Ugly kitchen - help!

5 years ago

The kitchen in the house I just rented is really bothering me and I can’t figure out how to make it look better. Part of the issue is that the cabinets are old, so in person they look dingy, hanging a little lopsided, etc. At first I thought a good rug and some color with accessories would be enough. But its not.

I removed the doors on the top cabinets to the left and right of the sink. Open cabinets helped but I can’t take all the doors off since the food storage cupboards would look cluttered.

I think maybe the black handles might be the problem? They’re not original to the design and are just harsh. What about replacing them with brass or bronze pulls? Would that look weird since the hinges that attach the doors are dark? Would the open shelves that are currently white inside look better covered in removable wall paper that’s beige or grey? Maybe cover the whole back splash with removable tiles?

What else can I do? I’m not down to paint the cabinets since it’s a rental. Thanks Thanks!

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Comments (4)

jkent9024
5 years ago
I agree that those cabinet handles are hideous! Those cabinets weren't designed to have pulls at all. Removing them would leave you with holes; I'd replace them with handles that match the cabinet color as closely as possible so that they disappear.

I also think the tile floor is busy. I'd consider using a grout pen to lighten the grout (again, a color as close to the tile as possible to make those grout lines disappear) IF the landlord allows it. If not, I'd purchase an area rug as large as possible to cover the floor.

I'd start with those things, and then only consider the covering the backsplash after that if it still felt wrong.
Mindia Whittier thanked jkent9024
herbflavor
5 years ago
its large enough to put a table in the middle or a cart /island of some sort. thats what Id do...as it will bring the focus away from the perimeter. brown and white..try something blue that you paint yourself and find very inexpensively or the like. the only advantage here is the space in the middle. the landlord has replaced faucet has provided a fan over the stove and a dishwasher that looks okay...also a counter top microwave . the only thing "wrong" might be lack of good lighting but landlord might think its good enough. things like fiddling with grout and cabinets...... I just wouldnt.
Mindia Whittier thanked herbflavor
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Candace
5 years ago
Will the landlord spring for new handles? They do just look too heavy & out of place. I am not sure I’d pay to replace them though….
Mindia Whittier thanked Candace
Fori
5 years ago
Hmm. Yeah that's a pretty ugly kitchen. It looks like the cabinets are older than the doors on them--the double-high cabinets, the hinge style, and the style of the window scallops look at least 30 years too soon for those doors. It could be a fabulous '40s kitchen (if you owned it and could invest in a restoration). Alas.

Try covering the backsplash with turquoise or teal peel'n'sticks. (I wonder if peel and stick wallpaper would stick.) Rug to match. Bright painted table in the middle is a good idea.

Look at the bright side: the layout is good. Lots of space! Decent windows!
Mindia Whittier thanked Fori