1214 - Initial Tour
December 3-9, 2001 | June 3-9, 2002
HI, I'M BOB VILA. WELCOME HOME
AGAIN.
FIRST DAY ON A NEW JOB IS ALWAYS
AN EXCITING DAY.
TODAY, WE'RE IN MEDFORD,
MASSACHUSETTS,
AN INTERESTING SUBURB OF BOSTON,
ORIGINALLY ONE OF THE EARLY
1600s SETTLEMENTS.
TODAY, WE'LL GIVE YOU A CLOSE
LOOK AT THE TOWN
AS WELL AS MEETING THE NEW OWNER
OF THIS BEAUTIFUL LITTLE HOUSE,
MEETING WITH HIS CONTRACTOR AND
HIS ARCHITECT AS WELL
SO WE CAN GET AN IDEA OF THE
KIND OF DREAMS THEY HAVE FOR
THIS PLACE.
STICK AROUND. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE
YOU HOME AGAIN.
CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
SEARS
MEDFORD IS LOCATED ABOUT 5 MILES
NORTHWEST OF BOSTON,
AND TODAY IT'S BECOME A PART OF
THE GREATER METROPOLITAN AREA.
BUT IT'S THE FOURTH OLDEST
ENGLISH SETTLEMENT IN AMERICA,
DATING BACK TO 1630,
AND IT WAS BUILT UPON THE LANDS
OF TWO WEALTHY BRITISH FAMILIES.
THE ROYALLS' MODEST 1630
FARMHOUSE SOUTH OF THE MYSTIC
RIVER
WAS LATER BUILT UP INTO THIS
STUNNING BENCHMARK OF AMERICAN
GEORGIAN ARCHITECTURE.
USED AS A BASE OF OPERATIONS
DURING THE REVOLUTION,
THE ROYALL HOUSE SURVIVES TODAY
AS A HOUSE MUSEUM
AND IS ACTUALLY THOUGHT TO BE
THE ONLY SURVIVING HOUSE IN THE
NORTH
THAT STILL HAS ITS SLAVE
QUARTERS INTACT.
WE'LL CERTAINLY HAVE TO PAY A
VISIT TO THIS HOUSE LATER IN THE
SERIES.
OWNING THE LAND NORTH OF THE
MYSTIC RIVER,
PETER TUFTS BUILT THIS HOUSE
AROUND 1680.
IT HAS SURVIVED SO LONG IN PART
BECAUSE ITS BRICK WALLS ARE 18
INCHES THICK.
PETER'S DESCENDENT CHARLES TUFTS
GAVE OVER 100 ACRES HERE ON
WALNUT HILL,
ONE OF THE HIGHEST HILLS IN
NORTH BOSTON,
FOR THE FOUNDING OF TUFTS
UNIVERSITY IN 1852,
NOW A MAJOR SOURCE OF PRESTIGE
FOR MEDFORD.
TODAY IT'S BISECTED BY
INTERSTATE 93,
A MAJOR COMMUTING ROUTE INTO
BOSTON,
BUT FOR THE FIRST 3 CENTURIES OF
ITS DEVELOPMENT,
MEDFORD DEPENDED ON ITS WATER
ROUTES,
THE MYSTIC RIVER AND THE
MIDDLESEX CANAL.
FROM THE BEGINNING, MEDFORD
PROSPERED AS A SHIP-BUILDING
CENTER,
ALONG THE MYSTIC RIVER.
IN ALL, 586 SHIPS WERE BUILT
HERE ALONG RIVERSIDE AVENUE,
THEN KNOWN AS SHIP STREET.
MANY WERE CLIPPER SHIPS THAT RAN
THE TRIANGULAR TRADE
IN SUGAR, SLAVES, AND RUM
BETWEEN EUROPE, THE CARIBBEAN,
AND THE COLONIES.
IN ITS HEYDAY, THATCHER MAGOUN'S
SHIPYARD EMPLOYED 1,000 WORKERS
HERE
AND BROUGHT IN LUMBER FROM AS
FAR NORTH AS NEW HAMPSHIRE,
AFTER THE MIDDLESEX CANAL WAS
COMPLETED IN 1803.
