RSS What is this?
Back to Blog Main Page Previous Post:
MoMA's going prefab, too
Next Post:
We are rebuilding

Welcome to Weston: New house, new bloggers!

April 24, 2008

rendering of new This Old House project in Weston, massachusetts
Copyright 2008 Benson Woodworking Co., Inc.

Hi there. I’m Deborah Hood, the producer of This Old House, and (maybe surprisingly?) one of only two people who works exclusively on this TV show day in and day out. (There are many others of course, but they also work on our show Ask This Old House.) The other one is our associate producer, Jennifer Wells, and this year, we’re both going to join in with the homeowners on this blog to give you behind-the-scenes scoop on what it takes to pull off these renovations while, at the same time, making a national TV show.

So for the first time ever, I am announcing our new project in cyberspace. Which is fitting, because it is one of the most forward-thinking projects we’ve done in years. For the 2008-9 broadcast season, we’re trying something new…

Click through to see what's up for the coming season.

Deb Hood and Amy Favat on site at TOH project house, Weston
Here I am with Amy (she's the one in the yellow hardhat) on one of our very first film days, just last week. (Photo by Pete Favat)

We are just days away from starting to build a brand new timberframe house, which is pretty cool in itself. The kick is that 75% of it will be pre-built (that’s right, PREFAB) in a workshop in New Hampshire. It will be a new house made to feel like an old barn, and one that’s built sustainably for the coolest family going: Amy and Pete Favat, and their kids, Cian and Juliette. 

Keep checking in, because you’ll be hearing from them next.

So let’s see how it goes. I am hoping to send in photos and posts from the road, the office, the field, wherever―in order to share some cool stories and information that might not make it on the show. But don’t let all of this “new” stuff fool you―at heart, we’re still “old house” people, dedicated to demystifying home renovation and repair, while celebrating good design and quality craftsmanship. It’s just that we couldn’t resist the opportunity to switch it up and build new, and to take you on an exploration of what might be the future of home building. Let’s try it. Stick with us. Here we go…

Posted by Deborah Hood | Categories: Weston 2008 | Permalink
Comment on this Blog

(71) Comments

Just yesterday I went poking around the TOH site and forums looking for info on the next season. I came up empty. This blog entry is somewhat timely. I'm looking forward to the new season. Good luck.

Posted by: Mike S | April 24, 2008 at 02:12 PM

As always, can't wait for the start of the new season. One comment, less side trips and more of the guys working.
David
Sacramento, CA

Posted by: David Ripley | April 24, 2008 at 03:18 PM

Interesting looking place, but that over-built yellow arbor sticks out like a sore thumb.

Posted by: JohnPaul Slater | April 24, 2008 at 07:47 PM

I agree with JohnPaul; the side trips, while occasionally interesting, drag on way too long. I watch the show to see the action on the current project, not to see how cast iron fencing is made, or how pool tables are made. Don't care; I have a library for that type of info. I want all project all the time.

Posted by: Margo Collins | April 24, 2008 at 08:15 PM

What state is your Weston House in?

Posted by: Bruce E. Paver | April 24, 2008 at 10:46 PM

It's in Massachusetts like all the other long seasons.

Posted by: Steven Votta | April 25, 2008 at 07:37 AM

Is this going to be another project that is well out of financial reach for the average person?

Posted by: Dave Davis | April 25, 2008 at 07:55 AM

I like the side trip to see how things are done, but did not enjoy any of the side trips in New Orleans.

Posted by: pi4 | April 25, 2008 at 09:39 AM

I agree for the need to reduce the side trips and spend more time with the trades. It is nice to see the over the top houses, but it would be more relevant to most of your viewers to find projects that are more afordable. This past season was more realistic in my opinion. I note that no one ever recaps the actual project's cost. Most of these jobs cost more than the average home purchase price. Regardless, I will be looking forward to the next season and thank you for a great show.

