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Home > Bob on TV > Home Again > Modern Colonial > Project Introduction > 1301 Transcript
1301 - Project Introduction
September 2-8, 2002 | March 3-9, 2003
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HI, I'M BOB VILA.
WELCOME HOME AGAIN
TO THE BEGINNING
OF A BRAND-NEW SEASON
AND A BRAND-NEW PROJECT.
THIS TIME WE'RE BUILDING
A CENTER-ENTRY COLONIAL,
PROBABLY ONE
OF THE MOST POPULAR
HOUSE FORMS IN AMERICA
YOU SEE THEM
ALL OVER THE PLACE.
YOU CAN SEE ONE
RIGHT BEHIND ME.
TODAY WE'LL GET STARTED
WITH CONSTRUCTION,
LOOK AT THE FOUNDATION,
AS WELL AS GIVE YOU A TOUR
OF AN AUTHENTIC COLONIAL.
STICK AROUND. IT'S GOOD
TO HAVE YOU HOME AGAIN.
WHILE SUBURBAN LIVING
IN THE 20th CENTURY
WAS WHAT EVERYONE
ASPIRED TO,
IN THE 21st CENTURY,
MANY PEOPLE ARE ASPIRING
TO AN EXURBAN LOCATION.
THEY'RE WILLING
TO COMMUTE AN HOUR
TO GET TO WORK IN TOWN
SO THAT THEY CAN LIVE
IN A BUCOLIC SETTING
LIKE THIS.
MORE AND MORE
NEW SMALL DEVELOPMENTS
ARE CROPPING UP
WHERE FORMERLY
WE HAD BEAUTIFUL
PASTURELAND SMALL FARMS.
IN MANY OF THESE
EXURBAN LOCATIONS,
THE MOST POPULAR HOUSE STYLE
IS THE CENTER-ENTRY COLONIAL.
NOW, COLONIALS
HAVE BEEN AROUND
EVER SINCE WE WERE
COLONIES, I SUPPOSE,
BUT IN THE 19th CENTURY,
WHEN WE CELEBRATED
OUR CENTENNIAL
IN THE 1876 ERA,
LOTS OF PEOPLE
REALLY WERE ENAMORED
OF THE CONCEPT OF LIVING
IN A COLONIAL HOUSE.
EVEN SOME PEOPLE
WHO LIVED IN VICTORIANS
PAINTED THEM WHITE
AND PUT ON GREEN SHUTTERS
SO THEY, TOO, COULD
CELEBRATE THE CENTENNIAL.
SAME THING HAPPENED
IN 1976.
LOTS OF PEOPLE
STARTED BUILDING
BEAUTIFUL
COLONIAL REPRODUCTIONS.
AND IT'S REALLY BECOME
ONE OF THE FAVORITE
TYPES OF HOUSES IN AMERICA.
YOU'LL FIND IT ALMOST
ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.
BEHIND ME WE'RE LOOKING
AT A RECENTLY COMPLETED
CENTER-ENTRY COLONIAL,
AND ALL THE ELEMENTS
ARE THERE--
THE PITCHED ROOF--
ABOUT A 9 PITCH,
THE CENTRAL CHIMNEY,
THE EVENLY-PLACED WINDOWS
RIGHT UNDER THE ROOFLINE,
THE SHUTTERS,
AND, OF COURSE,
THE CENTER ENTRY.
AND SO, OF COURSE,
CENTER-ENTRY COLONIAL,
YOU'VE GOT YOUR STAIRCASE.
THAT'S THE TRADITIONAL
HALLWAY WITH A STAIRCASE.
TYPICAL F
WOULD HAVE HAD 2 OR 4 ROOMS
ON THE GROUND FLOOR,
AND THE EXACT
SAME THING ABOVE.
BUT NOW, THINGS ARE
A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
LET'S SAY HELLO
TO LOU SEMINARA
WHO IS OUR BUILDER
AND DEVELOPER.
HI, BOB.
HOW ARE YOU, LOU?
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE LAYOUT
THAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR
IN THIS TYPE OF A HOUSE.
WHAT'S THAT ROOM,
FOR EXAMPLE?
THIS ROOM HERE IS--
WE CALL THE STUDY.
MM-HMM.
AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH
FOR INFORMAL--
SO IT'S NOT
A BIG LIVING ROOM
OR A BIG PARLOR
KIND OF FLOOR PLAN.
RIGHT. IT CAN BE USED
AS A LIVING ROOM,
BUT WE PREFER
TO CALL IT A STUDY.
MOST BUYERS
ARE NOT INTERESTED
IN A BIG LIVING ROOM
TODAY, IS THAT RIGHT?
BUT THEY DO WANT
A FORMAL-FEELING ROOM
LIKE THIS ONE.
RIGHT. THIS IS
A FORMAL DINING ROOM.
AND, AGAIN, IT'S NICE.
THE CEILINGS MUST BE 8 1/2,
AND THE ROOM ITSELF
IS MAYBE 14 SQUARE.
THAT'S APPROXIMATELY,
I LIKE THE FACT
THAT YOU'VE INCLUDED
WAINSCOTING AND MOLDING
AND PANELING DETAILS
THROUGHOUT.
BUT MY FEELING
IS THAT MOST PEOPLE
ARE LOOKING FOR A KIND OF
AN OPEN FLOOR PLAN, RIGHT?
CORRECT, BOB.
AND THAT'S
WHAT YOU'VE GOT OVER HERE.
THIS WOULD BE KITCHEN,
EATING SPACE,
AND I'D SAY
THE WHOLE THING IS
MAYBE 26 BY ABOUT 14.
14. 26 X 14.
VERY GENEROUS SPACE.
SO THAT YOU'VE GOT A VERY
CONTEMPORARY PLAN, TOO.
YOU'VE GOT
A COOKTOP HERE.
THIS IS
A JENN-AIR COOKTOP.
WE HAVE THE GRANITE
COUNTERTOPS.
AND THE CABINETS
THAT LOOK OLD-WORLD,
OR RATHER,
THEY LOOK COLONIAL
WITH THE BEAD BOARD.
AND THEN I LIKE
THE LITTLE TRANSOM DETAILS
OVER THE OPENING HERE
WITH THE LATTICE.
THOSE ARE ALL
CUSTOM TRANSOMS
WE MAKE UP.
AND THEN BEYOND HERE
WE'VE GOT ABOUT
A 16-FOOT-SQUARE SUN ROOM.
16 X 16 SUN ROOM.
THAT IS TERRIFIC,
AND A DECK BEYOND,
AND THE WOODS
IN THE BACKGROUND.
CORRECT.
BUT WHERE'S THE HEART
OF THE HOUSE,
THE MAIN LIVING SPACE?
THE MAIN LIVING SPACE'D
BE THE GREAT ROOM.
THROUGH HERE.
'CAUSE I KNOW THAT
WHAT MOST PEOPLE
ARE LOOKING FOR
IS A KIND
OF A FAMILY ROOM
OFF OF THE KITCHEN
WHERE EVERYBODY
CAN RELAX TOGETHER.
THIS WOULD BE IT.
THIS IS THE GREAT ROOM.
WE HAVE...
HIGH CATHEDRAL CEILINGS.
WELL, WE'VE GOT
ALL THE DETAILS
OF A COLONIAL HOUSE--
THE MUNTINNED WINDOWS,
THE FIREPLACE--
BUT WE'VE GOT THE SENSE
OF A MODERN HOUSE
WITH THE VAULTED CEILING
AND THE DIMENSIONS.
RIGHT. IT'S--
PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR
A CONTEMPORARY STYLE
ON THE INSIDE.
ALL RIGHT, WELL,
WE'LL BE SEEING
MORE OF YOU, LOU.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
Vila: NEXT, BOB RYLEY
JOINS US AT THE BUILDING SITE
FOR OUR 21st CENTURY
COLONIAL HOME.
[DING]
OK, NOW WE'VE ARRIVED
AT OUR BUILDING SITE,
AND AS YOU CAN SEE,
IT'S AT THE END OF A ROAD--
A CUL DE SAC--
A WONDERFUL PLACE
TO BUILD A HOUSE
AND RAISE A FAMILY.
MANY SITES
THAT ARE STILL AVAILABLE
IN RURAL DESTINATIONS
WITHIN AN HOUR
OF A CITY CENTER
OFTEN WERE FISHING CAMPS
OR SMALL FARMS--
PLACES THAT PEOPLE
WENT TO IN THE SUMMERTIME,
MAYBE 5, 10, 20 ACRES.
WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE
IS A 10-ACRE PARCEL
THAT HAS NOW BEEN CUT UP
INTO 10 DISTINCT
ONE-ACRE LOTS.
AND LOU SEMINARA
WILL BE BUILDING HOUSES
ALL AROUND HERE.
IT'S A VERY NICE TREATMENT,
'CAUSE NOT ONLY
IS IT A LITTLE CUL DE SAC,
IT ALSO HAS
A BUILT-IN LITTLE PARK
WITH SOME
VERY NICE LANDSCAPING,
SIDEWALKS AROUND IT,
AND ALL THE SERVICES
ARE ALREADY IN PLACE
ON THE LOT.
AND LET'S MEET BOB RYLEY
AND TAKE A CLOSER LOOK
AT THE FOUNDATION.
Vila: HI, BOB,
HOW'RE YOU DOING?
GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?
GREAT.
NOW, WE DON'T
NORMALLY START
THIS FAR ALONG
WITH A PROJECT.
USUALLY WE'RE
DIGGING A HOLE
AND PUTTING
IN THE FOOTINGS,
ET CETERA.
HERE WE ALREADY HAVE
OUR FOUNDATION IN PLACE.
EXACTLY.
YEAH, NO, WE USUALLY
ARE ESTABLISHING GRADE,
WHAT WE WANT THE TOP
OF THE FOUNDATION TO BE
AND HOW DEEP
TO DIG THE HOLE
AND ALL THAT
SORT OF STUFF.
BUT, RIGHT,
THIS HAS ALL
BEEN DONE FOR US.
NOW, THIS
IS A SLOPING LOT,
A SLOPING GRADE,
SO WHAT DOES THAT DO
TO YOUR FOUNDATION?
WELL, WHAT IT'S GONNA DO
IS YOU WANT TO DROP
THE FOUNDATION
AS YOU FOLLOW THE GRADE
SO THAT YOU DON'T
HAVE ALL THAT CONCRETE
STICKING ABOVE
THE GROUND, SO--
RIGHT.
YOU LOOK AT THIS HERE,
YOU CAN SEE WHERE
THE PLYWOOD STARTS
TO DROP FROM THE SILL,
THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE
DROPPING THE CONCRETE.
AND THIS IS THE FRONT
OF THE HOUSE,
AND THIS IS
A SIDE OF THE HOUSE.
RIGHT.
THIS IS TERRIFIC
FOR YOUR WATER DRAINAGE
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU
WANT THE WATER TO DO,
IS NATURALLY GO AWAY
FROM THE HOUSE.
YEAH, BUT IF IT'S
SLOPING TOWARDS THE HOUSE,
ISN'T IT GONNA TRY
TO GET IN THE HOUSE
FROM THE FRONT SIDE
OF THE FOUNDATION?
IT WILL IN THE FRONT.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE
ALWAYS SURE TO GET
THE WATER SEALER--
IN THIS CASE, TAR--
UP AGAINST
THE FOUNDATION.
AND YOU'LL SEE
A LITTLE BIT OF IT
ABOVE THE BACKFILL
OF THE SLOPE.
RIGHT.
THAT'S A GOOD JOB,
BECAUSE YOU
DON'T WANT TO HAVE
ANY OF THAT EXPOSED.
YOU WANT IT AT GRADE.
YOU DON'T WANT IT
ABOVE GRADE.
SO FINISH GRADE
IS GONNA BE JUST
A LITTLE BIT ABOVE THERE,
AND THEN ALONG THE SIDE,
FINISH GRADE
IS MORE OR LESS
WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT IT
SO THAT FOUNDATION
REALLY STOPS BEING
FOUNDATION HERE.
IT STEPS DOWN
AND IT BECOMES SIDEWALL.
RIGHT, YEAH,
AND THE SILL--
YOU CAN BRING IT DOWN.
BASICALLY
YOU WANT TO BE
NO MORE THAN 8 INCHES
FROM GRADE
TO YOUR FINISH SHINGLES
WHEN YOU'RE ALL DONE.