THERE'S NOT MUCH LEFT OF THE
MIDDLESEX CANAL TODAY,
BUT FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS,
IT WAS THE EASIEST WAY TO
TRANSPORT PEOPLE AND MATERIALS
BETWEEN THE CHARLES RIVER IN
BOSTON
AND LOWELL, THE BIG MILL TOWN ON
THE MERRIMACK RIVER.
MEDFORD BOTH BENEFITED AND
PARTICIPATED IN THAT TRAFFIC.
ITS BRICKYARDS AND TILE
INDUSTRIES EMPLOYED WAVES OF
IMMIGRANTS, MOSTLY IRISH.
WHEN THE SHIP-BUILDING INDUSTRY
DECLINED,
IT WAS REPLACED BY THE
MANUFACTURE OF
TEXTILES, CARPETS, HATS, EVEN
LINSEED OIL,
AND MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS LIKE
MACHINERY FOR SHOE-MAKING,
EVEN BRASS SODA FOUNTAINS.
TODAY, MEDFORD IS REALLY A
BEDROOM COMMUNITY FOR BOSTON,
AND MUCH OF THE STURDY VICTORIAN
ARCHITECTURE
THAT WAS PUT UP DURING THE
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
IS IN VERY HIGH DEMAND.
REAL ESTATE VALUES ARE ON THE
RISE
ALONG THESE NARROW NEIGHBORHOOD
STREETS
LINE WITH MODEST BUT GRACIOUS
SINGLE AND MULTIFAMILY HOUSES
BUILT CLOSELY TOGETHER,
AND THE POST-WAR BUILDING BOOM
PRODUCED WHOLE TRACTS OF
MIDDLE-CLASS, SUBURBAN,
SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.
BUT MEDFORD ALSO HAS AN ECLECTIC
COLLECTION OF BUILDINGS WITH
REAL HISTORY.
MEDFORD SQUARE HAS MANAGED TO
PRESERVE SOME OF ITS VICTORIAN
CHARACTER
WITH TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY BRICK
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS.
AND OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH
THE WOODS IS GRANDFATHER'S
HOUSE,
THE HOME THAT INSPIRED MEDFORD
RESIDENT AND ABOLITIONIST LYDIA
MARIA CHILD
TO WRITE THE FAMOUS THANKSGIVING
SONG.
THE MYSTIC RIVER IS NO LONGER
USED FOR COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC,
BUT, AS IT FLOWS QUIETLY PAST
THESE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS
AND BUSTLING SQUARES,
IT'S A REMINDER OF MEDFORD'S
HISTORIC PAST.
JUST UP THE HILL IN WEST MEDFORD
IS OUR PROJECT HOUSE.
LET'S GO TAKE A LOOK.
ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT
MOVING INTO AN OLD NEIGHBORHOOD
IS THAT YOU'RE LIKELY TO HAVE
NEIGHBORING HOUSES
LIKE THIS BEAUTIFUL VICTORIAN
BEHIND ME.
THIS 1897 MAP OF WEST MEDFORD
SHOWS
THE HOUSE AND BARN OF THE OXNARD
DAIRY,
WHICH PROCESSED AND DELIVERED
MILK IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD
FROM 1886 UNTIL THE 1960s.
THAT LITTLE HOUSE AND BARN YOU
SEE IS WHERE WE'RE HEADED.
AND, AS WE GET TO THE CORNER, IS
OUR SUBJECT HOUSE,
A TRIM EXAMPLE OF NEW ENGLAND
ARCHITECTURE,
PROBABLY FROM THE 1880s,
AND RICK LARSEN, THE NEW OWNER--
HOW ARE YOU, RICK?
GOOD, THANK YOU.
TELL US ABOUT WHAT ATTRACTED YOU
TO THIS HOUSE.
WELL, THIS HOUSE REALLY COMBINES
EVERYTHING
MY PARTNER AND I REALLY WANTED
IN A PLACE.
IT'S A NICE, COMPACT HOME FOR
EMPTY-NESTERS--
MY KIDS ARE GROWN.
