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WARMING UP BLACK AND WHITE
We love that the classic color combo is still cool-and how today's organic materials and burnished finishes can keep it from looking cold and clinical. Ahead: three ways to get it right
“While we're at it...
Homeowners' plans for an exterior fix-up lead to a full-scale renovation at the West Roxbury project house. The goal: Upgrade the 19th-century house to suit their modern family
Upgrades big and small
Want to get a jump on the remodel of your worn-out kitchen or dated bath? Check out our picks for the best of what's new, all designed to enhance how we want to live now
Tough to beat
With their ornamental beauty and adaptable natures, many perennial garden favorites are worth a second look for their resiliency in an era of weather extremes
Giving old windows new life
In an expansive workshop on the North Shore of Massachusetts, Alison Hardy-a.k.a. the Window Woman of New England—and her small team of skilled workers are meticulously restoring dozens of weathered, century-old sashes. This Old House stops by for a visit
Renewed and improved
A welcoming kitchen was at the top of the wish list for the owners of this 1920s Colonial Revival. The resulting renovation delivered everything they hoped for, while respecting the house’s heritage
BEYOND THE COOK SPACE
With the kitchen devoted solely to cooking having gone the way of the butter churn, it's no wonder that today's kitchen remodels are multifunctional, too. More and more they include adjacent spaces-mudrooms, laundry areas, storage-packed seating nooks-that workjust as hard. "With people spending more time than everat home, they're rethinking how their homes function and seeing new possibilities," says Airy Kitchens designer Sean Lewis. The resulting "kitchen-plus" renovations yield spaces that boost efficiency, sure, but are also more enjoyable to live with. Witness the projects on the following pages.
Ready-to-Assemble Cabinets
When it comes to kitchen remodeling, cabinets take a big chunk of the budget. An alternative to traditional factory-built boxes, RTA cabinets promise big savings in exchange for some sweat equity
Op-art cutting board
Using hardwoods of strikingly different colors, TOH contractor Tom Silva and TOH host Kevin O'Connor team up to create a cutting board with an eye-catching 3D effect
A Better Tile Job Starts Here
A veteran tile setter shares his best practices for achieving top-notch tiled surfaces
New meets old
A bold modern addition shakes up a traditional Cape in a historic Massachusetts town
Landscaping-End-of-summer cleanup
Give your lawn and garden the care they need by removing debris, dividing crowded perennials, and adding mulch—so plants can come back stronger
Home Finances - Living under one roof
What it takes to make room in your home for mom and dad—or members of the younger generation
Fall favorites
Cool home upgrades and problem-solving product picks
Cooler bench
TOH general contractor Tom Silva and TOH host Kevin O’Connor create an insulated ice chest that will keep cold beverages on tap and serve as an extra seat on a deck or patio
Curb Appeal-Balancing act
With a full-width front porch, a new two-story garage, and a fresh color palette, architect Jeff Troyer gives a 1953 Cape the upgraded look and function it deserves
Before & After: Kitchen - Farmhouse refresh
Living in his grandparents’ old house, across the road from the family farm, a lifestyle blogger is making it his own. His latest project: an updated, more functional kitchen that’s still true to the vintage home’s rural roots
Animal House - Ins and outs of dog doors
Entries right-sized for pets are easy for them to use—and convenient for their humans, too. Here’s how to install one that’s safe and secure
Before & After: Garage - Teen retreat
Big kids want to be on their own—and parents like to know where they are. For one family, bonus garage space just steps from the house offers the perfect hangout solution
all in it together
The TOH team gives a fire-damaged triple-decker in Dorchester, MA, some long-overdue updates —and its owner the safer, more comfortable home she and her family deserve
SAVE THIS OLD HOUSE
SAVE THIS OLD HOUSE
Save energy, save money? Maybe...
Reducing energy use is always a good thing. But not every energy-conserving strategy is guaranteed to reduce your overall costs. We take a look at some common misconceptions.
Queen for a New Day
This Old House takes on a timeworn but beautifully crafted Queen Anne, adding on, opening up, and piecing back together the details that make it special
Just Right
Not too big, not too small, a 1920 Cape Cod–style cottage proves a perfect fit for a design-minded homeowner with the vision to tailor it to her needs
Before + after Light touch
One family’s goal in renovating their formerly dark, closed-off galley-style kitchen? Open up and let the sun shine in
Same space, new function
With upgraded fixtures and finishes, a once-bland master bath gains storage and serenity—without the need for any additional square footage
Tucked away
A quest for privacy—and a flair for collecting—takes a California homeowner on a 14-year journey to turn a blank-slate backyard into a lush, layered getaway
Hillside Paradise
Decades in the making, this terraced garden offers 360 degrees of color, while providing layers of privacy from nearby neighbors and a lush habitat for visiting wildlife.
Refresher course
A gathering space weighed down by dark paneling and a drop ceiling gets lightened up in a two-phase remodel
Making a House Their Own
A young couple tackle the project of a lifetime, showing what’s possible when you’ve got DIY skills, a go-for-it attitude, and stamina to spare