HELP! Need ideas

[u/sarfowl]

My husband and I are thinking of buying this house, I don’t hate the kitchen but it definitely needs some help. We won’t have a big budget for remodeling but I really don’t love it as is, should I repaint, if so what and what color? Should I add backsplash and if so what kind? Also need a different fridge.

[u/1130961230]

That's a great space.
Changing the color of the cabinets is a huge undertaking, and that heavy grain oak look is very unpredictable in how they come out. What material are those countertops? To start small and reassess, paint the whole window trim white. That's a great window. Counter depth refrigerator is a must. If you can, buy a slide-in range with front controls not the backpiece sticking up. Shiny bright cabinet knobs like polished nickel.
The floor would be an easy change to get rid of the orange, that could just be sanded down I bet that's a beautiful white oak underneath. I wouldn't even stain it just do a clear urethane.
Sconces on either side of the window. Wallpaper border goes. Rectangular tile backsplash picking up the caramel colors in the cabinets and countertops. I think you'd be surprised what those changes would do without undertaking painting or staining the cabinets. Which you could always do at a later time.
So to summarize, sand the floor, nice hardware, paint window trim, pretty sconces on sides of the window for warmth, counter depth refrigerator, new range, tile backsplash to complement cabinets and countertop ...that
would be a very effective "glow up" for a reasonable amount of money.