Thats the key, with out knowing all of this then its just a shot in the dark or having bits and pieces of info and trying to solve the financial freedom equation with out the full "picture."

It's a shot in the dark but costs us nothing except for a little bit of time to do. 

So don't let your contractor pick "whatever" color.

But, he never asked me what paint or color to use before doing the original work.

Second, I think you are still looking at this experience through rose-colored glasses.

We’d bring them back up to the house , skin em and sautee with butter and garlic..

Borrowers need skin in the game.

It's a 2 bed 1 bath ~900 sq/ft condo and the entire thing is painted black & dark blue right now. 

Current plan is to rip out the carpet, it's trashed, and replace with LVP (one of the four colors, not sure which is best to choose... see attached image), replace the laminate counter with granite.

Many ways to skin a cat.