I should have mentioned that they are renting and are on a budget.

I'd paint the walls in the kitchen before the cabs...but honestly,as a former renter and current landlord, I'd suggest they spend their budget on things that can move with them.

The white cabinets are actually the best choice for that kitchen. Here's a similar one with nickel handles.

Ask them to look for a black and white checkerboard kitchen rug.

Please show us the rest of the kitchen, and perhaps you can draw up a measured drawing of the whole space. What is their budget for any improvements? The last thing they need is to go into debt for things they can’t take with them in the future.

Agree with other posters. Don't invest much since the cabinets won't be going with them when they move. Can your son and his girlfriend get the landlord to do any work? If so, that would make the most sense. Good luck!

Its a rental and honestly I have seen much worse in a rental Add some fun accessories and be done.

I would change the knobs, as you suggested and paint everything a nice bright white. It would open up the small space and wouldn't compete with the yellow and black. They could spray paint a thin delicate curtain rod black (or buy one) about half way down the window and hang tea towels on clips...something with the yellow and black pattern. I would go with round brushed silver knobs for cabinets.

The cabinets are fine for a rental. Renter-painted cabinets would have to be repainted before they leave. The hinges are already painted over so that's not going to be so simple.

I suggest lining the cabinets and drawers with a fun shelf paper that's easy to remove. Add a short curtain and framed poster.

Clean the beejeebers out of it first. And check the rental contract to see what it what is says about changing anything.

Not much you can do with a rental. Maybe give it a good clean. That grout looks like it may contain diseases. Get a good grout cleaner.

Cute! I like the suggestions to clean, use shelf liner, add some kind of cool poster or art they like, and maybe a rug. Also if they find that the storage is challenging, maybe they can find some removable organization accessories (IKEA has some here) that could help them neatly store things.

I would get a pro in there to either steam clean and reseal the grout of actually scrape and replace so it is fresh and clean , then just decorate...

Cute space!

I'd like to thank everyone for their suggestions. We are taking them all ! Will clean the grout, paint the cupboards white, install new black hardware, a small curtain for color and a checkered rug. I will post the results in a couple of weeks. Again, your comments and suggestions are very much appreciated. There IS hope :)

Oh, I was just coming here to say the same thing! keep the colors same, but freshen up and add black knobs. Try anything you can to store away clutter.

As far as making changes to rentals: if you're good at it, I'm all for it! I've done tons of stuff (with my landlord's approval), and never regretted it. Sometimes even for places I only lived in for a year. It's just something I love to do with my time. I left the place better than when I arrived, so the landlord was happy.

The cupboards are already white, just scrub them, no need to make extra work. New hardware will make it cuter.

I will scrub the cupboards but they are actually a cream colour, not a real white. May need a little sanding before painting but that's no bother. Plan to visit IKEA for some storage solutions suggested above. This is going to be fun and I agree, B F -- no concerns about improving the place for the next tenant. I'm visiting nearby for a month which should give me enough time. I've got the go ahead and I'm excited to start.

Zep grout cleaner cleans very well. You have to wear gloves though because it's acid based. Then get some grout sealer to help keep it from getting stained again.

Instead of black knobs... go for yellow knobs. Brighten the up. Since it's a rental, might be able to paint the current knobs yellow... Easier to paint over with white again if needed when moving out than black knobs. Less $$ than buying new knobs for while renting..

Ditto to all esp knobs, cafe curtains, accessories, and Ikea storage. There are some of those European retro posters that have yellow in them, would look great in there. Would make it look like they meant for the kitchen to be this way. An antique store may have some inexpensive retro or vintage accessories and fabrics. Have fun!

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I like the idea of vintage posters. I have used them in my own houses; very colorful and the same period as this kitchen. Found some on Etsy. If it were my kitchen (and it's beginning to feel like it, lol) and if I was to buy knobs, I'd keep the old ones and pop them on before I left. Again, thank you for all of your ideas. This is not the first time I have used Houzz advice; a great group of imaginative and creative people.

I think a touch of teal for a pop of color would work very nicely with the black and yellow.

for example....Tea towels, teapot, toaster in teal.

