My SIL painted her cabinets and it really looks okay. I think she painted them a color called wheat, I think it is by Valspar. They also got some stock counter tops (laminate) at Lowes that sort of look like granite. They are pretty cheap. Since they don't own the place they are living, they didn't want to spend too much money, but wanted to make it look better. It really made a 100% improvement in their kitchen. I think it cost them less than $500 and a fair amount of elbow grease.

ETA - I would paint those cabinets. Personally, I would probably just paint them white and paint the walls a different color or maybe you can't since you are renting.