. It will be worth the investment to make some of the changes suggested above. I would borrow the money to get it done professionally; that money will come back to you. My vote goes for using the photo from olldbobbi for your inspiration! The photo shows the door wall painted in a soft but contrasting neutral. Maybe a light taupe that works with your floor. (Aqua? Not everyone likes it.) Do change the countertop...it will make a better impression which will help your house sell. When looking recently at houses on the market, what I saw were kitchens re-done to sell: white cabinets (and woodwork) , simple hardware (nickel or bronze) and laminate countertops in either black or mottled browns. I would put the same blinds in that window as you put on the door. I, too, am eager to see photos once you've made changes:)

Would it make sense for poster to take house off market while changes are made? How long a break must there be before it comes back as a new listing? Should have agents come thru again after work done!

pcmom1, do you think it depends on the location? For instance, houses in Northern California are selling like hotcakes. The problem is a house that needs a lot of work will get low ball offers from investors. It seems people these days want move-in ready houses complete with all stainless appliances, granite countertops, perfect hardwoods.....and they want them for nothing!

How about brightening up the kitchen? Painting the cabinets and white and a lighter color on the wall paneling (maybe a taupe/grey?) Remove the curtain from the door and just leave it open.

I would add a track light in the ceiling. This allows you to disperse the light more evenly with out doing any electrical work. It will brighten up the corners of the room. This will make the space feel bigger and more modern.

A agree with the above comment, kitchens help to sell houses. So rather than seeing any renovations as a loss, look at it as an investment.

If you're looking for a small investment that will offer a higher reward, I think the following are necessary:
- New stainless appliances ($2-3k) this is huge!
- Paint the cabinetry. If say go with a distressed or antiqued white. (A potential buyer wants to see themselves living in the home)
- Remove the clutter from the counter space.
- Replace cabinetry hardware/pulls. Go with something more modern. A brushed nickel could work.
- Install a new backsplash. The old one is dated. You need something a bit more modern. I think a subway would work, I like our bronzite which you can see here: http://www.granitetransformations.com/southjersey/products/mosaic-tiles/colors/subway/

Overall, I think you can update this kitchen for about $5-6k. But, you'd likely see an ROI of 100%, if not more!

Good luck!

PAINT!! Paint the walls and cabinets, Rustoleum transformations for tile backsplash and countertops http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGBrand.asp?bid=37 . Change out hardware. Paint the ceiling the same color as the walls (makes it look bigger). Put your appliances away (people want to imagine their stuff there, not yours).