Here is another close-up for the electric stove and refrigerator (all in excellent condition but not sure whether we should tackle them or not)...

I know nothing about the SF rental market but I have to think location and price matter more than anything. Renters will invest in upgrades themselves in a great apartment. Look at the rental history and decide if you really need to make any changes. Save the money and be a great landlord who fixes things quickly and doesn’t raise rent just because you can.

You can't (or at least really shouldn't) put a gas cooktop in that location. Too close to the fridge surround--a fire hazard. A better upgrade would induction, if you're willing to run new wiring (induction will need 40A or 50A), otherwise a regular radiant glass cooktop.

Agree with others that you should only upgrade what is absolutely necessary if you aren't replacing the cabinets. It's a spacious kitchen with a ton of storage. Not what I would design for myself, but WAY better than any of the rental kitchens I've had. Maybe replace that chandelier with a good track light and add under cabinet lighting.

Wife was thinking of:

• Replace the plywood/laminated ivory countertop (still in excellent condition) with quartzcountertop (e.g. HomeDepot VIATERA "Aria") and replace blackslash with tiles.

I wouldn't replace with anything from HD. And I would choose an inexpensive granite over quartz since quartz can be ruined by heat. Go to the stone yard and find a light granite. Maybe Alaska White. Then choose a simple white subway tile for the backsplash.

• Replace the ivory electric stove with a gas one for functionality (not sure if it worth the upgrade, as running gas pipes can be expensive and the current electric one works fine)

No gas. Replace it with INDUCTION. Much safer. Or just a radiant electric cooktop which is even less expensive.

• Replace the white refrigerator (and maybe double oven too) with a stainless one (or use Peel and Stick Stainless Wrap) to give it a refreshed look?

No peel and stick. It won't hold up. Replace the fridge and the double oven with SS. It doesn't have to be high end.

• Install recessed light (and maybe under cabinet light as well)? The current "wood" chandelier seems to match with the cherry cabinets but

Yes. Absolutely install recessed lighting, undercabinet lighting and change the wood chandelier to something more in keeping with the style of the house. Possibly a "schoolhouse" style.

Also replace the sink with an undermount sink and the faucet with something more updated.

Thanks everyone for your help! You guys are amazing!!

Do you think it would be an significant upgrade if we are to replace the current laminate/formica countertop with a quartz one? Also, how about replacing that matching cherry-wood chandelier with recessed lights?

We will not be painting the cherry kitchen cabinets to white (or gray), and are thinking of using this glass stone (similar to quartz) countertop to pair with a similar color/pattern of backsplash tiles (Sich-mus_Eum Travertino Navona). Both of them has a little bit yellow(warm) color tone and yet light color with some repeating stainless-steel grayish color in them. Do you think this combo would work? Thanks again!

I'm all for recessed lights but in your house it may wind up being a significant cost. If you do add recessed lights, I'd still use a fixture too to keep the older look of the house.

I'm not a fan of quartz. It's got lots of polymer resin in it, which if anything hot is put on it will get RUINED. You are renting this place. Choose something that will not get ruined or at least will last longer.

And those tiles and the quartz are both fighting one another. Additionally you want to highlight the house age and those tiles for the backsplash are too large. Nothing larger than 4" square or 3" x 6" subway tile. And if you pick a somewhat busy counter, get a plain tile backsplash. LESS is MORE

Also so you have a house where you're renting it for over 6k a month.

Go to a stone yard to find something that works well. You pay a premium to HD which then goes to the same stoneyard you would go to, to have it cut and templated for your house. Only difference is through HD, you have no choice of which of the stones the stoneyard will bring to your house. All stones can be different from one slab to the next even if they're named the same. Yes even with quartz. And you'll have no choice of how it's templated and cut for your house. So if there's a blob in the slab, it may wind up being prominently displayed where you don't want it. Or if the slab has a strip of ugly color, it may wind up on your counter because you didn't get the ability to choose the exact stone.

@mcarroll16: Thanks so much for your help! I looked it up. It looks like our existing electric coil cooktop is using 40A, and a new induction cooktop like this one is also using 40A, so I guess we should be good? Thanks again!

That's great! My cooktop requires 50A, but I think there are a lot of models that are fine with 40A. For a landlord, induction is a really smart move. Risk of accidental fires, or a child getting a bad burn, is much lower than with gas or electric radiant. (Not sure whether tenants could really sue over burns, but people will sometimes try anything.)

