Kin Furniture Co. Gets a Shout Out on 5280.com!

Liz Bachman, a local interior designer and owner of Grey and Scout was interviewed on 5280.com, our city’s go to magazine and website for all things Denver.

In her interview she was asked if she had a favorite local artisan and her answer was “There are tons of amazing local artisans, but I need to give love to Kin Furniture Co., which makes older, one-of-a-kind pieces beautiful again.”

We are grateful for the love, Liz!

You can see Liz’s work on instagram @greyandscout. She definitely has that eye for clean and modern yet soulful design and we too are big fans.

- T U T O R I A L - Replace Mid Century Chair Webbing

We put together a quick tutorial on how to replace pirelli rubber webbing found on most mid century furniture.

Often you will find these chairs were repaired at some point using burlap, but when possible, we aim to repair using materials originally used in the construction of the items we work on. The pirelli rubber webbing is also much more flexible and comfortable than the burlap.

Stripping Paint From Antiques - 1880's Walnut Closet Faces

Ever wonder what’s underneath those layers of white paint covering our beloved antiques and wooden architectural home moldings? What you find may surprise you.

The result of the paint stripping process can often reveal beautiful grain and highly unique character of the wood beneath, previously sacrificed to decades of shabby chic paint trends. Now don’t get us wrong, there are times when painting furniture is acceptable. Certain lower value vintage items are ripe for a good updated trendy paint job! But keep in mind, if you must paint a furniture item, please avoid most antiques, high end designer pieces, or furniture hand made from solid wood.

And if you’re still intent on painting, consider having a professional do so. We have a shop capable of doing this the proper way to ensure the least damage is done to the wood as possible. We do tend to be picky with the painting projects we accept and can help advise you on the matter.

Now, on to the project below.

A customer from Wyoming brought us these exceptional closet faces circa 1880 he sourced from Philadelphia and aren’t we glad they ended up in our hands! He asked us to strip the paint and prep sand these bad boys.

Check out the before and after transformation below.

As you can see, these closet faces were covered in a variety of different paint colors before we got our hands on them.

This project was highly labor intensive. It involved chemical stripping in the tank as well as by hand. We also carefully sanded all the nooks and crannies of each crevice and carving by hand.

We no longer have feeling in our fingertips but would you look at what was hiding under all that paint!

We are happy with the end result. The feeling of satisfaction and joy we receive in seeing projects such as these restored full circle, is what this line of work is all about.

Windsor Chair Repair

As most furniture repair-people know, the “bow back” crest rail of a Windsor style chair is no walk-in-the-park to replace. Often the replacement takes time and a technique that, although manageable, is not the most prudent. The replacement of such a piece requires a process that is not always convenient for both repair-person and client. In such cases, we lean on our woodworking skills to facilitate a proper and long-lasting repair.

This repair requires a little bit of everything in our bag of restoration tricks, from proper wood species and grain selection, to hand skills like chiseling and shaping. Here we used twin “scarf joints” along the front and back of the broken crest. This technique allows for the wedged tenon (the round dowel) to remain visible, as it is one of the hallmarks of fine Windsor furniture. Additionally, we add hidden dowels within the patch to bolster the stability in an area of the chair that endures the most tension.

Once shaped and sanded, the process comes to a conclusion with a few minor touchups to ensure the color match is nearly perfect. It is then topped off by a finish that matches the original, which in this case a oil and varnish blend.

A final polish on the remainder of the chair helps integrate the new repair, as well as livens up the old piece of furniture. There is little we enjoy more than making sure furniture like this gets a second chance at comfortably seating its patrons without fear of collapse.

Here is a short video of the repair process.

We hope you enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed fixing it. Thank you!

Kin has expanded!

We had dreamt for several years about creating a legacy together that would make our ancestors proud. Now it is official, our family business has become an even more vivid reality as we've added our sister, Hannah as co-owner. The word Kin in our name has never been trivial in use as we truly believe in the unbreakable bonds of family and blood. We are honored to evolve from a duo into a trinity.