RIGHT, BUT THE BEAUTY
OF A SLOPING SITE
LIKE THIS
IS THAT THE BASEMENT
IS REALLY GOOD LIVING SPACE.
EXACT--YEAH,
SO WE WON'T HAVE
ALL THAT CONCRETE
ON THE INSIDE.
LET'S GO INSIDE, YEAH.
ALL RIGHT,
WE STILL HAVE SOME--
FEW BRACES
IN PLACE HERE, BUT...
ESSENTIALLY,
WE'VE GOT A VERY BIG
DOWNSTAIRS AREA.
YEAH, THIS IS GREAT.
AND, NOW, WHAT
DOES THIS TELL YOU,
THIS SMOOTHNESS?
WELL, THIS--WHOEVER
DID THE FORM WORK HERE
HAS GOT
SOME NICE NEW FORMS
BECAUSE YOU DON'T SEE ANY
OF THOSE LITTLE FOOTBALLS
THAT YOU WOULD SEE
IN THE OLD WOOD FORMS
OR ANY OF THE PEELING.
THEY'RE NOT PLYWOOD.
BUT WHAT ABOUT,
IF YOU LOOK UP HERE,
YOU SEE THERE'S
KIND OF LIKE A LINE
THAT GOES ALL THE WAY
ACROSS HERE.
WHAT DOES THAT INDICATE?
THAT'S BASICALLY PROBABLY
WHERE A COUPLE OF TRUCKS--
ONE PULLED OUT,
AND ANOTHER ONE CAME IN,
THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN
A LITTLE TIME.
IT'S NOT A PROBLEM?
NO, NO.
THAT'S FAIRLY TYPICAL
IN A POUR THIS SIZE.
SO YOU DON'T
HAVE TO WORRY
WHEN YOU HAVE
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WHAT ABOUT WHEN YOU HAVE
HONEYCOMBING LIKE THIS?
THAT HAPPENS
ONCE IN A WHILE.
AND USUALLY
WHERE IT SHOWS UP
IS GONNA BE
IN THE CORNER LIKE THAT.
AND IF IT
REALLY BOTHERS YOU,
WHEN THE MASON COMES IN,
HE CAN PARGE IT UP
AND DRESS
THAT WHOLE CORNER.
YEAH, THE ONLY WAY
YOU CAN REALLY AVOID
HONEYCOMBING LIKE THAT
IS TO VIBRATE THE POUR.
AND ON A RESIDENTIAL
JOB LIKE THIS,
NORMALLY THEY
JUST DON'T DO IT.
WELL, LET'S TAKE A LOOK
AT THE PLAN OVER HERE.
WE'VE GOT A LITTLE SETUP
WHERE WE CAN LOOK AT IT.
THERE'S
SO MUCH SPACE HERE.
THIS IS
THE FOUNDATION PLAN.
RIGHT.
AND WE WERE JUST--
WE WERE JUST
RIGHT OVER HERE.
WE WERE JUST RIGHT HERE
IN THIS CORNER.
THERE'S ALL THE FRONT.
YEAH, SO WE'VE GOT
A HUGE FAMILY ROOM,
BIG OPEN SPACE HERE,
EVEN A BATHROOM DOWN HERE,
AND THEN THIS WILL ALL BE
MECHANICAL SYSTEMS, RIGHT?
THAT'S RIGHT.
AND WHAT DOES THIS INDICATE?
THAT'S GOT A--
THAT'S THE GIRT.
IT'S A PIECE
OF STEEL....
SURE.
THAT WE HAVE
IN PLACE.
STEEL IS IN PLACE,
AND IT'S
TEMPORARILY HELD UP
BY THESE TRIPLE 2 X 4s,
BUT THERE'LL BE STEEL
LALLY COLUMNS IN PLACE.
EXACTLY.
WELL, LET'S GO UPSTAIRS
AND SAY HI TO KEVIN,
OUR FRAMING CONTRACTOR.
HE'S REALLY GOT A LOT
OF THESE I-JOISTS
IN PLACE ALREADY.
KEVIN PARQUETTE
FROM TIMBERLINE
BUILDING SPECIALISTS
IS PUTTING UP THE FRAME
HERE FOR THE HOUSE, AND...
WHEN DID YOU
GET STARTED HERE, KEVIN?
