Make your door a chalkboard paint door. [} Some new cabinet hardware would add a lot. [] Third would be a tile backsplash if you can swing it. []

There are relatively minor changes you could make to improve this kitchen such as a tile slash back which could integrate the colours and make it more cohesive.
However if you are talking about replacing bench tops and cupboard doors, that is almost a new kitchen.
If you have this budget, consider redoing all the kitchen and building in the fridge, an integrated pantry unit, modern lower cabinets with deep drawers instead of doors and having upper cabinets right to the ceiling.
I will see if I can find some pictures.

Painting the wall will give it an instant boost ,can you give us the colours of a fabric that you already have in the living room ? For the door just paint the little opening white ,the cabinets are fine ,actually I would give the kitchen an industrial look .

Lime green would be my choice , it would give your stove that instant boost :)

m3459 gets it I think. I like the chalkboard door idea - its easy and casual.

In addition to those suggestions I would also get a different ceiling light. Your light looks too stark. Maybe something with some softness.

Here's another chalk door.

You could potentially do the door and the fridge cabinetry in a third color. So you would have some white cabinets, the door and the fridge cabinets in a darker warmer color, then your wall color.

[houzz=]
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The cabinets are dated. Do you want to change?. I would go dark with brush nickel long pulls on side. Not how they have them now. Go a lighter granite, a gray tone would work. Over stove add a over the range micro wave. To free up counter space. Under cabinet lighting would create a better mood. A backsplash up to cabinet would add interest to a boring room. If you don't have budget for cabinets. Paint black. Make sure you get paint made for cabinets. Ck Lowes or Home Depot. Then add brush nickel pulls lowes carries. Replacing hood with micro wave will make a huge difference.

What are those notes on cabinets? Take down. Declutter.

Paint a dove gray. The whole area Incl any rooms that look into this room same color.

Nothing on top of cabinets.

And travisinteriors will be over this weekend to help you get that kitchen gutted. She's bringing her checkbook, too. ;-)

Seriously, start small and go with what you can afford as you can.

LOL Thank you everyone for all your advices... I have to say I wasn't expecting any answers. Love the idea of the chalk board on the door... and travisinteriors you can come to my condo anytime... btw this is a picture before I had the floors redone... so the notes on the cabinets are for the construction workers. I have nothing on my cabinets.. and the dishwasher is installed and nothing is over on top of the cabinet... but love the idea of changing the door knobs especially now that 2 broke in my hand...it's 1994 kitchen, I would like to stay in neutral color since the floor is American Walnut in a herringbone pattern - see the pic... could I paint the laminated cabinets? they have a bit of a pattern?

I love the green paint color in this last picture! Can you bring that into the kitchen? If you don't wrap the green around, paint the walls gray or something a little darker than the current yellow. Add green accents to your counters like canisters or utensil caddy. Even a bowl of green apples or pears would look nice.

I like the idea of replacing the hood with a over stove microwave. It will save you some counter space.

Add a back splash of your choice. I like the faux tin panels, but that's just me.

I also like painting the door with chalk board paint or attaching a piece of magnetized metal. Add a frame around either choice to make it look nicer. Just get strips of wood, paint & use liquid nails to attach. You may be able to do the same to your cabinet doors to make them look shaker style if that's something you like.

Get dark metal knobs or pulls for your cabinets to match your dining set.

Add some kind of top to the dishwasher. If you change out your counter tops, extend them over it. If you don't, then possibly use a butcher block top.

If you decide to replace your cabinets, then consider extending them around the corner where you have the metal & glass table. You could make that part look like more of a china cabinet or buffet. If new cabinets aren't in the budget, keep an eye out for a free standing hutch on Craig's list or at used furniture stores. If you need more storage that would really help.

If you are keeping the white cabinets, I would go with a colorful backsplash. I would also go with a quartz or granite counter top. I would go with light gold and brown on the counters.

Here are some ideas: The second one can be above the stove.

Houzz ideabook for small galley kitchens
Hopefully this may give you some direction
https://www.houzz.com/photos/small-galley-kitchen-ideas-phbr2-bp~t_709~a_14-4--30-231

I like the tile mural, but maybe above sink instead of stove. There's more room there & it would have to make dealing with dirty dishes a little brighter.

Thank you everyone for all your ideas, I took note of them and will post a picture once this project is finished.

Who's going to notice your kitchen when you have those killer floors!??! Yum!!

LOL - thanks m3459 I love my floors !!!

If you're in the area, come join us for breakfast and our free class every first Saturday of the month on kitchen budgeting: http://leichtwestchester.com/how-much-will-your-kitchen-cost-class-registration

You can ask the professionals for ideas while staying within your budget.
Best of luck with your remodel!

My kitchen needs a facelift... Can someone comment on a reasonable budget ...I have always heard house Reno should account for 10% of house value. Please advise.

Hi azureoak, Do you still need help? If you have not already done so, do start your own individual post so that we can help you.

This kitchen is crying out for a counter depth refrigerator. The existing one is really nice and can be sold easily on Craig's List to offset the cost. To improve storage, take a look at Rubbermaid plastic bins and such. Then hardware on the cabinets. Replace the casing on the door to blend with the baseboards, or, add another piece of trim to give the illusion of wider casing. Using the top of cabinets for storing things just makes a small kitchen look cramped. Under cabinet lighting will really improve the feel, too. Just noticed how old this post is. I wonder what happened to the kitchen?

Is there any way you could move the refrigerator to the solid wall that is left of the cabinet/stove unit on the opposite wall? The refrigerator door handle still would be toward the counter top, where you could set down things you take out. In the place where you originally had the refrigerator, you would have room for a pantry or small closet/storage cabinet or even open shelves that could be more shallow than the refrigerator and would allow you to open the end door more easily.

@daell - Do you have an update on your kitchen? I'm so curious as to the outcome with all of these great suggestions.