MY PARTNER IS AN ARTIST,
SO SHE HAS THE SPACE SHE NEEDS,
AND I CAN PUT MY BUSINESS IN IT.
AND IT HAS A LOT OF WONDERFUL
THINGS,
STARTING WITH THIS GARDEN, WHICH
I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU,
THE NICE SOUTHERN EXPOSURE
AND THESE AMAZING HEMLOCK HEDGES
WHICH WE'RE KEEPING--
Vila: YEAH, IT'S AN AMAZING
HEDGE.
WOW, THERE'S A LOT MORE HERE
THAN MEETS THE EYE.
THIS IS A FABULOUS BACK YARD.
YEAH, IT'S VERY EXCITING
BECAUSE YOU DON'T EXPECT TO SEE
IT FROM THE STREET.
MM-HMM, IT MUST BE, I'D SAY 60'
X 100'.
YEAH, THAT'S ABOUT RIGHT.
AND THERE'S A LOT MORE HOUSE
THAN YOU THINK THERE IS.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FRONT
FACADE ON THE STREET, IT'S
NARROW AND TALL.
LOOK AT ALL THIS.
IT'S VERY NICELY SIZED,
AND ALSO WHAT'S EXCITING IS
THAT,
BESIDES THE TWO LIVING FLOORS,
THE FIRST AND SECOND FLOOR,
THERE'S A FULL ATTIC WE CAN DO
SOMETHING WITH
AND A FULL BASEMENT
THAT'S--UNBELIEVABLE AS IT MAY
SEEM--DRY.
MM-HMM, SO HAVE YOU STARTED
THINKING ABOUT THE ARCHITECT'S
ROLE?
WE HAVE. IN FACT WE'VE HIRED AND
ARCHITECT,
AND HIS NAME IS RICHARD
TRAMAGLIO,
AND I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO
HIM.
TERRIFIC. HI, RICHARD.
HI, BOB, NICE TO SEE YOU.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
RICK, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
YOU KNOW WHAT OCCURS TO ME IS
THAT
THIS IS THE SORT OF HOUSE THAT
MAYBE 5 OR 10 YEARS AGO
WOULD NOT HAVE WARRANTED
INVOLVING AN ARCHITECT IN
REMODELLING IT.
BUT NOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
THINGS HAVE CHANGED ENORMOUSLY.
THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS
AFFORDABILITY,
BEING ABLE TO FIND A PLACE WITH
THIS KIND OF SPACE
FOR THE MONEY,
AND, FOR AN ARCHITECT, IT'S A
WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY
BECAUSE IT'S A VERY NEUTRAL,
KIND OF HUMBLE, HOUSE
THAT OFFERS GREAT DESIGN
POSSIBILITIES.
YES, YOU'RE NOT CONSTRAINED BY A
LOT OF COLUMNS
AND A LOT OF ELEMENTS THAT YOU
WOULD HAVE TO RESPECT.
YOU'VE GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO
CHANGE THINGS.
I WOULD THINK THIS WOULD BE A
GREAT PLACE
FOR A BIG BACKYARD DECK.
WONDERFUL BACKYARD DECK.
IN FACT, MAYBE EVEN AN UPPER
DECK AS WELL.
AND THEN YOU'VE GOT AN ADDED
ASSET
THAT WE HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED
ABOUT HERE.
THIS IS A LITTLE CARRIAGE HOUSE,
RIGHT?
YEP.
Vila: OH, YEAH.
WE'RE TALKING A SERIOUS
ACCESSORY BUILDING HERE, AREN'T
WE, RICK?
YEAH, IT'S VERY NICE.
WE HAVE THE GREAT YARD IN THE
BACKGROUND
AND THEN THIS WONDERFUL BARN,
WHICH WAS ACTUALLY A DAIRY BARN
FROM 1885-1970.
UH, THERE WERE NO COWS HERE, BUT
THE MILK WAS BROUGHT IN,
AND THEY PROCESSED THE MILK AT
THE OXNARD DAIRY--
THE SIGN'S STILL INSIDE--
SERVICED THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO, THEY BOTTLED IT IN HERE,
AND THEN THEY DISTRIBUTED IT
AROUND IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD?