OH, ACTUALLY,
THEY DROPPED
THE LUMBER MONDAY,
AND WE STARTED
YESTERDAY.
WE STARTED ALL THE
FRAMING JUST YESTERDAY.
Vila: THIS IS
PRETTY GOOD, RIGHT, BOB?
Ryley: OH, THEY'RE
MAKING GREAT TIME.
YEAH, GREAT TIME.
HOW DO YOU LIKE
WORKING WITH THESE
BOISE-CASCADE ALLJOISTS?
OH, THEY'RE
THE BEST THING
THAT'S COME OUT.
RIGHT NOW, YOU'VE GOT--
THEY RUN FULL LENGTHS,
28 FOOT.
THEY'RE EASY
TO WORK WITH.
THIS IS A 28-FOOT SPAN.
Parquette: YES.
Ryley: I'VE SEEN THEM
ALL THE WAY UP TO 40 FEET.
Vila: RIGHT.
AND, OF COURSE,
IT IS SUPPORTED
IN THE MIDDLE,
BUT IT IS ONE PIECE OF--
ONE BUILDING ELEMENT.
ONE PIECE OF MATERIAL.
SO THAT DOES HELP
IN TERMS OF THE SPEED
OF THE INSTALLATION.
YES, IT MAKES IT
MUCH FASTER.
IT CUTS DOWN
HAVING TO PUT BLOCKS
OR OTHER SUPPORTS.
THEY'RE NOT
REQUIRED ANYMORE
BECAUSE OF THE SPANS
THAT YOU CAN GET
OUT OF THESE JOISTS.
NOW, WHAT HAVE WE
GOT HERE?
WE'VE GOT THE ENDS
OF THE ALLJOISTS
UP TO HERE,
AND THEN THIS IS--
IT'S AN OSB PIECE, RIGHT?
YES, IT'S CALLED
RIM BOARD,
AND IT'S ACTUALLY
INCH AND 1/8.
Vila: MM-HMM.
WE START OFF
WITH SILL SEALER.
YOU CAN SEE
A LITTLE BIT
OF IT HERE.
PRESSURE-TREATED
AND ANOTHER 2 X 6.
SO IT'S DOUBLED UP--
THE PLATE IS
DOUBLED UP DOWN HERE,
AND ONLY THE BOTTOM ONE
IS PRESSURE-TREATED LUMBER.
IS THAT FOR ECONOMY?
PRETTY MUCH.
AND THEN WE--
WHEREVER YOU NEED
A STIFFENER,
YOU JUST USE
ONE OF THESE, RIGHT?
USE ONE OF THOSE.
WE CUT 'EM TO SIZE,
AND THEY FIT
IN-BETWEEN.
THEY GO RIGHT OVER
THE BEAM.
THEY'RE BASICALLY THERE
FOR FIRE BLOCKING
AND AS A STIFFENER.
EXACTLY.
NOW, THE FELLOWS
OVER THERE
ARE PUTTING IN
THE LAST FEW ALLJOISTS
IN THE AREA THAT
WILL BE THE SUNROOM.
WHAT KIND OF FASTENERS
DO YOU USE?
THEY'RE 12-PENNY NAILS.
THEY ARE COATED
WITH GLUE,
AND THE GLUE ACTIVATES
THROUGH THE SPEED
OF THE NAIL
COMING OUT OF THE GUN.
ACTIVATES
AND KIND OF MELTS IT
SO THAT IT REALLY
STICKS IN THERE.
SO, KEVIN,
BASICALLY IN ONE DAY,
YOUR CREW
HAS PUT TOGETHER
THE ENTIRE FRAMEWORK
FOR THE FIRST FLOOR.
HOW MANY GUYS DO YOU
HAVE WORKING ON IT?
THAT'S
A GOOD SIZE CREW.
AND NOW WE'RE WAITING
FOR THE PLYWOOD,
BUT YOU'VE
ALREADY STARTED
WORKING ON SOME OF
THE GARAGE SIDEWALLS,
SO WE'LL LOOK
AT THOSE UP CLOSE
A LITTLE BIT LATER.
Vila: COMING UP NEXT,
WE'LL VISIT
THE WINSLOW-CROCKER HOUSE--
A CENTER-ENTRY COLONIAL
FROM 1780.
NEXT TIME ON...
