Stephan from Palm Springs makes me oh-so-happy when he writes to compliment the blog — and moreover, to share great info on how to have vintage steel kitchen cabinets repainted.
Stephan writes: I just found your website today. I am THRILLED to have done so! The wealth of information is staggering. I am in the process of buying a small condominium here in Palm Springs in a
building built in 1958. The entire building was once owned by Tony Curtis. The unit I am buying is absolutely original, right down to the Columbia metal cabintery and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen, green tub and tile in the bathroom with a steel “VaniLav” cabinet holding the sink [Note fromPam: A "VaniLav" was likely very similar to the "Lavanette" in the photo, above], and all of the original switchplates on the light switches. I have a suggestion to offer for those wanting to refinish metal kitchen and bath cabinetry. Rather than painting it with a latex or enamel wall paint, or spraying it with a standard enamel metal paint, I strongly recommend the following:
- Dismount the cabinets from the walls and take them to a local powder-coating business.
- Most commonly used for auto body work (especially chassis), powder coating produces a very strong, glossy, enamel-like finish far superior to standard spray-on paint.
- The company will do all of the stripping for you in the process, saving loads of time-consuming labor.
- The price is higher than simple spray painting, but the result is a finish that almost exactly reproduces the original 1940s-1950s finish.
- [Pam notes: Talk to the paint company that you will be working with to assess whether your cabinet doors may warp under high heat - perhaps do a test?]
I will be watching your site closely for more ideas, and telling my friends about it. Palm Springs is an entire city of mid-century modern architecture and homes, and there is a huge push here to preserve and restore authentic MCM design and decor. We even have a huge annual convention on the subject, with home tours, etc. – Stephan, MCM Enthusiast I followed up with Stephan, and he sent some of the great photos from the real estate listing. It’s, like, 20 degrees where I live. Forget the interior. Let’s get some rays! Alas. Stephan promises to keep us posted after he moves in and his retro renovation progresses in the months ahead. Thanks, Stephan! 
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On butterfly roofs, xeroscaping, diamond-pattern concrete block and more: Palm Springs Stephan gives us a tour of mid century modern Palm Springs
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St. Charles steel kitchen cabinets are restored to Frank Sinatra’s Palm Springs home, Twin Palms
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Painting your metal kitchen cabinets for $50 — Kay points us to Rick Wrench’s solution
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Powder coating may not be possible for all kitchens. After trying to Zip Strip by own turquise Youngstown 1949 cabinets, I decided I’d take Stephan’s advice and try powder coating.
I took one drawer and one cabinet door to my local professional powder coaters. They looked over the steel, took a knock on the cabinet door and said that it would be impossible to strip and powder coat. Evidently my cabinets and drawers are hollow and have an insulation in-between the steel walls of the cabinet door that would melt and cause the steel to warp as soon as they are placed in the oven. I thought this might be something for all to consider.
I’m looking for other recommendations. Any advice?
Stephan, have you heard of this with your experience?
A friend of mine said that powder coating might not hold up over time due to the flexible nature of the cabinet doors causing the paint to crack. is there any truth to this? has anyone had cabinets powder coated and experienced and problems?
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.
Powder coating brings its own set of problems, we have painted kitchen cabinets, interior and exterior doors with automotive paint and the results are incredible. We love to restore cars and of course love to restore anything else that has the nostalgia of previous times. Look us up under Formula 1 Restoration, we are in San Gabriel, California #626) 287-5985. We are a family run business our work shows the passion we have for restorations.
We just had our Geneva metal cabinets powdercoated and they turned out beautifully. They soda blasted them first. The finish is probably better than the original. We will be posting photos when we get them installed.
Yay, Linda, I’ll email you — I’d LOVE to see them!
How can we tell if the doors of metal “Youngstown Kitchens” cabinets are insulated? I’m working on a sink base.
I do not know. I see you posted in another thread. So I will repeat my answer here: Yes, we have heard that if there is insulation or some kind of backing in steel kitchen cabinet doors. And yes, I have heard that the high heat required to bake the powder can warp the doors. If you end up having to take apart a door to see what’s inside – I advise having a professional to do it and to test for any potential vintage nastiness in that material. My general rule: Anytime you uncover some new material – get it tested for vintage nasties like lead, asbestos, etc… so that you can make informed decisions how to handle. If you want to avoid the heat, you can use a process that does not require baking…
And does someone have a suggestion on finding a professional? The local powder coating businesses don’t know more than I do, which is little.
Sorry, no, you are going to have to research this yourself.
Do you have the name of a professional in your area that I can contact?
No, you are going to have to research this yourself.
This is kind of entertaining. In several places you mention contacting a professional, but it appears that you haven’t worked with any professionals or know of any. I’ll stop asking questions.
Bruce, I want people to do their own homework on this. Yes, we have consulted professionals on our own home projects. We find them locally.
Today my suspicions were confirmed in talking with several metal, paint and restoration shops. With the intent of detecting/removing insulation, operating on a vintage metal kitchen cabinet door that has been pressed, set, crimped, and spot welded at a factory decades ago will only result in the door’s destruction. In the event of suspected insulation, the advice from the professionals is to leave things intact and find a finishing process that doesn’t use inordinate heat.