BY HORSE AND BUGGY UNTIL 1954.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT THIS IS A
COMMERCIALLY ZONED BUILDING?
IT IS COMMERCIALLY ZONED, WHICH
IS NICE,
BECAUSE WE CAN USE IT AS AN ART
STUDIO QUITE LEGALLY.
FABULOUS.
LEGALLY. LEGALLY.
WELL, IT HAS ONE PROBLEM.
IT'S SITTING ON A LOT LINE,
SO IT'S A NON-CONFORMING
BUILDING,
AND IT COULD POSE PROBLEMS IF WE
TRY TO ADD TO IT.
BUT YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO ADD TO
IT,
BUT YOU'D PROBABLY WANT TO BE
ABLE TO DEVELOP IT.
WE'D PROBABLY DO SOMETHING WITH
THE SPACE AS AN ART STUDIO.
COULD YOU CONNECT IT TO THE
HOUSE?
WE'RE GOING TO TRY THAT.
WE PROBABLY NEED A VARIANCE FOR
THAT.
BUT YOU COULDN'T TURN IT INTO A
RESIDENCE
AND SPIN IT OFF?
NO, IT'S ILLEGAL TO DO THAT.
OK, WELL, LET'S GO INSIDE
AND TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE
RESIDENCE.
Vila: LEARN MORE ABOUT PLANNING
A MAJOR REMODELLING PROJECT AT
BOBVILA.COM
Larsen: SO, THIS IS THE OLD
KITCHEN, BOB.
AND THERE'S A LOT THAT WE LIKE
ABOUT IT.
IT'S SPACIOUS.
YEAH, IT'S VERY NICE.
THIS MUST BE 10' X 12',
AND IT'S GOT BREAKFAST NOOK
BUILT INTO IT.
TERRIFIC.
IT'S ON THE NORTH SIDE, BUT IT'S
STILL GOT GOOD LIGHT--
EXCELLENT LIGHT WITH THE
SKYLIGHT.
Vila: THEY ADDED A SKYLIGHT AT
SOME POINT.
IT LOOKS--IT'S IN MOVE-IN
CONDITION,
ALTHOUGH I'M SURE YOU WANT TO
MAKE SOME CHANGES HERE.
EXACTLY.
YEAH, THE DOORS ARE NICE--
THE CABINET DOORS.
Larsen: YEAH, THESE ARE THE
ORIGINAL DOORS.
Tramaglio: WE'RE PROBABLY GOING
TO SAVE THOSE, JUST THE DOORS.
Larsen: AND THE GLASS ONES OVER
HERE AS WELL.
Tramaglio: AND INCLUDE THEM IN
THE NEW CABINET WORK.
Vila: YEAH, WELL, YOU CAN DO
THAT,
BECAUSE, I MEAN, THESE WERE ALL
CABINETS
THAT WERE BUILT IN PLACE BY THE
CARPENTERS,
AND OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN SAVE THE
DOORS AND THE HINGES
AND JUST BUILD NEW BOXES FOR
THEM IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION.
YEAH.
WHAT'S THROUGH HERE, THEN?
WELL, THIS GETS BLOWN OUT,
AND THEN WE HAVE ACCESS TO WHAT
WILL EVENTUALLY BE THE DINING
AND FAMILY ROOM.
Vila: SO, YOU'LL REMOVE A WALL
SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE ONE BIG
SPACE.
THIS IS AN UNUSUAL ROOM.
Larsen: WELL, THIS IS THE OLD
OFFICE
FOR THE OXNARD DAIRY.
THE BILL PAYERS COULD COME UP
THERE
AND COME IN WITHOUT DISTURBING
THE FAMILY,
AND IT HAS SOME NICE ELEMENTS
THAT WE WANT TO KEEP.
THIS BUILT-IN IS A VERY NICE
ELEMENT.
Tramaglio: IT'S PROBABLY A
BOOKCASE WITH DRAWERS BELOW,
AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO SAVE
THOSE DOORS AS WELL
AND REUSE THEM AS A PIECE OF A
SCREEN INSIDE THE BUILDING
SOMEWHERE.
