Brought Back to Life

History of the Restoration

A room-by-room, plank-by-plank record of restoring The Cady House — undertaken with patience, and a deep respect for what came before.

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Jan Reich and Claudia Johnson, the sisters restoring The Cady House
Jan Reich and Claudia Johnson, the sisters restoring The Cady House.

A Family Home Reclaimed

Two Sisters, One Remarkable Undertaking

When two sisters became the owners of a family home that had fallen into disrepair, they faced a choice: let its story end or take on the enormous work of bringing it back to life. They chose restoration—preserving the character, craftsmanship, and memories held within The Cady House while preparing it for a new chapter.

A colorful landscape quilt by Claudia Johnson Claudia also has a passion for quilting. See a gallery of her work.
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Room by Room

Progress Throughout the House

Before and after photos for each room are shown below — click through to see the full progress in pictures, in order.

Porch

Porch, before photo
Before
Porch, after photo
After

Living Room

Living Room, before photo
Before
Living Room, after photo
After

Dining Room

Dining Room, before photo
Before
Dining Room, after photo
After

The Salon

The Salon at The Cady House, first gallery view
View I
The Salon at The Cady House, second gallery view
View II

Front Bedroom

Front Bedroom before restoration
Before
Front Bedroom after restoration
After

Sleeping Porch

Sleeping Porch, before photo
Before
Sleeping Porch, after photo
After

Kitchen

Kitchen, before photo
Before
Kitchen, after photo
After

Bathroom

Bathroom, before photo
Before
Bathroom, after photo
After

Old Store

Old Store, before photo
Before
Old Store, after photo
After

Post-Restoration Holidays

Post-Restoration Holidays photo
Post-Restoration Holidays photo

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous photo
Miscellaneous photo
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The Work Continues

Restoring The Cady House, Room by Room

The Cady House remains a private family home and an active restoration project. For now, our attention is focused on preserving its historic character and carefully bringing each room back to life. Follow along as the work continues, and visit our Events page for occasional opportunities to connect with the house's story.