Pendant lights over the island or sink, under-cabinet lighting, and recessed lighting are all great options to consider.

Our slab guy didn't install a ground rod in the slab, so we had to ground it outside the slab and it took some discussions between them.Also in 2015 a LOT of electrical codes changed, we've run into this issue on several projects the last few weeks where even though our permits were pulled in 2014 and technically the new codes shouldn't be enforced, the inspectors are enforcing them anyways, so some other nitpicky stuff like installing plastic wire holders instead of using staples and having to mount sconce and pendant lights to the structure instead of leaving wires in the walls had to be addressed.  

Spend your money on buying a fancy countertop (if you want high end rental go for the granite or silestone), change your lighting, could do a track system that provides light throughout kitchen (cheapest), or cans with a couple of pendant lights over the island (shouldn't be too expensive but . . . .) and then change your appliances to black or stainless. 

Plus all the fixtures - electrical and plumbing....knobs, light switches and plugs, cans, pendants, faucets, appliances, etc...everything.And yes, they are concrete rules, mainly for you.

New backsplash, high hats & pendant lights In the kitchen.

The crown molding makes it stand out, lots of lighting, great choice on the pendants, and always a fan of staggering tiles.  

$8,500.00-Permit -Inspection -Labor -Materials -Balance -Wire Apartment to code 15-4 inch color change LED2-Pendant lights 1-LED Bath Fan -Cat 6 Ethernet run -30 amp electric stove -Heated Bath floor (floor heat supplied by other)2-USB outlets 3-Dimmers -Outlets to code/ outlets or switches on brick wall to be in EMT conduit -Tv outlet -Smoke detector -1 wall accent lighting (fixture provided by other )Hallway-6 - 4inch color change LED-Hallway outlet -Hallway switch -Hang chandelier (provided by other)-Add remote switch for chandelier

If you can, install wall sconces or drop down pendants for your lighting option so that frees table top space.

Be prepared for them to ask you to put in their tile choice, their pendant light choice, their carpet choice, etc.

Please optimize cabinet layout for more storage-Instead of 2 pendant lights over kitchen island, I would like 4 pendant lights over the island-I would like the home to be pre-wired for a door bell, security system, speakers, power shades, and TVs-Change the flooring to large format porcelain tile that looks like concrete-I would like floating vanities in all bathroomsYou get the point.