A longer-term plan involving a redesign with appliance replacement, single bowl sink and task lighting. This is what I see. Then choose a segment of the plan and execute that part. Move forward as funds become available. I'd begin with an induction range.

^agree, if it were me, I would leave the cabinets and address the counters, kitchen flooring, lighting and appliances - the wood seems overwhelming bc there is nothing else in the space like rugs, art, furniture etc…

What's your budget? Are the cabinets in good condition? From the looks of the second photo the cabinets look like they're not in great shape. The appliances, counter tops and flooring also look like they could use updating. If that were me, I'd wait until I could do a complete overhaul, and while at it, close up that pass through to the living room.

If you can't see yourself doing an overhaul, then concentrate on the usefulness of the kitchen and get more functional appliances first. Then change out the counter tops and paint the cabinets.

I think start by removing the fan and get good lighting into the space with pot lights not a center light at all. If that is not in the budget then a nice LED track light with 5 heads for sure all 4000K bulbs. So many things need an upgrade in the space IMO wait until you can do this right . The appliances are the first item to think of replacing and a counter depth fridge fo sure . Do you actually plan on stools on the lR side > If not then if a redo you could open that wall all up with just lowers cabinets and that wall all open . Lots of ideas will cme if you decide to wait until you do this right .Like this

A full overhaul is in the future, but I can't replace the cabinets at this point. I just want to spruce it up before I move in. Stove is being replaced first thing, other appliances will follow. Will likely replace the counter top and new flooring. Ceiling fan is definitely going!

Based on what I see, painting the cabinets a dark brown will make the kitchen seem much smaller. You would require significantly more, and better, lighting. Simply replacing the light fixture with something more contemporary would be helpful. Perhaps an upgrade on the cabinet hardware would add a more relevant look for a minimal investment. It appears that the countertops are laminate. Is that the case? Down the road, I would remove the soffit and extend the cabinetry up to the ceiling for more storage. I would install LED can lights as well as under-cabinet LED lighting. Get yourself a nice workstation sink so all of your work is done on the sink instead of the counter, and consider LVP flooring (luxury vinyl plank). It is extremely durable and very easy to install right over the existing flooring. I hope this is somewhat helpful.

You can paint the cabinets, but, you cant stain them, unless you use a gel stain, and that isnt the best look. To stain them with regular stain, you would need to strip them to bare wood everywhere, and sand them well, before staining. To paint them, you need to clean them well, sand them well, and prime them with a good quality sealing bonding primer, and use proper cabinet paint, not regular wall paint. I would change out the wall paint, it clashes with the flooring. I also dont mind the white appliances, if they work well, why change them out. Not everyone needs stainless, or even wants it. I would repaint, and then get your things in there, and some curtains, and rugs, and a bit of your personality, and leave it go. Its not in all that bad condition, that it needs to be done right now. Because, all is empty, I am assuming you just bought the house. Just leave the kitchen (with exception of painting walls), and live in it 6 months to a year. Then you will know, just what you need or want to do in there. Its a clean functional kitchen right now. Enjoy it along with your new home.

Leave it be until you can afford the reno. Unless you are super at DIY you can’t stain to paint those cabs in expensively. It’s not awful, you can totally live with that space and in the meantime, get suggestions for what you will love. And congratulations on the house!,🙂

Do the appliances if they are dead but that’s it. Absolutely don’t put new counters on those cabinets. If you like painting and hate weekends sure sand them all, oil prime them, and paint them. If that sounds like a lot of work staining is three times as much work. Clean them and live with them until you can afford the full renovation. The layout can be massively improved and the soffits need to go, you will hate throwing away new counters at that point.

Yup, since you are planning a renovation, save your money to do it right. If you need new appliances, make sure you get what you really want, and you can build your new kitchen around them.

You could try to paint a sage green (not sure how it would look with the wood grain)...but I agree with the above posters to wait to do anything major until you are ready to do it all.