Photo Tour: An 1866 Cabin In The Sierra Nevada Foothills
In the Winter 2017 issue of Preservation magazine, we highlight a renovation/restoration of a two-bedroom house in Sonora, California. Owner Andy Carpentier, who works as an architect in Oakland, California, bought the dilapidated house with his partner in 2008 to use as a weekend getaway. He spent the next few years researching its history and restoring what he could, while adapting it where necessary.
Below are some of photographer Kat Alves' photos of the cabin as it looks today. For more photos and Carpentier's perspective on the project, check out the magazine story.
The living room fireplace is believed to have been added in the 1980s. "The house was an amalgamation of things that happened over time," says Carpentier (above).
Carpentier left the 1950s aluminum roof in place. He found more of the same aluminum product and bought all he could, to ensure he can match it for future repairs.
French doors in the master bedroom lead to an added sleeping porch, built in the same spot as a porch that existed during the 1890s.
Carpentier exposed the original beadboard ceilings in the guest bedroom, returning it to its 1860s proportions. Vintage light fixtures provide illumination.
Salvaged woodwork from inside the house appears on the ceiling of the sleeping porch, which can be accessed from both bedrooms.
