Table Of Content

In an effort to bring the TOH crew’s expertise to a wider circle of homeowners, Ask This Old House is born, and declares its intention to cross the country in search of great questions. For the first time, a TOH project—the 1887 Nantucket House—goes from being a home renovation—to something closer to a complete rebuild. While scrolling through O'Connor's social media posts, you're likely to notice something very important.
Tom Silva
—buying, renovating, and selling a run-down 1849 Greek Revival house and its barn in Carlisle, MA. The project’s signature is the dramatic “living hall,” with its rustic exposed posts and beams. Catching the wave of interest in small-scale living, the TOH team turns a 1,000-square-foot barn built in 1894 into a two-story in-law cottage in Concord, MA. New host Kevin O’Connor, a former banker, trades in wing tips for Red Wings. Up to his neck in renovating a rambling Queen Anne, he was “discovered” when AskTOH, which is just in development, makes a house call. Looking for fresh challenges, the crew tackles its first true adaptive reuse project, turning a 1906 Arts and Crafts church in San Francisco into a young couple’s home.
Season 39 - The Charleston Houses
Here, he witnessed a surprising scene with numerous people trying to watch the progress of the construction team (via The Biography). One of the pioneer home improvement series, This Old House has been capturing the hearts of viewers with its innovative and educational content since 1979. Over the years, the show's soaring popularity can be largely ascribed to an impressive ensemble of skilled actors who have appeared on-screen as part of the This Old House cast. With their combined expertise and unwavering passion for renovation and restoration, these cast members have breathed new life into countless homes across America. As audiences tune in to each captivating episode, they're treated to a wealth of knowledge that not only leaves them wanting more but also equips them to embark on their own home improvement journeys.
In Memory of Austin Wilson, 1999-2018
Instead, he said, he prefers to spend any free time with his children pursuing what interests them. At the time of the interview, he was creating science experiments in his backyard workshop. Christmas seems to be O'Connor's favorite holiday, as he shared some of his favorite Christmas traditions with PBS, and they sound amazing.
This Old House is an American home improvement media brand with television shows, a magazine, and a website. The television series airs on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) television network and follows remodeling projects of houses over a series of weekly episodes. Homeowners and fans of the show are encouraged to apply to appear in new seasons of "This Old House," but it's important to remember that a rigorous selection process lies ahead for anyone considering participation. The team is always on the lookout for projects that are interesting, but also showcase common or prototypical issues that other homeowners might face in their own houses.
From 1990 to 2005 he hosted the spinoff program Bob Vila's Home Again, and from 2005 to 2007 he hosted Bob Vila. Season 22 of Ask This Old House brings back Kevin, Tommy, Richard, Jenn, and the crew, as they help homeowners tackle their most challenging home improvement projects. Austin Wilson, our youngest apprentice and one of the dearest members of our team, passed away in his sleep while traveling with us at The International Builders Show. Silva Brothers Construction, made up of Tom, his father, and brother Richard, built the original set for the WGBH-TV Boston production The Victory Garden in the parking lot of WGBH.
Young builder from Maine gets career boost from national TV - NewsCenterMaine.com WCSH-WLBZ
Young builder from Maine gets career boost from national TV.
Posted: Mon, 20 Nov 2017 08:00:00 GMT [source]
On top of detailed descriptions of the home, project scope, and the people in the property, the cost of renovations is borne by the homeowners themselves and not the showrunners or network (via The Washington Post). This first home was a proving ground for the concept, and the project is nothing like the format of home improvement television that exists today. Viewers are now familiar with seeing renovations take place against the backdrop of a family struggling to make the features of their home work for their specific needs. Embattled homeowners reach out to professionals who, in exchange for their services and expertise, film the fast transformation and present the lessons learned to a captive audience. Her role is to create beautiful and functional outdoor spaces that enhance the overall aesthetics and usability of the featured homes.
After college, O'Connor didn't pursue his history degree any further and instead pivoted to prepare himself for the business world. He went on to earn a Master's of Business Administration degree from Boston University. According to the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, the main benefits of having an MBA are credibility across multiple fields, confidence to work outside your comfort zone, and more job opportunities.

The foundation's purpose is to encourage young people to take up trade work training if they feel like a traditional four-year degree program isn't a good fit for them. The money donated funded full and partial scholarships for students involved with the program to study their trades. According to the mikeroweWorks Foundation, the program's official name is the "Work Ethic Scholarship Program" and has given out more than $5 million in educational support. It makes sense that O'Connor and the rest of the "This Old House" team would support such a great venture, since they value hard work from professionals who excel in their trades. And by donating to the scholarship fund, they are training the next generation of craftspeople. O'Connor happily shared a throwback photo on his Instagram of when "Dirty Jobs" host Mike Rowe stopped by the set of "This Old House" to guest star on a popular season premiere.
Boston PBS station WGBH-TV originally created the program and produced it from its inception in 1979 until 2001, when Time Inc. acquired the television assets and formed This Old House Ventures. WGBH also distributed episodes to PBS until 2019, when WETA-TV became the distributor starting with season 41.[4] Warner Bros. Domestic Television distributes the series to commercial television stations in broadcast syndication. Time Inc. launched This Old House magazine in 1995, focusing on home how-to, know-how, and inspiration.
She helps clients realize the potential of their land, which can lead to healthier connections between people and their environments. She designs, manages, and implements both large and midsize projects throughout the Boston area with some of the finest local professionals to ensure a successful completion of each project. Once the deal was finalized, Roku also became the owner of the production studio, its digital assets, social media, web pages, print material, and podcasts. "Inside This Old House," a spinoff that ran for just one year from 2003 to 2004, was also hosted by Kevin O'Connor. During the show, O'Connor and various experts discussed important home improvement topics and looked back at what past homeowners from "This Old House" had done or changed with their homes since being featured.
The series tackles all the exploits of a professional team of contractors, carpenters, electricians, and plumbers, giving homeowners an inside look at what it really takes to complete these tasks. Today, homeowners seeking to renovate their kitchen can Google all the topics they are considering for the space, from tile replacements and appliance upgrades to new cabinet installation and granite countertops. Its staying power after all these years gives viewers trust in the presenters and team that might not exist otherwise without the long and storied history of the program. While it might seem that the production and continuity of "This Old House" are simple, there are some unique features of the show that viewers might find interesting.
As his relationship wound down with "This Old House," tensions were rippling under the surface from the natural cap on funding for the public television series. Vila eventually made an appearance as a direct competitor, tying the hands of the show's executive team and forcing the host out. "This Old House" was one of the first home improvement shows to hit television. The New York Times reports that the program is likely responsible for the rise in DIY efforts in homes across the country.