A teardown. A write-off. Derelict. Condemned. That’s how most people would’ve described the dilapidated, mold-ridden shack outside of Sebastopol, California, that was listed for sale in February 2020.

Nigel and Jane Hardwidge bought it anyway.

Before: Exterior

There was just something special that the semi-retired couple sensed when they came to view the property. They were looking for a rural place where they could homestead and ramble, now that their three kids were grown and their respective roles in the world of film and nonprofit tutoring were less intense. At this phase of life, it was less important to be close to the action, and more important to have a semi-off-the-grid space to write, and knit, and pick mushrooms.

One look at the Sebastopol lot, and they knew they’d found what they’d been seeking. “Despite the black mold and neglect, there was a magical feeling,” says Jane.

After: Exterior

“Most people would say, ‘Oh, it's a great property. Let’s just start from scratch, because this is not worth saving,’” explains architect Paul Fritz, whom the Hardwidges eventually brought on board to help them revitalize the 110-year-old farmhouse. But the couple firmly believed the structure itself still had charm.

“The shape and the characteristics of the roofline and the location on the lot were very good,” explains Nigel. Next to an old water tower (which the couple plan on fixing up in the future), there was also a hand-dug brick well, which aligned with their hope of living in a somewhat self-sustaining way.

Before: Kitchen

After: Kitchen

Fritz, principal of Fritz Architecture Urbanism, was just as excited to take on the challenge of rescuing the falling-apart building. The house was done with box-framing, a cost-effective technique that was common in Appalachia but more of a rarity in California. The approach yielded a house with no studs, just one-by-eight or two-by-eight boards, slapped together with siding and plaster.

“These type of houses usually weren’t anticipated to be there forever—it was just an easy, simple way to throw up a house, kind of a quick homesteading,” explains Fritz. “The fact that it survived for 110 years is rather remarkable.”

But for this house to be a home to Nigel, Jane, and family for another 110 years, it was going to need some upgrades.

Before: Front Room

After: Front Room

Fritz started with the basics: studs, insulation, an actual foundation, and new fire-resistant siding. The couple had renovated houses in the past—their last home was a century-old Victorian—but nothing on this scale (the property was 2.45 acres, and had been abandoned for a decade). As much as they liked the shape of the original building, they agreed that they needed a little more room—but they didn’t want to detract from the existing structure as they expanded.

Addition: Bedrooms

Fritz figured out a way to do just that as he added a second floor and a new volume that extends out of the house and echoes its gable roof. The addition is clad in standing-seam metal and laid out with an open plan for a contemporary spin on a historic look. Fritz upgraded the rectangular portrait windows in the 1913 portion of the house with double-glazed glass; on the extension, you’ll find more contemporary square windows.

Addition: Living Room

Addition: Bathroom

Addition: Patio

Nigel and Jane have been living in their new-old home for two years now—soaking up the views from the spacious living room, tending to their garden, and spending cozy days cooking with the kids when they visit for the weekend. No one would dream of calling it a teardown or write-off now: The only word to describe their reclaimed farmhouse is “home.”

More Before & After stories:

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Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Fritz Architecture-Urbanism, Inc. / @small_town_urbanism

Builder/General Contractor: Ron Vann Construction

Structural Engineer: Structural Design Group

Appears In

Before & After: A Falling-Down Farmhouse Gets a Second Chance, Against All Odds