WE'LL START A NEW PROJECT
BUILDING A CLASSIC
CENTER-ENTRY COLONIAL
DESIGNED
FOR 21st CENTURY LIVING.
THE COLONIAL HAS BECOME
ONE OF THE MOST
POPULAR STYLES
FOR AMERICAN HOMES.
YOU SEE THEM
ALL OVER THE PLACE.
AT OUR BUILDING SITE,
WE'LL TAKE A LOOK
AT THE FOUNDATION
AND GET STARTED
FRAMING THE WALLS
AND THE FIRST-FLOOR DECK.
ALSO, WE'LL TOUR
THE WINSLOW-CROCKER HOUSE--
AN AUTHENTIC
18th CENTURY COLONIAL.
SO DON'T MISS IT.
THAT'S NEXT TIME ON...
NEXT TIME ON...
WE'LL START
A NEW PROJECT BUILDING
A CENTER-ENTRY COLONIAL
FOR 21st CENTURY LIVING.
SO DON'T MISS IT.
THE CENTER-ENTRY COLONIAL
OBVIOUSLY HAS ITS ROOTS
IN COLONIAL AMERICA,
AND MANY OF THEM
ARE HERE IN NEW ENGLAND
AND IN MASSACHUSETTS.
WE'RE IN YARMOUTHPORT,
MASSACHUSETTS,
WHERE WE'RE VISITING
THE WINSLOW-CROCKER HOUSE
WITH PETER GITTLEMAN
FROM THE SOCIETY
FOR THE PRESERVATION
OF NEW ENGLAND ANTIQUITIES.
AND, PETER, OBVIOUSLY,
THE CENTER ENTRY
IS WHAT MARKS IT
IN OUR KIND OF LEXICON
AS A COLONIAL,
BUT WHAT ARE SOME OF
THE OTHER FEATURES HERE?
WELL, THE FACT
THAT IT HAS
A PERFECTLY BALANCED
SYMMETRICAL FACADE
AND THE FACT
THAT THE WINDOWS
LEAVE STRAIGHT
FROM THE ROOF
AND GO STRAIGHT DOWN.
IT HAS A WONDERFUL
FLAT APPEARANCE TO IT
AND WOULD HAVE BEEN
QUITE IMPRESSIVE
FROM THE ROAD.
YEAH, THIS IS ONE
OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS
ABOUT COLONIAL HOUSES
IS THAT THERE
IS A LOT OF ORDER
TO THE ARRANGEMENT
AND THE SIZE OF WINDOWS.
THEY'RE ALL
THE SAME SIZE,
AND THEY'RE ALL
KIND OF SPACED
EQUALLY APART
SO THAT THEY MAKE
A UNIFORM PATTERN.
AND THAT, OBVIOUSLY,
IS SOMETHING
THAT SHOULD BE RESPECTED
IF WE'RE BUILDING
A REPRODUCTION.
WHAT ABOUT THE ACTUAL
WINDOWS, THOUGH?
THEY HAVE A LOT
OF PANES, DON'T THEY?
THEY DO, AND IN FACT,
THESE ARE NOT THE ORIGINAL
PANES TO THIS HOUSE.
THE FACT IS THAT THIS HOUSE
IS NOT EVEN
ON ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION.
OH, REALLY?
IT WAS MOVED
DOWN THE ROAD
ABOUT 9 MILES
FROM WEST BARNSTABLE
BECAUSE THE WOMAN
WHO PURCHASED IT
TO SAVE IT--
MARY THACHER--
DECIDED IT
WOULD BE BETTER OFF
IN HER OWN BACKYARD
BECAUSE, IN FACT,
THIS WAS HER LOCATION,
HER FAMILY COMPOUND.
SHE COMES FROM
AN OLD CAPE COD FAMILY,
AND THIS IS PRECISELY
WHERE SHE WANTED TO--
SO THIS IS BACK
IN THE 1930s
WHERE WE'RE LOOKING
AT AN ENDANGERED
ANTIQUE HOUSE.
INDEED.
AND A WONDERFUL
CITIZEN OF THE TOWN
WHO SAVES IT.
AND SHE SIMPLY WANTED
TO MAKE IT MORE COLONIAL
THAN IT APPEARED TO HER,
SO SHE REPLACED
THOSE 6-OVER-6 WINDOWS
WITH 12-OVER-12.
