Many people are searching for the best choices for the restoration of a classic vintage industrial kitchen. This type of environment is fun to restore and can be done on your own or with the help of a friend or two. With a little know how, planning and guidance, you can restore an industrial kitchen back to its original state and bring it back to life as you would like it. The following tips will guide you through the process and hopefully give you some ideas that you can use to restore your kitchen.
There are several options available to restore the look of your vintage industrial kitchen. You have access to reclaimed wood or to realign the structure of the cabinets. Many people opt for realigning the cabinets as they can add character and personality to an industrial space. There are many vintage industrial wood cabinets out there that are suitable for realigning; however, they may also have hidden damage that needs attention to.
If you choose to use reclaimed wood from old factories, sheds or warehouses, you will first need to remove the cabinet doors to pre-drill the screw holes. Once installed, you can sand them to get rid of any rough spots. Once the wood is ready, you can apply a clear stain to bring out the natural color and blend in with the rest of the cabinetry. Most hardware stores and home depots carry wood color matching kits that are easy to apply. Once complete, you can then match stainless steel hardware to finish the project off.
If you want to restore the original lighting fixtures in your industrial kitchen, then you will need to do more than sand and stain. Instead, you will need to remove everything from the cabinets, shelves, drawers, floor plates, etc. Once everything has been removed, you can carefully inspect the cabinet surfaces and determine which ones require the most care. Fixtures such as the kitchen wall and ceiling fixtures should be wiped down and cleaned using a solution specifically made for cleaning upholstered surfaces. Remember that there is nothing worse than starting a vintage industrial kitchen project only to find that all your vintage industrial kitchen cabinets are ruined due to water damage!
Your cabinets will also need to be primed if they have not already been primed. The best way to prime kitchen cabinets is to first paint each panel white, followed by a layer of clear lacquer. This will create a smooth surface and make it much easier to clean later on. Be sure to use the same primer on any flooring that you plan on installing in your kitchen.
It is important to choose sturdy cabinet doors. Many of the older cabinets had wooden face fronts instead of modern, metal face fronts. These cabinet doors often had very weak doors which would easily become damaged during heavy use. To ensure that your doors remain strong, it is a good idea to purchase cabinet doors made out of wood. Also, be sure to add a layer of wooden gaskets to the inner surfaces of the doors.
The hardware that goes on your kitchen cabinets will be completely unique due to the designs that were installed at the time. However, it is still important to purchase quality hardware. Hardware is often made out of brass or steel. Brass hardware will look great in a period kitchen, but it is also very flimsy and will easily become damaged in the course of years of use. If you are planning on using an old vintage cabinet, consider purchasing brass cabinet hardware so you can be sure that it is as good as new.
The last thing that you will need to purchase is some kind of cutting board. The industrial style kitchen cabinet was designed with a circular, L-shaped cutting board. Today, the same type of board is made out of polyester and comes in a variety of colors. Be sure to find a board that has plenty of grip because this is where you will cut your ingredients into your foods!