violaura's Profile

This place screams for more counter space! I live in a (less crappy now that I put some effort into it) college apartment. And successfully created more counterspace/island area in our kitchen.
I went to lowes, Turns out you can order precut laminate countertop sections for about $50-$70 depending on the size. I painted the bottom and made some support structures to mount it to the wall to create more baking/cooking/dish drying space! I ended up needing my counter to fold down, but I'm sure some basic L brackets and straight legs would be fine for your mom!
Plus, I was able to pick a color that brightened up our kitchen, your mom and you could find a color she likes and then, would be more in her style, less the sink piece.

As a college student I can lament about trying to make "dull" spaces more interesting on a very limited budget.

I'd start (with the okay from your parents) by painting a wall will a bold or jewel tone color, whatever matches their style. By focusing on one wall you don't have to buy much paint. Places like Sherwin Williams sell "mistints" that can actually be nice colors for cheaper than their standard colors.

Then, maybe think about some DIY lighting, paper lanterns can be a nice way to add softer lighting. I got a few for about $3 each..

Find a picture or color or word that you can build around, use it when chosing color.

Save old magazines and buy posterboard to create collages or "poster art" and put them in poster frames (usually about $8-$30)

As one who once painting my parent's half bath a bright cranberry with yellow trim. I say, GOOD LUCK and all the power to ya!