DID SHE DO A LOT
OF CHANGES ON THE INSIDE?
SHE DID A FAIR AMOUNT OF
CHANGES ON THE INSIDE,
BUT THEY WERE ALL
VERY COSMETIC.
SHE RESPECTED
THE ORIGINAL FABRIC
OF THE BUILDING
AND REMOVED THEM
BOARD BY BOARD
AND BROUGHT THEM
DOWN THE WAY.
THINGS LIKE
REMOVING PAINT
AND FURNITURE
ARRANGEMENT
WAS REALLY
WHAT SHE CHANGED
ON THE INSIDE.
LET'S GO INSIDE
AND TAKE A LOOK.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DOOR.
OK, NOW THIS IS
A SMALL CENTER ENTRY.
I MEAN, THE STAIRCASE IS
RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.
IT'S INTIMATE.
AND THE PAINT--I DON'T
EXPECT TO SEE WOODWORK
WITHOUT ANY PAINT ON IT
IN A COLONIAL HOUSE.
WELL, WHEN MARY THACHER
MOVED THE HOUSE HERE
IN 1935,
SHE DECIDED TO REMOVE
ALL OF THE PAINT
TO SHOW THE WARMTH
OF THE ORIGINAL WOOD,
WHICH IS, OF COURSE,
COMPLETELY INAUTHENTIC.
BUT IT'S WHAT MARY THACHER
WANTED FOR HER HOME.
Vila: OK,
AND THIS IS IN 1930,
SO THERE WAS
A DIFFERENT ATTITUDE.
THIS IS PRETTY
ELEGANT, THOUGH,
FOR COUNTRY
ARCHITECTURE.
IT IS.
WINSLOW CROCKER,
THE ORIGINAL
OWNER OF THE HOUSE,
WAS A FARMER
AND A MERCHANT,
AND HE DID QUITE WELL.
AND IF YOU LOOK
AT THE WHOLE AREA
OF THE STAIRCASE,
YOU REALLY GET A SENSE
LOOKING AT THE BRACKETS
AND THE SPINDLES HERE.
IT'S A DRAMATICALLY
ELEGANT SPACE.
YEAH, HE HAD
A VERY GOOD CRAFTSMAN
PUTTING ALL
OF THIS TOGETHER.
AND IT WOULD HAVE
IMPRESSED.
BUT THE PAINT'S BEEN
REMOVED THROUGHOUT
THE ENTIRE HOUSE.
THROUGHOUT
THE HOUSE.
NOW, CENTER-ENTRY
COLONIAL,
TWIN PARLORS ON
EITHER SIDE, RIGHT?
EXACTLY.
AND USUALLY THEY WERE
A 16 X 16 FOOT
SQUARE MODEL.
MM-HMM.
I'VE BEEN TOLD
IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO
WITH THE LENGTHS OF LOGS
THAT THEY WERE HARVESTING
AT THE TIME.
THAT'S RIGHT.
BUT LOOK AT THAT.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE LOG
THAT MUST HAVE COME FROM?
THIS BOARD IS--
THIS PANEL IS CREATED
FROM NEARLY
A 3-FOOT WIDTH OF PINE.
AND THIS WOULD
HAVE BEEN THE NATIVE
WHITE PINE, RIGHT?
EXACTLY.
FABULOUS.
SO, WHAT
ABOUT THE COLLECT--
SHE COLLECTED
ALL THESE ANTIQUES
AND PLACED THEM
IN THE HOUSE.
SHE COLLECTED
A LOT OF ANTIQUES
AT NEW YORK
AND BOSTON AUCTIONS,
BUT ONE
OF THE PIECES
THAT SHE HAD
IN HER FAMILY
FOR GENERATIONS
WAS THIS CRADLE,
WHICH IS REALLY
AN EXCEPTIONAL
PIECE OF WORK.
THIS PIECE DATES
FROM THE LATE 1600s.
IT'S BEEN PART
OF THE THACHER FAMILY
FOR NEARLY 300 YEARS.
IT'S AN ENGLISH STYLE,
BUT IT'S AN AMERICAN PIECE.
