so sorry but that link doesn't work for my computer.

Live link.

Here is a link that might be useful: pics

How much ($$$) of an intervention do you want to make? How long will you be living with it? If it is going to be 5 or more years I would make a larger intervention. It isn't terrible but it's not very interesting either.

Dislikes

the finish of the cabinets with the floor

light fixture

stove in the corner

counter and back splash - too much of one product - they don't really seem to go with the cabinets

fridge

hardware

Likes

cabinetry - wish the boxes were edge banded to match the door finish but it still looks nice and the slab doors offer a clean look - how are the drawers constructed? Hardware is just track and roller but that will work for a long time and is easy to repair.

Layout except the stove seems fine

More than 5 years I might get rid of the counters (or at least the back splash). I would just live with the layout and try to add some style to it.

It's not nearly as bad as you made it sound. Certainly it wouldn't be to everyone's taste, but I've seen worse! My first thought is a black (or very dark) quartz countertop. Does the refrigerator have to be replaced now? I've read some negative reviews concerning the reliability of Fisher and Paykal refrigerators. I know Samsung makes a reasonably priced counter-depth that is only 32 inches wide so you might look around. Good luck!

If you want the cabs darker, cross post on the decorating forum. A number of people have gel stained their cabs darker.

I am 100% removing the counters. I hate formica and green formica even more so. I am reluctant to go with dark counters as the space is already small, and I would rather go light to brighten it up.

I agree with all the dislikes, but the question is what to replace with?

I have to go with the F+P fridge because the space is a MAX of 32" wide, so the fridge needs to be under 32" and the Samsung is exactly 32". That was my first choice but alas, I'm stuck.

The floor is awful and makes no sense. It's vinyl and doesn't match anything. But what to replace it with? Needs to be something that will be modern, clean, no too "homey" looking.

As far as an intervention, I will not be living in it for at least 2-4 years, we are putting it back on the market to be rented for a few years until we move back to the city, but the rental market right now is competetive in our area so I need to do the best I can to update the look. Changing the layout is not within budget as we have had to replace flooring in the whole apartment and renovate 2.5 bathrooms. In NYC those things are just insanely expensive for no good reason.

So the kitchen while "decent" is not great, and thus the need to make lemonade out of lemons with minimal changes. I thought the appliances were ok with the exception of the fridge? You guys disagree?

If renting for a while, I'd choose materials for the counter and floor that renters are looking for and colors/values that are visual extensions of those in the rest of the condo. I'd avoid strongly contrasting/defining colors (like black since it doesn't suit a lot of schemes people bring with them), yada-yada, the usual decorating to suit the typical rental. Maybe put a little extra investment in the counter material (there's not that much of it) to dress it up a bit and make it inviting to run a hand along, and definitely in higher-end knobs/pulls for a little bling. I agree the doors don't look bad.

The floor--extending the wood you installed elsewhere to the kitchen would work; but given it's a rental and the kitchen is fairly separate, maybe something more durable? High-quality sheet vinyl can be very cushy and luxurious feeling--and sophisticated. I don't know how your market feels about it, but since very little would be needed (and I love a cushy glossy floor) I'd want to at least look at what's being offered at the top of the market right now.

I was just visiting a house with similar kitchen cabinets yesterday. Not my personal choice of finish, either, but they had a dark black/green/gray granite countertop that really looked good. I think you could go dark on the counter but not the backsplash, and not get an oppressively dark feel in there.

I think the cabs look like they are in really good shape and a change of hardware could make them look great and could come up with a really pleasing color scheme. It's the hardware that makes it look cheap, I think.

I prefer lighter colored countertops, but I agree that more contrast is called for - somewhere!! Since there isn't much counterspace, and since it runs into the black cooktop, a dark color might look very nice. I like the idea of investing in something that feels "good to touch" as suggested above. I prefer a honed contertop to the shiny ones. Soapstone would require too much care for a rental, but there are some beautiful manmade quartz that look ~like soapstone (esp Caesarstone). Concrete would be neat too and it can take most any color dye in it through and through.

I'd add a backsplash to create a richer look.

And an undermount sink would help too.

Are you sure that is the only frig? Check AJ Madison website and enter in your dimensional restrictions - there is more out there (including a nice all-refrigerator).

Looks like a neat place!!

I have some pretty random ideas. Gray countertops like these would give you contrast without going too dark. You may even be able to get Ikea butcherblock and stain it to a color like that, which would be a lot less expensive than Caesarstone Raven, Concrete, or Pebble.

You could possibly do something interesting with the floor like Carrie_Eileen did with marmoleum:

I'll link her kitchen below. They have dark stained countertops, which would also be a possibility for you.

The pulls aren't exciting, but they aren't your biggest problem. You can experiment with them when the rest is done.

The Bosch appliances look good.

Here is a link that might be useful: Carrie_Eileen's kitchen

I think the worst offenders here are #1....counters and BS.....very blah! Changing those out alone and you will see a major improvement. Next....match the fridge to the other appliances. Lastly, paint walls. Floor not great but ok....you could tile....fortunately for such a small place, changes won't be a huge expense...fridge probably the priciest update....

OK, so the Fridge is like a *MUST* right? Because certain people are fighting me on it and I've been putting my foot down about it! I just think it will be an immediate turn off to potential renters. Would it be crazy to put River White Granite in there? That's what I'm itching for. And paint has been re-done, these photo's were taken right after our tenant moved out. She painted the apartment, Pink, Orange, Blue, Green.... NOT kidding. Even the interiors of closets. My poor dad is so trusting it never occurred to him to check what she was doing. Lesson Learned!

The range up against the left wall is a building code violation. There must be at least 4" on the side so spatter or the pans themselves can't touch the wall and start a fire.

From my understanding (will double check) the new range was installed in the exact same place as the original building installed range. The rental tenant is the one who put the new kitchen in so I could be wrong and she could have changed some things, but I'm 99% positive she stuck to the exact original layout.

In my area the range isn't against code.

Another question.... What lighting to put in there? Any ideas?

Bump!

I love my Home Depot version Cree LED recessed lights. I think they are now down to $25 each (I paid $40 in August). You use them in regular ED cans, like Halos. They are dimmable, cool, efficient, and have a very pleasing color. I found out about them on the Lighting Forum. The Lighting Forum is wonderful.

If you love River white, you should have it. One of the very true things I learned on this forum is that you should choose a granite that "makes your heart sing." Something like Colonial Cream, however, has some more golden tones in it that might go well with the color of the cabs. How about Yellow River? Can you bring samples in and live with them with the cabs? My ideas changed when I did that. Be careful that you don't get competing undertones in your neutrals. The cabs look like yellow undertones. Try to avoid anything that reads with a pink undertone.

I do like the cab style for a small space.

If it were me, I'd choose the counter first, then a BS, then a floor. In my small galley, I took the granite up the full backsplash, but you may not want to invest that if you aren't staying long.

Thank you for this! Totally agree with you that River white doesn't have enough golden tones. Yellow River would be a better choice or Colonial Cream. And yes, agreed, counters, then B.S., then floor. Going to look at the Cree lights now!