What is your budget? My first impression is that the countertop and flooring are a bad combination for each other.

Thanks for the comment. I agree. My budget is less than 10 grand.

I would paint the cabinets. And may be countertop to replace. Flooring can wait.

What color would you go with for the cabinets and countertops?

I would go white for cabinets and white with gray for countertop.

how would white or any paint on cabinets fix floor and counter that look horrible together. Fix things that dont work before optional things that cost time money and a lot of work. The one postive is that its a fairly decent sized open space. I'd get pricing on flooring ..maybe you can encounter a sale of something in stock. Another floor might make the cabs and counter agreeable ..then pause for a while...live in the space and note things about layout and function etc. Put some hardware on the cabs. I would say normally dont do anything for 6 mo: standard advice ...... but the floor and counters dont look good. and its a big enough area so mismatch is irritating and best to redo an element...... Get a new floor..... just dont spend too much. If you cant get a deal I wouldnt do anything....redo the kitchen in 2 yrs.

I would replace the flooring, add cabinet hardware, and update the light fixtures in the kitchen and dining area for now with the plan to paint the cabinets creamy white as soon as you can afford to. Then replace appliances with a stainless or slate finish. And then replace the sink and faucet.

New light fixtures will help too.

It could maybe be cheaper to get new solid color laminate countertops than it would be to replace the floor. Just a thought...

I would add new flooring throughout the main living spaces (I think wood as it is timeless.) It will create a lovely smooth flowing look without breaks or interruptions to make your house feel more like a home that an apartment.

I would also paint the walls, ceilings (where needed) and the cabinets.

Step back and see what you think. I believe for immediate results and with your budget that is your best bet and will make your place look transformed.

What colors for the walls and cabinets are you thinking? I like the wood look. What color wood? Dark?

I pulled these pics from a similar home on my street that sold

Kitchen

Here is another pic of the same layout of my home

I'm a fan of white cabinets, but the wood on your cabinets looks really nice. Hard to know from a picture, but if it's reasonable quality, I wouldn't paint. It's tough to do a good job yourself, and expensive to have done professionaly. Several low cost things could really improve the "apartment" look:

1) New lighting. Replace that flourescent ceiling panel with an attractive semi-flush mount.

2) New kitchen faucet. A good goose-neck pulldown is only a few hundred dollars, and would do wonders to improve things.

3) New single-bowl sink, stainless or white porcelain.

4) Island cart. That will provide more sense of separation between your kitchen and dining space. Bonus is it gives you useful workspace too.

5) The big spend--replace the countertops with light-colored laminate.

These things are worth doing to make things feel like home right now. Then you can take your time feeling out how the space works for you. Replace flooring, install stone or quartz countertops, replace appliances AFTER you know how much you want to change the cabinets and the floorplan.

Google search will give you hope. There's a lot of pics, that actually look nice keeping the oak cabinets as is.

I wonder if floors, new countertop and backsplash would be in the budget.

https://www.google.com/search?q=updating+kitchen+with+golden+oak+cabinets&rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS879US879&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=3aHtZv7w7S4iGM%252CBPUI0qESicsl_M%252C_%253BwFgkb_kK0y_PEM%252CxTt0R9gH5zaPTM%252C_%253BOIZZj8eG_cNaTM%252CxTt0R9gH5zaPTM%252C_%253BDVssua2TdWj4GM%252Cb8rs5dL6mufKMM%252C_%253Bq1vRmWGtUyVJSM%252CPrsVykD89LOePM%252C_%253BHchU7dK8GNiCQM%252C7aL1DTsqHHI-9M%252C_%253BMnd_eWoN8a_XrM%252CMQ-sfS9kNxKEBM%252C_%253BLHKvdfV1ZZsS6M%252CXExLuWC64OuWpM%252C_%253Br3weXmdUBCDTVM%252Cb8rs5dL6mufKMM%252C_%253BsGWq6QAAJag-JM%252ClONjzhbJ4toCPM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kS2zCfA3eqJ4_gFeqqfeatuVhPS3A&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjQx4jR39n0AhWkJzQIHWlbAfEQ9QF6BAgWEAE

Feel free to give advice outside of my budget. I can always save up for it.

Based on pictures of similar houses you posted, the floors make a huge difference. If this were my house, that is where I would put my money first. Hardwood (white oak would be my preference) for living/dining/kitchen. Floors are best done before you move in.

Great idea. Thank you

Change the layout of the kitchen. Remove the laundry and the pantry.

Congratulations on your new place. Looks like interesting space. Probably so called Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring in light wood tones throughout the house would be great. However that would probably eat most of that budget. Might want to get some inexpensive but durable rugs that lighten and brighten up the space. That would trick the eye away from existing flooring and cost much less. Here are ideas for eating area.

All affordable pieces. Just don’t use a bench at a eating table. Use all chairs. Much more comfortable.

Thank you for taking the time to do that

Great. Happy to help. You can do a lot for a little with careful choices. With a few wood pieces, it will tie kitchen in without major expense. Art for walls can be big plus too and you can find budget friendly pieces too. Have fun. Find a piece of art or a rug you love, and let it inspire your other choices.

Wood or LVP in a wood-look throughout the space will be a game changer. Do not go with the ubiquitous gray floors but rather a timeless medium/ light tone. The new flooring will make everything look better!

I would go for a medium toned wood. Definitely not dark. Dark shows every little piece of dust etc. Also use wood for kitchen flooring and rest of common spaces. Your neighbor's homes look nice but would look even nicer without the sudden change from tile to wood.

I love some of these colors for cabs.