I have a galley style kitch. in an apartment that I love. The prob is the cabinets look like they are from way back in the seventies. They are the laminent syle paste on oak that look so cheap. My apartment is all dark wood/cherry. No window in kitchen. What can I do with the cabinets to open up or help to bring the kitch up to date that will not cost me my security deposit. Counters are white, stainless sink, white stove and fridge. Done in a french bistro style as far as pics and accessories. Plz help, I hate. these cabinets.
some other issues if anyone has ideas, the fan does not go anywhere so although it works the fire alarm goes off all the time when broiling, and there is hardly any light even when the lights are on, no window, so if you have an idea how a girl who loves windows can make this work PLZ do let me know, ty for any and all advice
4 Responses to “Renters kitchen.”
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A picture would make it easier probably.
You can replace the doors and draw fronts - or maybe paint over if they are up to it.
Putting in a window isn’t too expensive depending on the construction of your wall. An aluminum bay type window works well (although a little more expensive)
Good luck.
I’d probably buy new cupboard doors for them (if there is not too many of them) White or cherry/dark wood with frosted glass with stainless steel knobs. Go to Lowe’s or Home depot they will measure for you. Take off the old ones, put it in storage so you could put them back on if you ever move out. Buy some under the counter lights (u can buy them to just plug in at walmart) to bring in more light in your work area. Hang up some small sunny outdoor pictures or fave outdoor places/parks, etc. in dark wood frames. You should not have to worry about losing your security deposit. And always treat yourself some fresh flowers to put in a cool stainless steel vase on your counter. Flowers will always brighten up a kitchen.
PS. If your broiling alot, clean the oven and buy liners so you can change liners when too much stuff gets baked on. Throw out dirty and replace the clean oven liner.
To give iit the appearance of more space & a quick update.remove the cupboard doors and either leave them bare or you could use a small curtain rod and light fabric in it’s place.
For added lighting, you could install one of the under the counter, long florescent lights, generally pretty inexpensive and very little is needed to install (ie no drilling or electrical work)
Good luck
Do absolutely nothing to that apartment, including changing doors on the cabinets or painting over the natural finish dark wood/cherry. You are far, far more liable in $$ than your deposit. This is sound legal advice, read on below.
In your contract in the fine print, i am sure, is a clause or two which states if you alter the fixtures, cause neglegence and fire results, change the style of the apartment by removing doors, windows, etc. the the landlord will have the right to sue you in court and collect to put his property pack in the state it was before you started the remodeling.
Even with nothing in your contract, or no contract all the legal liability of changes on your part can be very costly.
Plus the landlord will be entitled to full rent from you whilel the place is vacant and the construction work is taking place and time to find a new tennant amount also to thousands of dollars. .
It would cost thousand of dollars to remove the paint from a natural finish on the cabinets. The landlord will claim he cannot do this sucessfully and to replace a natural wood cabinet for example even a smaller one is like $500 each cabinet. He can even claim the cabinets need to be built custom made in a Wood Shop at very high cost.
Do not do it. You can lose much much more than just a deposit. You can lose in the range of $10,000-$20,000 for such a thing as painting cabinets and woodwork in a court judgement lawsuit.
You can hang pictures, paint walls a white or beige with little risk but the rest of major proposals Never do that.