I’m no help with colors and things but I see your photos are tagged “Space Coast MLS”. Are you in Brevard? (I live in Satellite Beach.)

yes, this is in titusville. Just purchasing.

Are you certain those cabinets are real wood? It's hard to tell zoomed out so far. Painting melamine or another laminate surface is different from painting wood, so figure that out ahead of time. I would keep them solid colored and paint them a color that works with the counter. Assuming it's in ok condition, I'd leave that until you can do a bigger renovation because your budget won't get you very much to replace it with and you'll need to replace it again in the future anyway. Then I would do inexpensive vinyl plank over the floors and DIY a simple tile backsplash. That would probably leave enough budget to hire someone to remove the drop ceiling and put in recessed lighting.

Thanks Kaylie! Great input. I know the photos aren't great. I'll try to update with better. I'll have to check the cabinets more carefully.

So you think the green ceramic floor tiles need to be covered for sure? What kind of laminate floor would work well? Do you think an actual tile backsplash would be better than one of those stick-on backsplash that looks like tile?

Even if they are real oak, you cant restain them, unless you strip all the original finish off, and start from scratch. Even if you do a paint wash, or a full paint job, you need to be aware, that there will be a whole lot of prep, and a proper sealing bonding type primer, and two good coats of paint, that is made for cabinets.

When you get a chance, please post new pictures that are large enough to see what you actually have.

No, no, no, no, no. If they are oak, don't even try to stain them. Oak is an incredibly difficult wood to stain if you're an amateur, especially if the wood has already been finished once. It is a blotchy nightmare waiting to happen. You can paint them, but honestly, just clean them and learn to love them. Buy new hardware, and move on.

The drop ceiling is a DIY effort, so go for it. If you want lighting advice, see what's behind the panels first.

The thing about the floor is that if you love it you should keep it. Otherwise absolutely cover it with Pergo or something similar.

If I were you I'd spend my money on a bit of flooring and new appliances - Black Friday sales have already begun. They will change the appearance of your kitchen - and the way you live in it, far more than a new counter or backsplash will.

How long are you planning to live in this house?

Thanks everyone for all the comments. My situation is a bit unusual because although I plan to retire and live in this 2/1 townhouse in the future, for the next few years I plan to rent it out. I wanted to update this kitchen to make it appealing on the rental market and low maintenance, but when I move in, I would like to blow out the wall and open up the kitchen, which is a more major kitchen reno that also requires removing an ugly carpeted stair and relocating the air handler and hot water tank.

Given the advice, I will probably

1. paint the cabinets white, using that expensive chalk paint,

2. update the handles with chrome,

3. replace the fridge,

4. put in a light color wood laminate floor

5. replace the drop ceiling with recessed lighting (diy)

6. install under cabinet lighting from ikea

7. apply an adhesive backsplash that ties it together.

I'll keep the counters for now and do that in big reno down the line in 5-7 years.

any other suggestions greatly appreciated. I will add better photos when I get back there during the inspection.

You would be surprised at what a difference just changing out the appliances makes. In your case you would need to also change the cabinet handles. I think I might also put in modern looking stick down vinyl flooring tiles in the color of the countertop.

This is my sons place that he rents out. The frig and stove were floor samples he got cheap .The sink and faucet came as a combo from Costco. We took out the plastic ceiling and put a twisty track lighting type fixture up there from Home Depot. Countertop is also HD, premade, cheap with 4” backsplash already attached. The island was $75 from Craigs list. Stools- Craigslist. Wall shelf IKEA.

First photo is BEFORE.

You could neutralize and stage.

When you say chalk paint for the cabinets, I hope you mean the type that is shown in this link, which is made for cabinets, and NOT the (for example) Annie Sloan, which is flat and you'd have to use wax over. Waxing the would mean you couldn't paint them again in the furre without removing the wax first. Chalk paint for cabinets

Hi everyone. Here are some clearer photos of the kitchen, and approach to kitchen from the living room (red living room will be repainted white). Click to enlarge.