@cpartist, thank so much for your feedback! The thing is that for granite coutertop, we will need to reseal it with sealer once a while and since this is rental so we want the lowest maintenance possible. It's a tough choice..

By the way, if we are to add recessed light and still keep the current wooden chandelier, wouldn't that be a bit too busy (too many light sources)? Thoughts? Also I guess it would be a great idea to add some under-cabinet lights as well, right? Thanks again!

The thing about sealing is--you can do it, and many granites don't necessarily need it. But as cpartist said, it only takes one mistake for a renter to ruin the quartz counter. I would stick with laminate counters, which are cheap to replace, or go with one of the dark really dense granites, or soapstone. Of course if you go with dark counter, then definitely add under-cabinet lights, and recessed lighting if budget allows.

@cpartist, thank so much for your feedback!

Happy to help as I LOVE old homes. I grew up in a 1920's home and my first house was from 1926 and my second house was 1898.

The thing is that for granite coutertop, we will need to reseal it with sealer once a while and since this is rental so we want the lowest maintenance possible. It's a tough choice..

I had granite counters in my condo and in the 6 years I lived there, never had to seal them. You won't know what will and won't need to be sealed until you go to a stone yard and talk to them there. NOT HD!

By the way, if we are to add recessed light and still keep the current wooden chandelier, wouldn't that be a bit too busy (too many light sources)?

You would add recessed lighting so it lights the edges of the counters. Put together a 2D floor plan of your kitchen layout as it is now, and I can show you where to put recessed lights.

I wouldn't keep the wooden chandelier. As I mentioned, I'd instead look into finding a schoolhouse fixture. Here's one example. I'm sure there are even some less expensive models.

https://www.build.com/product/summary/868744?uid=2219961&jmtest=gg-gbav2_2219961&inv=1&&source=gg-gba-pla_2219961!c1710655145!a67979306878!dc!ng&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5NSdBhDfARIsALzs2ECi6T5HDr6qlFj_JGOHjjLMbFer5G5wY_ukayqa6aWO3un4e3CmSKQaAo0NEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Also I guess it would be a great idea to add some under-cabinet lights as well, right? Thanks again!

An inexpensive way to add extra lighting and a great positive.

The above suggestions are all very good ones. I second the suggestion for an induction range. It’s much safer than gas in a rental. I’m not even sure you could legally add a gas line in SF- at least in Berkeley, you could not.

Embrace the vintage style of the apartment. A schoolhouse pendant is a great idea. I found refurbished vintage light fixtures at Ohmega Lighting (near Ohmega Salvage in Berkeley) and saved money as compared to new fixtures. I also purchased kitchen pendants from DeVol, and just love them. I don’t have any recessed lighting, and don’t miss or need it, but thats me-your needs may vary. I do love my under cabinet lighting.

I had granite countertops for 25 years and never sealed them even once. For a maintenance free vintage look countertop, I think soapstone would be great, or a laminate (most renter friendly). Agree you should visit a stone yard or two to explore options, and NOT a big box store. im not famili with simil places in SF, but used Sullivan Countertops in Emeryville; they carry many varieties of laminate, quartz (not a fan, tbh) and various other countertop materials such as corian. If you are interested in soapstone, M Texiera in SF is absolutely the place to go- they are really great.

If you’re looking for a rug or runner for the kitchen, you might like lthe vinyl rugs offered by Spicher and company- they have many patterns that will look perfect in a vintage kitchen, lie flat, are so easy to clean, and are very reasonably priced. I have two, one has lasted over 15 years.

You’re so lucky to have an older home- it’s really special, enjoy it!
Here’s a photo of my newly renovated Craftsman kitchen, with vinyl runner.

NO gas in SF, or anywhere with earthquakes.

Skip the recessed lighting, not every renter likes the Swiss Cheese look of recessed lights. Undercabinet lighting and a brighter pendant light would be less expensive and more useful and appealing. Stage it with a charming lantern on the counter, battery operated if you don't want to see a cord.

Mary Iverson, I love the lantern light in your photo ^^; can you tell me who makes it, please?

"Totie Brass Task Lamp"

Here is the source for the photo

https://www.chrislovesjulia.com/kitchen-countertop-lamp/

cheers!

