Breathtakingly Rustic Lakefront Mountain Cabin

Stunning Lakefront Estate Overview

It doesn't get much better than this 6,600-square-foot Lakefront Estate located in Carnelian Bay, California. Designed by Sandbox this true, rustic western lodge on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe was built in 2013. The large Sierra granite and basalt stonework complement a gorgeous palette of 100 percent reclaimed heavy-timber siding from Montana to create a stunning and timeless, rustic aesthetic. The luxury home is designed to capture the magnificent Lake Tahoe views from virtually every room, and to blur the lines between the indoor and outdoor spaces, incorporating ample glass and window/door walls throughout the home.

The Rise of Reclaimed Timber in Construction

The use of reclaimed timber isn't a new idea, but it has become more and more popular in recent years, especially since the start of the green and eco-building movement. Barn designs served as one of the most common sources of reclaimed timber. This is because barns were constructed of hewn timbers from nearby trees on the property and were limited in size by what could be moved by horse and hands. Timber was inexpensive, strong, and abundant. Today, the old unused barns are being deconstructed, and their timbers are being salvaged for a second life in a new building.

Benefits of Reclaimed Timber Beams

There are several benefits of using reclaimed timber beams, with durability, strength, and stability being some of the top reasons the wood is so popular. Old timbers have expanded and contracted over the years and are fully dried out. This makes the wood more durable and less prone to warping and splitting compared to newly cut and dried lumber. Old growth wood is usually denser because tree rings are closer together from a slower growth period), stronger, and lasts longer than new growth wood.

The Unique Story Behind Reclaimed Wood

Using reclaimed wood offers a sense of history and a unique story. Many people today like to use reclaimed timber because they are drawn to building materials that have an interesting story. They may also appreciate the history or the origin of the wood and the sense of nostalgia they feel when they see the building material installed in a space.

Character and Uniqueness of Each Timber Piece

Reclaimed timber beams have a unique character like nothing else you can find. Every piece of wood has a unique story to tell, with no two pieces of timber being alike, with unique characters all it's own. More often than not, each piece of wood has its distinctive attributes, whether its shape is slightly irregular, the rough-hewn texture is diverse, or there are some exposed notches, knots, or nails in the wood from its previous life. This further adds to the uniqueness of the building material and the richness of the story.

Environmental Benefits of Reclaimed Wood

Another benefit of reclaimed wood is that its environmentally friendly. Natural resources today are disappearing, so using reclaimed timbers helps to reduce the demand for newly sourced virgin lumber, helping to curb deforestation and to reduce the burden on landfills. When comparing building materials, timber is an environmentally friendly choice and has one of the lowest embodied energies (compared to concrete and metal). Locally sourced reclaimed timber avoids many of the processes new lumber goes through including tree harvesting, transporting, drying, and milling, all of which use energy.