The homeowners have a long history in Rangeley, vacationing here as children and later with their own children. In 2012, the homeowners purchased the large cabin at Ridlon Camp and began to put down roots. After two previous remodels with Rangeley Building and Remodeling, the homeowner contacted us for a third remodel when they decided to move to the cabin full-time.
This home has been featured in:
Restoring Your Historic House: The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners by Scott T. Hanson
The homeowners wanted to ensure that this historic home would last for future generations, so our remodel began with a new foundation. We used jackers to lift the home so that we could dig a new foundation while also extending it for a new addition. This new addition, designed to look original to the home, would house a new master suite. Once the home was back in place, we could begin the interior remodel knowing that the home was stable and secure.
This third remodel featured a total kitchen redesign. The homeowner wanted to keep the existing marble-topped island from a previous remodel, but the marble was no longer available from the supplier. Through extensive internet sleuthing, we were able to find a single slab that matched perfectly for the other countertops. We also gave the homeowner her desire for a flat backsplash in the kitchen by carefully chiseling out the convex log walls to create a flat surface.
When remodeling historic homes, we always seek to restore or salvage elements of the original home in order to preserve the home’s history. We salvaged logs from sagging walls and combined them with engineered wood to strengthen them without losing the original log appearance. When we rebuilt the staircase, we salvaged the original handrails and recreated the original railing design with cedar posts and branches. All of the shingled ceilings are original to the home.
To create space for a mudroom and dining space adjacent to the kitchen, we changed the home’s entryway by extending and enclosing the existing porch. The newly dug foundation also allowed us to create a new basement with plenty of usable space. The basement features a guest suite, utility room, laundry, gym, family room, a 1300-bottle wine cellar, and a craft room that’s still in progress.