Vila: SO, THE IDEA HERE IS NOT
SO MUCH TO RESTORE
AS IT IS TO REMODEL.
TO REALLY BRING IT IN TO THE
21st CENTURY.
THAT'S RIGHT.
IT'S TO KEEP WHAT'S HERE,
ADD TO IT IN A COLLAGE-LIKE WAY,
AND TRY TO HAVE MEMORIES OF THE
PAST
LIKE THESE DOORS, AND THERE'S A
COUPLE OF
BEAUTIFUL COLUMNS OUT ON THE
PORCH,
WHICH WE'RE GOING TO INCLUDE.
BUT THIS IS THE CORNER OF THE
HOUSE
WHERE YOU WOULD TRY TO CONNECT
IT TO THE CARRIAGE HOUSE.
THAT'S RIGHT, WITH A BREEZEWAY
OUT HERE.
EXACTLY. OK.
THIS WILL BECOME KIND OF THE
HEART OF THE HOUSE.
SURE, THE KITCHEN/DINING AREA.
THEN WHAT'S THROUGH HERE?
THE FORMAL DINING ROOM?
YEAH, I WOULD THINK.
THIS WAS ORIGINALLY MEANT TO BE
A DINING ROOM, RIGHT?
Tramaglio: YEAH, THIS WAS THE
ORIGINAL DINING ROOM,
AND THE FIREPLACE IS PROBABLY
GOING TO BE REACTIVATED.
IT'S IN VERY GOOD SHAPE.
YEAH, IT LOOKS LIKE IT HASN'T
BEEN USED IN MANY YEARS.
NO, I DON'T THINK SO.
Larsen: THE SECOND OWNER WAS NOT
A FIREPLACE PERSON
HE WAS HERE FOR 30 YEARS.
IT HAS SOME VERY NICE OLD BRICK
ON THE HEARTH.
PROBABLY MEDFORD BRICK.
MIGHT BE MEDFORD BRICK.
GOT NICE OAK FLOORS IN HERE.
SO, WILL THE SHAPE OF THIS ROOM
REMAIN?
THE SHAPE OF THIS ROOM WILL BE
PRETTY MUCH INTACT.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WILL BE THAT
ONE CORNER OF IT
WILL BE OPEN TO THE HEART OF THE
HOUSE.
Vila: THE HEART OF THE HOUSE IS
WHERE THE STAIRCASE IS?
THE STAIRCASE AND THE
KITCHEN/FAMILY.
YES, OK.
AND THEN THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE
IS ALMOST LIKE A DOUBLE PARLOR
WIDTH
AND ANOTHER FIREPLACE RIGHT IN
HERE.
SO, HAVE YOU GOT ANY PLANS YET
THAT WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT?
Tramaglio: I HAVE PLANS, YES,
THAT SHOULD BE USEFUL.
UM...
OK, THAT'S ORIENTED THE WAY
WE'RE STANDING.
OK?
SO, THE IDEA WITH THIS DESIGN,
IF YOU WILL,
IS A SERIES OF VIGNETTES ADDED
TO THE HOUSE,
BUT THERE ARE 3 MAJOR REGIONS.
THERE'S THE STUDIO AND GARAGE
CONNECTED BY A BREEZEWAY
TO THE FAMILY KITCHEN,
WHICH IS BEING OPENED UP
CONSIDERABLY.
RIGHT.
AND EVEN OPENED UP VERTICALLY
WITH GLASS BLOCK FLOOR ALL THE
WAY THROUGH THE BUILDING.
OH, REALLY?
YEP, SMALL PANEL OF GLASS BLOCK
IN THE FLOOR,
WHICH WILL ALLOW LIGHT ALL THE
WAY DOWN FROM ABOVE.
AND THEN THE LIVING ROOM WILL
REMAIN PRETTY MUCH THE SAME.
WELL, THE DINING ROOM THAT WE
WERE JUST IN BECOMES THE LIVING
ROOM.
BECOMES THE LIVING ROOM.
