What word means "make something desirable"?

Solution 1:

You can get closer with warrants:

The ordeal warrants a week off work.

Though that is more deserves than desires.

From the way the sentence is structured I don't believe an emotional appeal can be made in it, as something like:

The ordeal allures a week off work.

Sounds rather forced, and can be confused to mean things like:

The ordeal desires a week off work.

I don't believe you're looking for the ordeal itself to pack some bags and go on holiday.

From my perspective you get more flexibility by rearranging your sentence:

The ordeal made a week off work adjective

Where adjective could be many things: desirable, inviting, enticing, and many others

Solution 2:

The most accurate verb for this is endear:

[Merriam-Webster]
1 : to cause to become beloved or admired
// her generosity has endeared her to the public

Although it's use would be a bit strange with the example sentence, a slight paraphrase would make it more normal:

The explosion endeared in them the idea of installing a new kitchen.

In the right context, the example sentence could be interpreted as being not a matter of necessity but desire.

For instance, the explosion damaged the living room, requiring its renovation, but didn't touch the kitchen. Although there is no need to install a new kitchen, the fact that they had to renovate other parts of the house, led them to desire the renovation of this part of the house too.

Of course, a more natural version of this might be:

Renovations to other parts of the house endeared in them the idea of installing a new kitchen.

Solution 3:

The verb beckon comes to mind

intransitive verb

1 : to summon or signal typically with a wave or nod

My master beckons. He … beckoned to the other generals to come and stand where he stood. — H. E. Scudder

2 : to appear inviting : ATTRACT

the frontier beckons

transitive verb

: to beckon to beckoned us over to their table