Get landlord to pay for painting house?

[mantasm]

My girlfriend and I are going to be moving into a rental house next month. It's nice but the woman living there now has painted the walls pink and purple, and the cabinets dark turquoise. Also, her kid wrote on some walls with crayon. Anyway, we're planning on painting inside.

I'd like to get the landlord to contribute some money since we'll be improving the place. We'd be painting even if he doesn't contribute. Has anyone had any success getting your landlord to pay for improvements? How should I pitch this?