From Forgotten Cabin to a Bright New Home: The Power of Transformation
Some projects feel meant to be. The kind where everything aligns—the people, the timing, the history, and the material itself. Over the last couple of years, we had one of those serendipitous moments in Lebanon, TN, when two separate projects unexpectedly came together.
It started with a commitment to deconstruct two old log cabins in Lebanon, dating back to the 1800s. These weren’t just any cabins; they carried stories within their beams—stories of resilience, history, and change. While we were tripping out over these incredible cabins with massive beams, little did we know that a local family was searching for the perfect reclaimed wood for their home. And they just happened to reach out to us at this exact moment in time!
They visited the site, saw the wood and immediately knew: this was it. The connection was undeniable. The wood, which had stood for nearly two centuries in Lebanon, would stay in Lebanon, finding new life in a home just a few miles away.
And what kind of wood was it, you might ask? Cedar. Like “Cedars of Lebanon”. Google it. It felt like a full-circle moment, as if the land itself had whispered this connection into being, or maybe it was just a coincidence?
The Pieces Created from Salvaged Wood
The beauty of working with reclaimed wood is that every beam and board carries a story. The wood itself, naturally carries healing properties as well.
And in this home, each piece found a new purpose and a place to share that story and healing:
• Cedar Mantel – Solid cedar, full of hand hewn character, from old cabin to new home. Cedar has long been considered a wood of protection and purification. It carries a grounding energy that brings warmth into a home, making the fireplace not just a focal point, but a sacred gathering space.
• Cedar Ceiling Beams (Study & Bathroom) – These aged, rustic beams add a sense of stability and peace. The wood that once upheld a log home, now graces the ceiling of a library. In the study, cedar promotes focus and mental clarity. In the bathroom, cedar enhances relaxation, turning every bath or shower into a moment of restoration and peace.
• Reclaimed Oak Kitchen Hood – Oak is the tree of strength and endurance. It represents resilience and longevity. In the kitchen—the heart of the home—oak brings strong, protective energy, supporting nourishment, family connection, and deep roots.
The result after the install? A home infused with history, character, and deep roots to the land. The family, who welcomed us with open arms, (they even introduced us to their pet pig!) now lives among pieces that carry generations of stories within their grain.
The Power of Transformation
For over a decade, Sons of Sawdust has been about seeing the gold in what’s old—giving forgotten, abandoned wood a second chance at life. But it’s more than just wood. It’s about recognizing that even what seems broken, what has been tossed aside, can be made new again.
Before this cabin’s wood could become something beautiful, the structure itself had to come down. You can’t build something strong on a crumbling foundation. And that’s true for wood, for homes, and for life itself.
This is why we do what we do. We don’t just reclaim wood; we reclaim stories, purpose, and meaning. When we deconstruct a cabin, we don’t see a loss—we see potential. When we hold an aged, weathered beam, we don’t see something discarded—we see something waiting to be reborn.
SOS: Save Our Souls
Our name, Sons of Sawdust, holds more meaning than just to honor family and the craft itself. We often think of it as S.O.S.—Save Our Souls. Because in many ways, the wood calls out to us. It asks to be seen, to be rescued, to be given another chance. And we answer that call. We’ve been answering it for over a decade.
Maybe that’s why we feel such a deep connection to this work. Haven’t we all, at some point, felt forgotten? Overlooked? Tossed aside? Maybe that’s why we see ourselves in this wood. It’s a reminder that what was once abandoned can be reborn. That even when something seems lost, hope always remains.
This project, with its perfect timing and full-circle connections, reminded us once again why we do what we do. The cycle of life, death, and rebirth isn’t just something we see in nature—it’s something we take part in every day. And we’re honored to play a role in that cycle, one beam, one home, and one story at a time.
– Shayna Hobbs (Co-Founder of SOS)
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