This Old House Hour — Season 19
## The Milton House & The San Francisco House: Season Overview Prepare to be captivated by two extraordinary homes—the stately Milton House and the vibrant San Francisco House—each harboring secrets as intricate as their architecture. This season, we delve into the lives intertwined with these properties, uncovering a tapestry of ambition, legacy, and unexpected connections. At the Milton House, a sprawling estate steeped in tradition, simmering tensions rise to the surface as current residents navigate the pressures of maintaining its prestigious image and facing an uncertain future. Family dynamics are tested, old rivalries reignite, and long-held secrets threaten to shatter the carefully constructed facade of perfection. Meanwhile, across the country, the San Francisco House pulsates with a different kind of energy. A melting pot of personalities and perspectives converge within its walls, forging unexpected alliances and sparking passionate debates. As these individuals pursue their dreams amidst the city’s iconic backdrop, they must confront personal challenges and grapple with the complexities of belonging. This season promises a compelling exploration of home—not just as a place to live, but as a reflection of our aspirations, our vulnerabilities, and the enduring power of human connection. Expect captivating characters, breathtaking visuals, and a story that will resonate long after the credits roll.
The program begins in Milton, Massachusetts, a town with roots stretching back to 1662, and the location of a Colonial dwelling from around 1725 that the crew acquired for renovation and future sale. The *This Old House* team surveys the hi…
The host found their host already anticipating the barn's demolition; excavator Herb Brockert was preparing to remove the decaying addition. The crew carefully salvaged several worthwhile elements before its destruction, including the cupol…
The program begins with a visit to the summit of Great Blue Hill and its historic weather observatory, established in 1885. From this vantage point, we survey the landscape: the town of Milton, the downtown of Boston eight miles to the nort…
In the workshop, the master carpenter plots the course for the subslab ductwork, while the crew begins removing the aged shingles from the barn. A shingle panel system will be employed for the new siding installation. Tom Silva presents his…
The master carpenter's workshop steadily gains form, as Richard Trethewey now lays out radiant floor heating tubes upon a bed of rigid insulation. We speak with audio/visual systems contractor Steve Hayes for a glimpse of the forthcoming me…
The construction site buzzed with activity as structural insulated panels were carefully lifted into position. These, along with a substantial ridge beam of engineered lumber, constitute the complete framework of the new workshop, incorpora…
The house’s newly framed and sheathed spaces offer a glimpse of the renovated kitchen and media room. The front facade, now bare of two centuries of accumulated paint, awaits primer and a fresh coat of color. Architect Rick Bechtel and wind…
In the Victory Garden kitchen, chef Marian Morash and kitchen designer Phil Mossgraber meticulously refine their plans, focusing intently on the placement of windows and appliances. Meanwhile, in the workshop, T.J. Silva employs an airless …
The host returned to find the master carpenter unpacking the latest additions to the workshop's collection of stationary woodworking tools. They shared admiration for the newly shingled barn, its panelized system reportedly saving the gener…
Richard Trethewey observes the installation of a new gas line and the removal of aging oil tanks, a project facilitated by a program from a local gas company. Coppersmith Larry Stearns proudly displays the intricate copper weathervane he cr…
The master carpenter examined the newly installed garage doors, crafted from redwood to evoke the appearance of antique outswing carriage doors while functioning with modern overhead mechanisms. Meanwhile, the construction crew reinforced t…
The day on the site hummed with activity as several projects sensitive to the weather neared completion. The crew meticulously finished the cedar clapboarding and window trim, patiently explaining the nuances of water resistance. A new fibe…
The host returned to find the property bustling with deliveries: trucks laden with drywall, cement board, and interior wooden doors. Inside the barn, already swelling with materials, he encountered electrician Allen Gallant securing a light…
The program begins at the Milton gravesite of Captain John Crehore (born 1694), the builder of the Milton house. At the residence, the host examines a new clog-free gutter system, a prefabricated wine cellar, and the central vacuum. He and …
Work has commenced on the Milton project. Painter John Dee is applying shellac and wax to the bare old-growth white pine of the front wall, achieving a finish that now harmonizes with the adjacent parlor. A crane carefully maneuvers the new…
The program begins with landscaper Roger Cook and his team installing a granite block curb around the driveway island, a protective measure against stray vehicles. Inside, Charlie Abate highlights the butcherblock island countertop, detaili…
As the construction crew rushes to complete the project, interior designers begin their work. Painter John Dee applies wood filler to the front door, addressing its deterioration, while kitchen designer Phil Mossgraber highlights the featur…
The program begins with Roger Cook and his team establishing a new lawn, followed by a demonstration of a single-button key-fob controller from security expert Steve Yusko. Inside the house, we observe the newly installed flower sink and ex…
Milton's house reached its culmination with the final touches of furnishings, a testament to the collaborative efforts of ten distinct decorating teams. We took a tour of the completed home, the barn, and the expansive grounds. A celebrator…
The team from *This Old House* travels to San Francisco for an unusual undertaking: transforming a 1906 church—most recently used as a synagogue—into a home for Mark Dvorak, a store designer, and his fiancée, Laurie Ann Bishop. A tour of th…
The workday begins for the crew at the Powell Street cable car turntable, where the cars are manually rotated for their return journey over Fisherman's Wharf. General contractor Dan Plummer has three weeks of progress to report: the chapel'…
The program begins with a breathtaking vista from the north tower of the Golden Gate Bridge, perched forty-eight stories above the Bay. Here, Richard Trethewey examines the recycling dumpster; nearly all waste generated from the project is …
The program begins with a stroll through the awe-inspiring Muir Woods, a sanctuary for the coast redwood, the planet’s tallest trees. At the house, where general contractor Dan Plummer navigates persistent heavy rain, we observe lightweight…
The crew journeys to Coloma, California, the birthplace of the Gold Rush of 1848, to explore Sutter's Mill and attempt the ancient craft of gold panning. At the residence, a welcome respite from the rain allows the team to install new redwo…
Before commencing work at the site, our host made a visit to Alcatraz. There, the master carpenter was diligently installing the new front doors. The initial task involved trimming them to fit the uneven opening. Work within the chapel prog…
The concluding segment of the San Francisco project begins with a visit to Marin County Civic Center, Frank Lloyd Wright’s sole governmental building. There, Richard joins our master carpenter in tending the small garden – ten square feet o…