AND THE LIVING ROOM THAT WE'RE
IN RIGHT NOW BECOMES THE
STUDY...
THE STUDY, AND THE CURRENT ENTRY
WILL BE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT
MOVING THE DOOR OVER TO MAKE A
GALLERY SPACE FOR DISPLAY.
SO, WE ESSENTIALLY HAVE 3
PRIMARY REGIONS.
MM-HMM. AND THEN ON THE SECOND
FLOOR,
WE'VE GOT ESSENTIALLY A MASTER
SUITE IN THE MIDDLE.
THE SAME, YEAH,
WITH A VERY INTERESTING SHOWER
THAT OPENS--
UM, THAT HAS GLASS BLOCK LOOKING
OUT ONTO THE DECK.
MM-HMM. AND THEN TWO ADDITIONAL
FAMILY BEDROOMS.
YEP.
AND THIS IS THE DRESSING ROOMS
ON THE NORTH SIDE.
THEN THE ATTIC GETS FULLY
DEVELOPED.
THE ATTIC WILL BE FULLY
DEVELOPED INTO AN OFFICE--
A VERY BRIGHT AND CHEERY SPACE
ABOVE--
AND A GUEST ROOM WITH A PORCH,
AND A LOT OF STORAGE AT ONE END.
FABULOUS. AND THEN THE
ELEVATIONS...
THE FRONT ELEVATION, I SEE A
CHANGE RIGHT AWAY.
I KNOW THAT THE PORCH THAT'S ON
THERE IS JUST A SMALL PORCH.
YEAH. WE ALL FELT THAT IT WAS
A BIT SMALL FOR THE SCALE OF THE
HOUSE,
AND WE DECIDED TO INCREASE IT
AND MAKE IT THE FULL WIDTH OF
THE HOUSE,
WHICH IS FAIRLY TYPICAL IN
HOUSES OF THIS TYPE, ANYWAY.
AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA CREATE A
TRIANGLE OF GLASS UP HERE.
AND A TRIANGLE OF GLASS IN THE
STUDIO.
AND ON THE GARDEN ELEVATION,
THE RATHER BLUNT SENSE OF THE
FACADE
IS GOING TO BE MODIFIED SOMEWHAT
BY ADDING A PORCH AT THE TOP OF
THE TOWER
AND A PORCH AT THE BEDROOM
AND AN ADDITION,
WHICH IS THE FAMILY ADDITION, TO
THE BACK.
THAT'S PRETTY EXCITING, RICHARD.
THANKS FOR SHARING.
YOU'RE WELCOME.
Vila: WHEN WE COME BACK,
WE'LL GET STARTED WITH
DEMOLITION,
SO STICK AROUND.
Vila: NEXT TIME ON BOB VILA'S
HOME AGAIN,
WE'LL BE STARTING A NEW PROJECT
IN MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS--
A NORTHWEST SUBURB OF BOSTON
AND ONE OF THE OLDEST ENGLISH
SETTLEMENTS IN AMERICA,
DATING FROM THE 1630s.
WE'LL BE REMODELING THIS HOUSE
AND BARN BUILT IN THE 1880s.
WE'LL MEET THE NEW HOMEOWNER
AND GET TOGETHER WITH HIS
CONTRACTOR
AND THE ARCHITECT AS WELL.
WE'LL GO OVER THE PLANS THEY
HAVE FOR THIS PLACE,
AND WE'LL GET STARTED WITH THE
DEMOLITION,
SO DON'T MISS IT.
THAT'S NEXT TIME ON HOME AGAIN.
Vila: NEXT TIME ON BOB VILA'S
HOME AGAIN,
WE'LL START REMODELING THIS
VICTORIAN HOUSE AND BARN
IN MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.
DON'T MISS IT.
THIS HOUSE HAS A VERY CENTRALLY
LOCATED AND ECONOMICAL STAIRCASE
THAT GOES ALL THE WAY UP TO THE
THIRD FLOOR,
AND LET'S TAKE A QUICK GEOGRAPHY
LESSON.
