#How To Update Outdated Oak Kitchen Cabinets?

Q: My husband and I will soon be closing on our dream house in the country. Sadly, it does not come with a dream kitchen the cabinets are oak and I hate them. My hubby thinks they are the bee's knees. My husband will not allow any painting and/or staining of these cabinets under any circumstances. He's given me complete decorative freedom over the rest of the house, so it's only fair to comply with this one hideous wish. So, I'm left to try to decorate around the cabinets.

We don't have a huge budget and will not be able to replace the countertops right away because the flooring is priority. I'm thinking a muted blue on the walls and thick-striped black and white rug for a more modern look. He did agree to let me paint the trim (around doors, baseboards, etc.) white to match the rest of the house. Possibly black or brushed nickel hardware? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, think less expensive cosmetic fixes as opposed to major overhauls/purchases. Oh, and my husband is an electrician, so maybe some creative lighting ideas? (the decorations in the picture are the previous owners, but the black appliances will be staying).