Posted by: Mark Farley | April 25, 2008 at 07:28 PM

I enjoy all of your shows however I get tired of watching repeats after repeats after repeats. I get TOH on my local channel every night at 730 and 800 pm The only Time I see what the present project is ( New Orleans ) is on sunday morn @ 9:30 A.M. Usually by that time I am busy working. Why can't these shows be shown in the eveing instead of repeats. You are getting ready to rebuild the Carlise Farmhouse for the 4th time this year. please see if you can do something about this. Thank you

Posted by: Carl Liebno | April 25, 2008 at 09:04 PM

I agree with some of the comments in part, one is side trips are informative - if they relate to special items. You can get a lot of input if you understand the way some things are put together. It should be easy to understand, that the shop or manufacture that you are visiting is getting a promo, which cuts down on the cost of the show production. You may want items that are custom made and it is good to know where to get them. For an example I happen to catch the architect name, Tsang on one of the shows and was able to contact him for information on a barn door hanger which I was looking for to be designed for my daughter’s home. (Not the $350 one used on the show, but a $40 one and it works fine.) Items like the foam insulation, we used in a remodeling of my daughters home, the tankless water heaters first on the list for our remodel. LED lighting for the kitchen.
The second comment is that PPS is a great station, but the timing of when the shows are on is one of my pet peeves and yes I am a member of PPS. It is a real pain to be watching for four or five weeks and then loss sight of the program because of specials or fund rising.
We’ll look forward to what’s is new out there we lived in a prefab and I worked for a company back in the ‘60’s in Baton Rouge LA. We watched on go up on the next street in one week from digging the foundation to sitting the house in place , 3 stories. However, it took the builder four months to get the permits.

Posted by: Fred Chidester Sr | April 26, 2008 at 09:34 PM

Hey, where in Weston is the house? I go to school in the town over and would love to be able to drive by and check on the progress. I've heard great things about this project from professors and wish you all the best of luck!

Posted by: Zach | April 27, 2008 at 10:07 PM

Zach -- in the interest of protecting the privacy of the homeowners, we can't reveal the project's exact location -- hope you understand.

Posted by: Alex | April 28, 2008 at 06:12 PM

One repeat I would like to see re-broadcast is the second show the 1981 Bigelow house by H.H. Richardson. A current update would be nice also. Have you considered this? This is when I began watchin TOH and have been a faithfull viewer ever since. I also do love the TOH classics as well as all the new projects! Many thanks for all you do!

Posted by: John Plant | April 29, 2008 at 12:56 PM

I agree with a couple of the posts...no long side trips and not MA again! Can't the guys come out here to the great old midwest? we are alot like the east coast...really! I don't get it~ what is the photo of if the barn is going to be "new" ? It's going to be another house that doesn't apply to the average home owner...that makes me disappointed already.

Posted by: Donna | April 29, 2008 at 02:21 PM

Never mind now i see it's a picture of what they are going to build...dah

Posted by: Donna | April 29, 2008 at 02:23 PM

Great to see your new project. I feel if everyone on the show is a friend of mine. Would it be possible to see some of the projects that were done in the early 80's. I can't seem to find any classics on Southern Califoria stations. Does anyone know where I can find it? Looking forward to the new season. I hope they don't wait until January to show it.

Posted by: Deanna Harding | April 29, 2008 at 02:41 PM

My husband and I watch TOH when it's on in Australia, But we get 5 shows at a time on saturday morning until the house is finished. BUT we may not get any more show's for 6 to 12 month. So enjoy the show if you can get it ,it's the best.

Posted by: Zena | April 29, 2008 at 08:12 PM

I'm a long-time TOH viewer, and have always generally enjoyed the "this is how it's made" side trip segments. Please continue the theme.

For this barn season, I'd like to suggest a side-segment showing the AMAZING, huge barns that have been restored at Shelburne Farms in Shelburne, VT. Their "farm barn" is beauty simply beyond description ... and still fully functioning with sheep, chickens, etc.!