I SEE THAT OUR CONTRACTOR'S BEEN
HERE,
BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY STARTING
TO SEE
SOME MARKS OF WALLS THAT HAVE TO
BE REMOVED.
THIS IS THE, UH, THE PINK ROOM,
AND IT'S A NICE-SIZED BEDROOM
ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE
HOUSE.
THROUGH THE WINDOW YOU CAN SEE
THE CARRIAGE HOUSE
THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT EARLIER.
AND I BELIEVE THIS AND THE NEXT
ROOM
ALL GET CONVERTED INTO ONE
MASTER SUITE.
THEN WHAT WE HAVE IN THE CURRENT
PLAN
IS AN EXISTING BLUE BATHROOM
WITH A LOT OF--
A LOT OF DECORATING THAT'S BEEN
DONE OVER THE YEARS.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SEE
HERE
MIGHT BE CONSIDERED A LITTLE BIT
OUT OF FASHION--
THE MARBLEIZED FORMICA
AND THE HANGING LIGHT FIXTURES
AND THE LIKE.
THERE'S A NICE LINEN CLOSET
HERE.
THEN DOWN THE HALL, WE'VE GOT
ACCESS TO THE ATTIC;
WE'VE GOT A VERY SPACIOUS
LAUNDRY ROOM
WITH WALL-TO-WALL,
WHICH I BELIEVE GETS CONVERTED
INTO A SECOND BATHROOM HERE.
AND THEN WE'VE GOT A NICE PAIR
OF BEDROOMS--
BOTH OF THEM GOOD KIDS' ROOMS.
THEY'RE ABOUT 10 X 10-- THIS
ONE'S A LITTLE BIT LARGER.
BUT LET'S GO INTO THE EXISTING
MASTER
AND TALK WITH CHARLIE
TOMASZEWSKI,
WHO'S OUR GENERAL CONTRACTOR.
HEY, CHARLIE.
HEY, BOB. HOW ARE YOU?
SO YOU'RE GETTING READY FOR YOUR
DEMOLITION CONTRACTOR, I WOULD
PRESUME.
YEP. WE JUST--
WE'RE REVIEWING THE PLASTER HERE
AND THE PLUMBING THAT'S GOING
INTO THE OTHER SIDE--
SO THIS WALL DOESN'T COME OUT?
NO. STUDS ONLY.
OK, WHAT--IT'S GONNA BE A
PLUMBING WALL?
IT'LL BE A PLUMBING WALL.
BUT BASICALLY, THAT PINK ROOM
AND THIS ROOM
WILL BECOME THE MASTER SUITE.
OK, AND SO THIS CLOSET GETS
TAKEN OUT, RIGHT?
YES.
THIS IS A NICE DOOR. YOU'VE GOT
MIRROR ON IT AND EVERYTHING.
IT'S THE DRESSING ROOM DOOR.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA TRY TO
INCORPORATE THAT SOMEWHERE ELSE
IN THE HOUSE.
OK. WELL, WHY DON'T I GIVE YOU A
HAND?
IT'S PROBABLY NOT THE KIND OF
THING
THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO TRUST
YOUR CONTRACTOR--
YOUR DEMOLITION CONTRACTOR TO
TAKE OUT.
NO. IT'S A PRETTY NICE DOOR,
SO I'D RATHER TAKE CARE OF IT
MYSELF.
ALL RIGHT. THE FIRST THING TO DO
IS TO PULL THE PINS ON IT.
YEP.
NICE, HEAVY DOOR.
OH, YEAH. NICE AND HEAVY.
I'M GONNA GET SOME TAPE TO TAPE
THESE ON LATER.
BUT HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT TAKING
THE CASINGS OFF, CHARLIE?
WELL, WHAT WE'LL DO FIRST IS
THAT WE'LL CUT THE PAINT LINE
ALONG THIS CASING.
JUST TAKE YOUR UTILITY KNIFE
AND...
JUST COME RIGHT DOWN ALONG HERE
LIKE SO.
THAT'S ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO DO,
ALTHOUGH IN THIS CASE, SINCE THE
PLASTER'S COMING OFF ANYWAY,
IT'S NOT THAT IMPORTANT.