In addition to adding our sister, we have moved the business to Denver!

By a serendipitous twist of fate, we found a retiring restoration shop and have since decided to move our operation from Ft. Collins to Denver to pursue new opportunities in the furniture restoration and repair market in Colorado.

We cannot wait to make this shop our own and continue to build out our business and hit our goals here within this new city of Denver.

Now, for some introductions!

Sam

In 2011, on a whim and with a bit of fortuity, Sam founded Kin Woodcraft (now Kin Furniture Co.) along side his brother Jacob.

Sam's first steps in the industry were taken in his father's upholstery shop. There he learned the hard knocks of the trade by pulling staples and stripping upholstery while sacrificing the cleanliness of his hands to the benefit of the client.  He became more sure footed in his abilities after his mentorship at a commercial finishing and antique restoration shop in Northern Colorado. After that, a dedication to managing a notable restoration shop was the sharpening he and his brother needed to go out on their own.

Never being one to settle for mediocrity, Sam has always had a pension for seeing where improvement may lie. With efficiency and a work experience free from frustration as his goal, managing the workings of the shop is a role that suites him well.

It is his hope that the Kin team can create an environment in which the craftsmen enjoy their days at work as much as they do at their homes, and a feeling that our customers enjoy us as much as they do our work!

Sam's  favorite furniture was made by the Shakers, a group of communal Christians founded in the 18th century who were known for their simple designs but uncompromising quality. The furniture was made from local woods and almost entirely unadorned.

When pulled by outdoor forces from the shop he loves, you can find him slipping on river stones having his go at large trout! Freedom is his driver, until then, he waits his turn to see the world.

He really loves his mother... and cheese.

Jacob

younger brother to Sam and co-founder of Kin Furniture Co.

With a childhood intrigue for story telling and talent for artistic workmanship Jake always needed a creative outlet. So, after high school, he followed in his brother's footsteps and got a job a local refinishing shop in his hometown. It was in that shop that he developed a deeper passion for the repair and restoration of furniture and the countless stories held within them. In those years he was moved by the reverence many people held for their furniture and he became driven by the desire to uphold the various familial legacies that came his way.

He and Sam have worked together for the entirety of their decade-long careers. Together they have developed a unified vision around the preservation of the story as well as the craftsmanship behind something that almost all human beings on earth place value on, their furniture.

Jake's favorite style of furniture is the Windsor style, mostly because of its simple elegant design, but also because they are typically comfy as hell.

Either at work or outside, you'll find him day dreaming, riding along through his own imagination or reading the works of others. As a lover of earth and space he can also be found rock climbing, writing, or occasionally playing music and singing.

He also loves his mother… and some anime and sweets…

Hannah

older sister of Sam and Jake. She joined Kin Furniture Co as co-owner in May 2018

Hannah will be doing marketing and advertising for Kin. In addition, she will be Kin Furniture Co's resident "furniture picker" to find those treasured pieces at estate sales, antique shops, and yard sales to bring back for some refinishing love and hopefully a good sale!
Hannah's appreciation and love for furniture and interior design was evident even as a small child, always designing and decorating her spaces to her comfort and liking. This affinity for interiors lead Hannah to help fully design and build her own home at the ripe old age of 27.

In addition to having an eye for space and design, Hannah has been a professional photographer for 12 years,  first as a wedding/portrait photographer, then moving into commercial photography working with many brands to help create vibrant creative visual content.
Collaborating with her brothers now with Kin Furniture Co. is a new exciting venture into the furniture industry.

Hannah's favorite furniture style is a tie between Art Deco and Eastlake Victorian. "Art Deco waterfall designs are so lovely and elegant to me but I swoon for those Eastlake geometic leaves and florals."
When Hannah isn't at the Kin Furniture shop, you can find her singing on her front porch, making her rounds at local estate sales or vintage shops, or at any local music show.

She loves her mother, and her daughter and pinot grigio.