@Ryan IngramThank you for not sugar coating.

Put an attractive top coat of paint of the walls and ceiling.

If you are going to reuse the rail, I would burn off all the old paint and re-sand it real good before you put it back on, then a new oil based primer and 2 finish coats.

They have held up well for us for 14 years raising three kids.The sides of the drawers are coated steel, the cabinet facings are solid oak with oak plywood insets.

Have you located a LENDER who'll let you refi at such chicken-feed mortgages?

I work as a Store Manager for the world's largest coatings manufacturer.Account ClosedYou brought up "after 2 coats it still looks like crap", so I will comment on that.  

Same with Drywall, I know what good drywalling takes from having done my own, and choose to hang it myself, but hire professionals to mud and tape and do the skim coat. 

@Amber Coats Hire an attorney.

If you just stick with off-white, you can slap just one coat of paint and be done, and it will always be in style.There's a house I just saw listed for rent which had gray walls.

You can also coat your walls using watered down PVA because it acts as seal.Bleach is only effective if the mold is growing on non-porous materials like tiles, bathtubs, glass and countertops.