Posted by: T.J. Perrotti | April 30, 2008 at 02:19 PM

This is excititng because the Weston project is my cousin's house. TOH crew are working with two terrific people!

Posted by: Irene Pons | April 30, 2008 at 04:45 PM

I like the side trips myself and know I will enjoy seeing the house built in the factory. Maybe when you start this project you could show us that barn conversion you did for your anniversary show. Many people I know are curious as to how much This Old House was able to sell the house for. I think too talking about how much building this current house costs would be helpful to those considering a pre-fab house. Sounds very interesting anyway. Only thing though I only found out about this through e-mail and not on the website. Also the webcam is misidentified as the New Orleans house.

Posted by: Richard | April 30, 2008 at 09:36 PM

Like all the rest, I look forward to the new season.

From the comments I've seen before mine, it looks like TOH needs to bring out DVD sets of the old programs.

Sell them as one project in a complete set. You can even add some of the interesting stuff that didn't make it on air but would be nice to see.

And like the movies, you can even put in the out takes. While it doesn't happen much, I'm sure, don't those guys ever screw up? Even once? It would be interesting to watch and would be great for my self esteem.

Posted by: Joe Mudd | May 3, 2008 at 10:31 PM

Maybe that could be a add on show just the side trips almost like the show Ask This Old house it could be This Old House Side Trips. That way there no one expects construction it just covers info on Material going into the prject.

Posted by: Egidio C. | May 4, 2008 at 07:46 AM

I wish you would return to your roots. Projects with homeowners doing substantial work on them rather than just paying the bills. I really liked New Orleans for that purpose. Episodes on how to figure out a budget for a renovation project and how to avoid extreme overruns would also be helpful. Too often architechs and contractors make us think we can get more for our money than is realistically possible, presenting a much more elaborate project than the dollars available will allow.

Also, I wish you would spend a season going out to as many former projects as possible to show what they are like now. Inside and outside, where possible. One I would be very interested in would be the 3 story affordable home in Boston with Hazel.

I understand the reasoning behind so many Massachusetts projects, since you all have other projects to work on as well. I just wish you would be more realistic in what the "short season" projects are and not jump in and out so much. We really do not get to see a full view of the projects, since you jump in for a day or two and then leave for a couple of weeks at a time.

Posted by: Pat Meyer | May 4, 2008 at 06:58 PM

I'm from New Jersey, (Southern end). I live about a block from the beach, so we have very sandy soil. My point is, that watching all of the old projects, none that I can recall, were built on a sandy foundation. I've seen clay, (MA area), desert sand, (Austin, TX), lots of MUD, New Orleans'), etc. While the "side trips" are very informative; they also seem to be very expensive. The only show I could really relate to is the one with Bill (?) at the Austin, Tx show. Especially, when he and Kevin went to a Home Depot; I said, to my wife, "Carol! There's a guy that knows his stuff!!" (she just laughed...) I really liked the New Orleans' project too; there was alot of diversity there...the project house, the musicians area, the 9th District, etc. a side trip there should have included how they repaired those levees, so that another storm like Katrina would be able to hold back the water...I watch everything that comes in my area; This Old House, Ask This Old House, The New Yankee Workshop. Now there's a season that I missed, watching Norm build his workshop. I can't wait till the new season starts; I've seen so many repeat shows I can almost repeat everybody's lines...keep up the great work!!!

Posted by: Paul (mnsignr) | May 6, 2008 at 04:20 PM

Post a comment

If you have a TypeKey or TypePad account, please Sign In

Newton Centre Project

Roxbury Project

New York City Project

Weston Project

New Orleans Project

Austin Project

East Boston Project

Archives

Advertisement

In The Magazine


Expand your knowledge about topics covered in the print edition of This Old House.

AMERICA'S MOST TRUSTED HOME IMPROVEMENT BRAND
Underwriters: