Owning a log cabin is often the dream of many. On the other hand, when it comes to having to restore some of your content, it may not be a big dream. It’s a task that can be done quite successfully if you’re a bit handy with a few woodworking tools. If not, there is no better time to learn. Unless, of course, you want to contract the job and pay top dollar for the labor.

Most of the time, with a genuine log cabin, you want to preserve its character. The room that probably needs the most repairs will be the kitchen. In this case, consider giving it a facelift instead of ripping it all out. The biggest area to work on or that will need work is the cabinets and counters.

On average, you’ll find that they were probably built with 1-inch pine. The countertop should probably be replaced, especially if the surface has started to crack. This can be a health hazard because food collects in the cracks and creates the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

So getting down to work, the best thing is to take out the cabinets and drawers and take them to the workshop or outdoors to work. Start with 120 grit sandpaper and sand each of the pieces. If the paint is solid, it should act as a base coat for you and you won’t need to sand down to bare wood. All you are doing with this sanding is removing surface dirt and debris that has built up over the years. Once you’ve done this, you’ll be able to choose the colors you want to work with. You want it to complement and blend in with the rest of the kitchen. Perhaps deciding on your countertop first will help you determine a complementary color for the cabinets. Don’t just throw away the hardware. Most of the time, it can be cleaned with a bit of silver cleaner or brass cleaner, depending on what material they are made from. Even paint thinner can do the job. If you find that the hardware doesn’t fit with your new decor, you may be forced to buy new ones. Just save the old clean ones for another project.

Depending on the shape of the interior of the cabinets, you may only need to line them with new shelf paper. If there are a fair amount of cabinets, buying a roll of vinyl wallpaper can be cheaper than buying those small rolls of shelf paper.

You will probably find that installing the countertop is a bit more complicated. You may want to consider purchasing one of the new caps. There are many on the market that would certainly match your cabin décor.

If the countertop wood is still in good condition, simply remove the decorative surface and consider purchasing one of the easy-to-install laminates. If this is not your choice, you may want to consider some rustic ceramics. There are many options available when it comes to new tops. You may want to consider one of the butcher block styles.