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Image: Richard Aiken via SF Globe
The bulk of the cabin was made up of solid logs. However, there were gaps between them due to their old and rustic nature. So, to fill them in, Aiken used chicken wire covered in daub. But even this, he says, was done in a traditional style, with a daub made up from an antiquated formula of cement, sand and lime.
Image: via Richard Aiken via SF Globe
Inside, Aiken built a Rumford hearth – a style of fireplace common in the early 19th century and known to be particularly efficient at heating rooms. Indeed, the Aikens’ one apparently emits so much heat that they are able to cook vegetables by merely arranging them around the edges of the hearth.
Image: via Richard Aiken via SF Globe
Although the cabin is basic, Aiken made his own mark by including lots of incredible detail. A fallen oak trunk was used to craft a set of stairs into the loft, while all the windows and doors were constructed by a craftsman and shipped in. Even the metal hardware, in fact, was made from hand-wrought iron.
Image: via kippies
So, in 2013 – ten years after Aiken started the project – the cabin was finally finished. With the help of his family and some Amish people who lived nearby, Aiken had managed to create his dream home. Today, the cabin serves as a cozy retreat for the Aiken family. And, unsurprisingly, it gets plenty of use.
Image: Hillbilly Vegan
In a display of pride over his father’s accomplishments, Aiken’s son subsequently posted some images of the cabin on Reddit. Commenters on the site were amazed by the renovation project, with several expressing the desire to do something similar themselves. What’s more, there were even enquiries from users keen to know if they could rent the cabin out.
Image: Hillbilly Vegan
For Aiken, however, the whole experience has been a philosophical one. Although the process was sometimes tough, he came to view the project as something akin to meditation. “I hope I shall never finish working with this log cabin,” he told the SF Globe. “Never stop the silence.”
