I would paint the island the lightest color of the granite and replace the island's counter with a matching quartz top. It would really brighten the kitchen. Also, undercabinet lighting is quick and inexpensive, now.

Two years??!! There is no money that's worth throwing away for two years. Even pulls will be well into hundreds and soo not worth it. It looks tight, removing the island might help but only if it's on top of the flooring and that won't be messed up.

The only chance I might make is under counter lighting. There are sets you can install yourself a Home Depot. This will provide you with some good task lighting which you’ll need to work in this kitchen. Add a fun canister or two, colorful towels and a picture that makes you smile every time you enter the kitchen. Think of all the great meals and desserts you can create here in spite of its looks.

I'd have to agree ... don't put any money into this if you are only staying 2 years. Refacing this kitchen will be thousands and then a new top! I would change the backsplash, the paint color , add some handles, paint the door a fun color. I can't see the ceiling and what sort of lights are there, but get some decorative fixtures instead of just recessed .

The kitchen is not bad and personally I think the countertops are beautiful. Wood stains and warm finishes are coming back in fashion.

Good luck with whatever decision you make.

Two years will go by in the blink of an eye. I totally get why you want a change as the kitchen in our home that we are renovating has very dark cherry cabinets with a gold granite . The overall look is similar to your’s and I’m having it all torn out. The difference is that this will be our last home. Hopefully we will both live another 15 to 20 years to enjoy and even if we don’t it is an expenditure that will bring us joy for many years, not two years at the most.

Cabinet hardware would be the least expensive change but even that is expensive if you go for quality. Your backsplash is fairly classic and would look beautiful with many different cabs and countertops but it would be a total waste of money that you could save towards a total renovation in a more long term home.

Cabinet hardware

Paint the walls the same color as your backsplash

Stainless Steel Refrigerator

I agree with the others - better lighting and leave everything alone. It's fine as a turnkey kitchen for flipping in 2 yrs. The granite is handsome, even if it isn't your style (or mine, for that matter!).

That tile would kill my back though....... ;))

Better lighting and thats it there is IMO not much chance of recouping the kitchen remodel in 2 yrs.

I would change the floor, wall color & backsplash.

I really don't see the embellishments typical of Tuscan style in your photos, but perhaps you mean the warm toned flooring, counters and cabinets. For such a short duration of time, I'd paint the kitchen walls a warmer white (looks too cool for the other kitchen components on my monitor) and perhaps add some drawer and cabinet hardware.

The only way to get what you can live with is changing the floor and counter.

You might be able to save the backsplash. The cabinets are in great shape.

These changes might get your house sold faster when the time comes.

Is two years cut in stone? Is there a possibilty that you will stay longer?

i have a different way of thinking when it comes to renovating. For me it’s the enjoyment value that you get each day when you walk into your kitchen, not what I will recoup.

The biggest and most reasonable changes would be a counter-depth refrigerator (hopefully that is what you ordered), paint, and cabinet hardware. I wouldn't invest in any other changes if you are only going to be there 2 years.

I get that the kitchen is not quite to your taste, but many, many people would love to have it. Unless you were staying 5+ years, I would do nothing save paint the walls and add some basic chrome bar pulls — something inexpensive you can purchase in bulk to have extras. If there is tile beneath, I would remove the island and store it in the garage so that if whomever buys the house thinks they‘ve just gotta have an island 🙄 the realtor can shove it back in and cramp them instead of you. That island is tight — especially with the existing full depth fridge — and it is adding to the darkness. Replace the island with a square area rug from Ruggable — something bright that speaks to you. Good luck.

$20,000 for two years is $27 a day. In my area, $20K will not buy refaced cabinets, new countertops and backsplash. I would not get back a dime on selling, either. How much are you willing to spend per day if you never got a dime back?

I would put in bright and cheerful new lighting, buy new kitchen towels, and keep my $20K for my next house.

BTW, that granite variety is in fashion in my area. Gray and white are dropping in popularity, replaced by natural wood finishes.

Damn. Well, it looks like my loathing of this kitchen is overblown, my time frame too short and estimates too low. Other than the new fridge - which arrives next week but assuming I can get a guy with a truck.... - I suspect I'll be keeping this kitchen for awhile longer.

Thanks, everyone.

Oh, first things first -- paint that blindingly white door and walls, they stick out like a sore thumb and make everything else dark and dingy in comparison when in reality the space isn't that bad. A fresh coat of paint in a color that softly blends in and coordinates with the overall color scheme can make a spectacular difference in a space. (you're ditching the white fridge, so on some level you must realize how regretful anything white is in this space)

Is the new refrigerator counter depth? I think that might help open up the kitchen a litte.

^^ I'd change out the fridge to counter depth and black or stainless. Right now it sticks out and not in a good way.

I really like your kitchen. It isn't the white/white/white/white/...... /wakesup sorry I fell asleep thinking about white kitchens. But it is very nice. The granite is beautiful and wood cabinets are coming back in style, so I hear.

Then throw down some rugs and call it a day. You bought the house with that kitchen. In 2 years someone else will too. I just hope they like the granite as much as i do :)

I'd warm up the paint color, including the pantry door, so it is a better match for the backsplash. If there's tile under it, remove the vestigial island. Post again when the new fridge is in and maybe the island is gone. We love to see completed projects.

I agree with the others saying don't sink money into it. But, maybe get some area rugs in there. For me, it's the floor that tips it into awful.

You have read this before but briefly stated....new lighting and/or new light bulbs in " daylight ")

change white paint to a creamy white and color in the form of flowers ,art work or area rugs ( not necessarily all three!).

The bluish gray paint and the stark white of the pantry looks like someone tried to 'refresh' this warm-toned kitchen into a gray and white kitchen...obviously, it just makes the existing finishes look bad. You have received good advice: paint with a neutral, warm toned off-white/cream, under cabinet lighting and add pulls to the cabinets. The floors look a bit pink on my monitor, so that clearly doesn't work, but too expensive to fix.

2 years perhaps.
Paint island, order new countertop for island, new hardware, quick under-lighting, center feature light.

As a military family we've lived in plenty of short-term homes either owned or rentals that were nothing close to our style. Time goes by fast you; you will forget about this once other things happen in your life. For two years I wouldn't even bought a new refrigerator. I guess I'm more tolerant of short term; I spent the last year living in a rental with the bare minimum and my last home that I owned, I didn't hang pictures because we didn't expect to stay very long.

The stainless fridge will help a lot. Don’t despair…. You may want to paint out the weird white wall with the door and change the backsplash, too. The beige doesn’t belong in there.

I think it’s silly to spend any $ to change anything ( except perhaps paint ) in a house you’re moving from in less than two years.

I would change it too! Don’t feel bad about it. And lightening the kitchen will up the resale.

I would paint the cabinets (not a stark white) or refinish them a grey-white wash (a la cerused oak) and absolutely replace the countertops - they are the worst thing about the kitchen. Get a new fridge. The backsplash is great and a workable neutral. I would probably leave the floors but could do a wait and see once you’ve freshened everything else up.