They are renting with a tight budget-. Accept kitchen as is, as they do not own it. Any artistic renovation would be altering the premises beyond "normal wear and tear.." Perhaps they will MOVE in 6 months? Gift them with a bucket of cleaning supplies and lovely second set of sheets

Gifts that Embrace the honey bee look:

https://www.amazon.com/Beehive-Measuring-Ceramic-Treasure-Gates/dp/B073RW3KN1/ref=pd_sbs_79_img_2/144-6349737-1517521?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B073RW3KN1&pd_rd_r=40761711-7706-40be-b4aa-96c64ae8082a&pd_rd_w=5GEQs&pd_rd_wg=Y4b4p&pf_rd_p=5cfcfe89-300f-47d2-b1ad-a4e27203a02a&pf_rd_r=GQVD8SG9ECQJ1SB6SJXW&psc=1&refRID=GQVD8SG9ECQJ1SB6SJXW

Salt and pepper

https://www.amazon.com/youngs-Ceramic-Bee-Set/dp/B07JNX4W6B/ref=asc_df_B07JNX4W6B/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=340324106637&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7649610826678028452&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1016140&hvtargid=pla-740371134157&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Craig-Bachman-15-Wooden-Sign/dp/B07G5LH6ZY/ref=asc_df_B07G5LH6ZY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=385124764285&hvpos=1o14&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7649610826678028452&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1016140&hvtargid=pla-825877182222&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=78082495629&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=385124764285&hvpos=1o14&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7649610826678028452&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1016140&hvtargid=pla-825877182222

On a related note - Check theappliances for model recalls -. My dishwasher caught fire. Research showed the model was recalled due to a fire hazard.

Can’t see everything going on in the room, cute fabric for the window? Stencil or decoupage for the doors? Not sure if there is room to hang stuff up on the wall, pegboard, rails, shelves. You don’t want to invest too much in a rental.

Lol, DK Haas, they should be so lucky as to have a dishwasher but I do agree about the 'normal wear and tear'. Don't want any repercussions later. I think we will stick to scrubbing, painting, a bit of decor and new knobs. I like the idea of hanging a vintage poster provided there is room but have to run that by my son & his girlfriend. I'll post a photo of the other side of the room when I am back in there. The building is old and not in the best shape but there are lovely details too -- hardwood floors with a beautiful design on the outer edges. Such a shame it hasn't been kept up. Pretty obvious that the owner doesn't care -- but they do so we'll do what we can to make the best of it. They've signed a year's lease and I'm here for a month so can help. It's what we do with our kids, right?

Get the consent of the owner before painting anything in a rental.

Get the consent of the owner before painting anything in a rental.

Sink, trim and cabinets are white, not green. Perhaps these comments belong to another post?

Obtain WRITTEN CONSENT from landlord/manger re: permission to change knobs on painted cabinets or ANYTHING ELSE. Also, do a walk-thru with landlord notating EVERY STAIN and SCRATCH and DENT- ALL DAMAGE- TAKE detailed notes with pictures. Have landlord sign the pre-existing damage list, like when renting a car. (I always received 100% refund of my security deposit)

Also, if there is a wall heater, remove the vent and inspect the dust. One apartment I rented had 3 inches of dust debris near the pilot light. It was a fire waiting to happen. I thought to check it only after I turned on the heater and the vent cover flew violently across the hallway, chipping a nearby closet door.

The landlord has supplied the paint and given permission; damage has been noted.

Love the tea towels and curtains. Unfortunately, don't think there is room for the pegboard.

I’d be inclined to paint the lowers black and leave the uppers white. Other than that I’d leave it alone.

Trying to repaint the "guts" of that window very likely would be a mistake. Especially if that sink is green and the walls and cabinets are being painted a different color, leave the bulk of the "inside" of the window green -- or expect that the sink will look seriously out of place.

Paint only the very outside of the window and add white mini blinds to minimize the rest of the green. Repainting windows can result in their being painted shut ... and it is a LOT more difficult to paint a window smoothly than to paint just the trim. You simply cannot paint where the top and bottom part of the window overlaps without taking the window apart.

Also, if you're painting both the walls and cabinets, consider a pale yellow for one or the other unless you really want that yellow and black to be visually jarring.

@suezbell Those tiles are the only good thing happening in that kitchen at the moment, lol.

Tiles really are eye-catching. Surprised the walls and cabinets were not both painted a pale yellow and larger black knobs used for the cabinets. But ... then ... there's that sink: Is that sink green (as it appears on my screen)?

Against stark white walls and/or stark white cabinets, with a green sink the only green thing left, the yellow and black tiles would not be as appealing -- at least to me.

Do let us know how it turns out.

@suezbell As I said earlier, the sink is not green. It's white, the cabinets and window frame are off white. There is nothing green in the room. Must be your screen.

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What a cute little kitchen , Is there room for some shelves on the wall ..I would ad only what they can take with them in one year ..anyhow if you change the knobs .., just keep the old ones and put back when they leave.
They are lucky to have you to help !