WE DON'T REALLY HAVE TO PROTECT
THE WALL.
RIGHT. AND THEN, WITH THIS TYPE
OF CASING,
YOU WANT TO GET THE ROSETTES OUT
FIRST, RIGHT?
ROSETTES FIRST.
[HAMMER BANGING]
THERE WE GO.
PULL THAT RIGHT DOWN...
GOOD.
THERE WE GO.
ALL RIGHT. GOOD.
Vila: COMING UP NEXT,
WE'LL EVALUATE THE ATTIC
REMODELING PLAN
WITH OUR STRUCTURAL ENGINEER.
JOINING US NOW IS STEVE SIEGEL,
WHO IS OUR CONSULTING ENGINEER
ON THE STRUCTURE.
AND THIS ATTIC IS NICE BECAUSE
IT'S TOTALLY UNDISTURBED.
THIS IS 1880s UP HERE.
THERE'S A LITTLE MAID'S ROOM
THAT WAS PUT IN,
BUT CLEARLY THIS DOESN'T MEET
CODE ANYMORE.
AND IF WE'RE GOING TO BE
CHANGING THE USE,
IN CREATING A HOME OFFICE HERE
WITH NICE CATHEDRAL CEILINGS,
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE
EXISTING STRUCTURE?
Siegel: IT'S CLEARLY UNDERSIZED,
SO WE HAVE TO REINFORCE IT.
MM-HMM.
THESE ARE FULL 2 X 6 RAFTERS,
BUT THEY'RE PRETTY WIDELY
SPACED.
IF YOU PUT A TAPE HERE, YOU CAN
SEE THEY'RE AT TWO FEET ON
CENTER.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS A
LIVING SPACE,
I'D PROBABLY END UP TAKING THESE
COLLAR TIES OUT
AND PUTTING A RIDGE BEAM IN.
THOSE ARE THE FLIMSIEST COLLAR
TIES I'VE EVER SEEN.
THEY'RE, LIKE, 2 X 3s.
YEP.
AND THEN IF YOU WANTED TO PUT A
RIDGE BEAM,
THAT BASICALLY IS TAKING THE
WHOLE LOAD OF THE ROOF
SO THEY CAN'T SPREAD OUT.
THAT'S RIGHT.
BUT HOW WOULD YOU INSTALL IT
HERE?
WELL, A REAL SIMPLE WAY TO PUT
IT IN IN THIS CASE IS
YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THE RAFTERS
ARE WORKING
RIGHT OPPOSITE EACH OTHER ON THE
RIDGE PLATE.
I'D PROBABLY PUT A PIECE OF WOOD
AT EVERY SINGLE RAFTER PAIR--
NAILED ON HERE, RUNNING ACROSS,
AND NAILED ON HERE.
LIKE A 2 X 6.
A 2 X 6 PERHAPS, AND THEN A
RIDGE BEAM COULD BE PUSHED
RIGHT UP TO THE UNDERSIDE OF
THAT.
SO YOU'RE CREATING A FLAT
SURFACE ACROSS THE WHOLE LENGTH
OF IT,
AND THEN YOU'RE PUTTING A BEAM
UNDERNEATH IT.
THAT WOULD HAVE TO DROP DOWN,
THOUGH,
AT LEAST A FOOT, RIGHT?
YES, IT WOULD.
THE ONLY PROBLEM I SEE IS, THE
ARCHITECT WANTS TO PUT IN A BIG
GLASS TRIANGLE
TO FILL IN THE WHOLE GABLE END.
WELL, THAT MIGHT BE A PROBLEM.
THAT MIGHT BE A PROBLEM. THANKS,
STEVE.
WE'RE RUNNING SHORT ON TIME.
COME HOME AGAIN.
NEXT TIME, WE'RE GOING TO BE IN
THE MIDST OF ALL THE DEMOLITION,
HOPEFULLY GETTING STARTED WITH A
LITTLE BIT OF THE FRAMING.
TILL THEN, I'M BOB VILA. IT'S
GOOD TO HAVE YOU HOME AGAIN.
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