This Old House (1979)

Episode Overview

Upon arrival, our host finds excavator Herb Brockert ready to take down the dilapidated ell attached to the barn. The crew manages to salvage some valuable pieces, such as the cupola and an arched window, before the structure comes down. Meanwhile, a group of young men, part of a program alternative to juvenile detention, works on dismantling the brick patio at the back of the house and brings in fiberboard to shield the fragile old floorboards. Architect Rick Bechtel and our host brainstorm ideas for redesigning the house's layout, proposing to relocate the kitchen from the dim northeast side to the bright southern exposure. Later, our host heads to New York City to explore the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club Decorators Show House, which has been held annually for 25 years, seeking inspiration for transforming the Milton house into a similar showcase post-renovation. Richard Trethewey inspects the aging heating system, which features a solar collector.