The owners wanted to renovate their recently purchased “diamond in the rough” single board farmhouse while maintaining the ambiance of the old homestead. This 1904 farmhouse was restored to make the home livable with today’s amenities while taking care to showcase the simplicity of the historic building elements.
Before
The Casparis Family Farm house was built when the family settled in Johnson City, Texas in the late 1800’s, and purchased hundreds of acres for farming. The home was one of the first farmhouses built and located on Old Austin Highway which ran from Austin to Stonewall, Texas.
After
As part of the restoration, decayed floors and joist were removed, the shell leveled and a new concrete foundation poured in place to stabilize the historic structure. Traditional 2×4 framing was added to reinforce the original exterior walls which were only ¾” thick 1×12’s. Porches were rebuilt and extended, providing shade to the interior of the home and outdoor living space. High efficiency windows, on-demand LP water heaters and spray foam insulation reduce the homes demand on the environment. The leaking roof was replaced with a standing-seam metal with hand-turned ridges for a period feel. The original board cladding was scraped, repaired and repainted rather than replaced. The interior was stripped of molded and rotted materials and replaced with salvaged materials contrasted against smooth white drywall.
By taking advantage of the turn-of-the-century details the home has the feel of yesteryear adorned by an eclectic mixture of modern and salvaged fixtures and furnishings. The kitchen was demolished down to the studs and fitted with custom millwork; honed granite counters, updated appliances and stamped tin ceiling salvaged from an abounded 19th century building complete with stamped crown molding, a rare find. The master bedroom is flooded with natural light with re-purposed antique European doors that open onto the new porch and back yard.
Project Team
Architect/Designer: Laughlin Homes & Restoration Inc.