Dear all, thanks again for all of the amazing comments and advices! I really appreciate it!

We did go to a stone yard and wife decided to go with this granite countertop called New Venus Galaxy:

What do you think about this choice? Do you think it would be an significant "upgrade" from the current ivory (and somehow a bit dated) formica/laminated countertop? Thoughts?

If we continue to move forward with this upgrade/refresh, the next step might be to pick a backsplash tile. I like cpartist's idea about using subway tiles, but I don't know if we should just go with "white" subway tiles or have other better choices. Any thoughts about backsplash tiles? Thanks again!

I like your choice of granite. You might wait to choose backsplash tile until after the new countertop is installed. And yes to a light color of subway tile, that should work well.

We've had granite countertops and backsplash for over 25 years, they've never been sealed and nothing bad has happened as a result-- and they get used hard. Not as shiny as they once were perhaps, but that's it.

OK we went with granite. Just to share with you guys about the work in progress. This is what it looks after we put up the "new venus galaxy" granite.

Now, for faucet, I'm debating between these three:

1. KRAUS Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet and Soap Dispenser (Costco Item# 1584403)

2. Delta Pull-Down High Arc Single Handle Kitchen Faucet (Costco Item# 1647335)

3. Delta Owendale Single-Handle Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet (HomeDepot Internet#: 310215289)

Any thoughts about this? When we go to a lot of open-house recently, it seems that the trend is to use a commercial style of Spring Pull-Down kitchen faucet (#2 faucet above), but I'm not sure if that would work well with a cherry kitchen cabinet themed kitchen that has a bit of old world charm. Any feedback would be highly appreciated. Also, for the backsplash, should we go with a light colored subway tiles? Thoughts? Thanks again!

OK, here is what we have now:

For the backsplash, should we just use the same granite? Thoughts? Thanks!

For the kitchen faucet, i would get whatever has the smallest amount of nooks and crannies, easier to clean. so i would lean towards the last choice from HD or like this one from costco (as an example of clean lines for simplicity of cleaning): https://www.costco.com/moen-cadia-pulldown-kitchen-faucet.product.100798735.html?sh=true&nf=true

not the industrial looking with the wires all around. also they splash all over because they can be too too strong.

for the backsplash i would do a simple 4x4 (to match your bathrooms) or subway in the background color of the granite (a cream). i think taking the granite up would be a waste of $ and too busy but this is my opinion. and make sure to replace the backsplace behind the cooktop to match.

I would choose the last Delta one as Delta has an excellent reputation.

I would personally choose tile for the backsplash as granite is a more contemporary look. Bring home several color samples and see what you prefer. Daltile is a great source for inexpensive subway tile.

BTW: Excellent choice on the granite.

Thanks all.

Here is an update. The granite contractor made a mistake and just went ahead and used the left-over granites and put it around the stove:

I think if we are to take down the backsplash granite, it might damage the existing cherry cabinet or leave some glue residue, so we probably will just go with matching granite for the backsplash for the sink.

This is a new adventure for us, as we have never tried this route before. However, I did some research online, and it seems that for some cases, it's actually can be stunning (not sure if that would work for our case though.. Here are some example:

We will install under-cabinet lights as well as recessed lighting in the kitchen so hopefully it would be OK. Any thoughts? Thanks!

Although I’d probably leave the granite backsplash mistakenly installed behind the stove. (it looks okay, and it’s a small area, and looks intentional in that location) I would still choose a tile backsplash for the remainder, without question. I like cpartist’s suggestion.

Do you need recessed lighting? Might there be sufficient lighting without it, installing under cabinet lighting and a new light fixture? Up to you, though..

This is a rental, not a home for sale or for you to live in and cook every day. Be wise with your funds and go with tile. a renter will not treat this home with care the same way you will, even if they are paying $6k per month. tile is fine! the more work you do the longer it is off the market.

The granite slab behind the stobe will make it so much easier to keep it clean. Get a simple tile with no design since for the rest of the backsplash in the the kitchen so it doesn't look so busy. Update your appliances, sink and faucet so they match. You be suprised how quick you get a tenants with family when things look cohesive and easy to clean. How is your outside? Is that easy to maintain? Alwaya remeber ourtside always as important as the inside. In wouldn't worry about lighting if it is functional. Maybe just change bulbs. Some tenants will switch out lighting just let them know put back when they move out.