IT'S MADE WITH
AMERICAN OAK AND PINE,
AND, IN FACT,
IS SO ORNATE AND ELEGANT
THAT IT REALLY
DOES SURPRISE
VIRTUALLY EVERYBODY
WHO'S SEEN IT.
AND KNOWING THE ROLE
THAT CHILDREN PLAYED
IN THE 17th CENTURY,
WHICH IS NOT THE STATUS
THAT THEY HAVE TODAY.
IT'S QUITE AMAZING
THAT SOMEBODY
WOULD HAVE PUT THIS MUCH
INTO A CHILD'S
PIECE OF FURNITURE.
THERE WAS SO MUCH
INFANT MORTALITY, YEAH.
LOOK AT ALL THESE.
THEY'RE INCREDIBLE.
THE SPINDLES.
YEAH, 33 SPINDLES,
22 PANELS.
SO MARY THACHER LIVED
HERE ACTUALLY, RIGHT?
SHE DID.
THIS WAS HER HOME.
NOW, THIS IS NOT
WHAT I EXPECTED.
I KIND OF EXPECTED
TO SEE ANOTHER PAIR
OF ROOMS BACK HERE.
INSTEAD WE'VE GOT
A LONG HALL.
WE ARE IN WHAT IS
THE SAME ROOM
ON THE FIRST FLOOR
AS ON THE SECOND FLOOR,
JUST A LARGE ROOM.
SORT OF A THROWBACK
TO EARLIER TIMES.
BUT, IN FACT, THIS ROOM
WAS ONCE DIVIDED.
WINSLOW CROCKER,
THE ORIGINAL OWNER
OF THIS HOUSE,
LEFT IT TO 2 SONS,
AND THE 2 SONS
LIVED SIDE BY SIDE
BUT VERY SEPARATELY,
AND THEY PUT A LARGE WALL
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE FIREPLACE
AND DIVIDED IT SO
THEY EACH HAD ACCESS
TO THE CHIMNEY.
SO THEY ACTUALLY JUST
PUT A WALL RIGHT UP
TO THE CHIMNEY
AND CREATED
2 DIFFERENT FIREBOXES.
A BOARD WALL
UP TO THE CHIMNEY
AND THEN A BRICK PIER.
BUT THIS
IS A NICE DISPLAY
OF HOW THEY
WOULD HAVE COOKED
AND HOW THEY WOULD
HAVE USED A FIREPLACE--
NOT JUST TO THROW HEAT
IN THE ROOM,
BUT THIS IS
THE ESSENTIAL HEARTH.
IT'S THE KITCHEN.
FABULOUS.
IT WAS THE KITCHEN
IN THE 1780s.
WOULD A BEEHIVE OVEN
BEEN TYPICAL LIKE THAT?
NO, AND IN FACT,
THAT WAS ANOTHER LIBERTY
THAT MARY THACHER TOOK.
SHE DECIDED TO TAKE
THE OVEN WHICH WAS
ORIGINALLY LOCATED
IN THE BACK SIDE
OF THE RIGHT PORTION
OF THE FIREPLACE
AND PULLED IT UP FRONT.
SO WHAT YOU'RE
SEEING RIGHT HERE
IS REALLY A RE-CREATION.
STILL, SHE'S DONE
A WONDERFUL JOB
OF PRESERVATION.
THANKS A LOT, PETER.
MY PLEASURE.
NEXT WE'LL BE FRAMING
THE GARAGE WALLS
BACK AT OUR BUILDING SITE.
STICK AROUND.
SO THE FIRST WALL
OF THE PROJECT
IS GOING UP ALREADY.
THIS IS THE SIDEWALL
TO THE GARAGE.
AND...YOU WANT
TO PLUM IT UP?
AND, KEVIN,
AT THIS RATE,
THE WHOLE HOUSE
IS GONNA BE FRAMED UP
IN HALF AN HOUR, RIGHT?
[LAUGHS]
HOPEFULLY,
IT'LL BE UP--
WE SHOULD BE DONE
IN ABOUT 3 WEEKS.
YEAH. NOW...
THE FRAMING IS PRETTY
TRADITIONAL, THOUGH.
YOU'RE--
2 X 4 CONSTRUCTION,
PLYWOOD SHEATHING,
RIGHT?
YES, 1/2-INCH CDX.
[GRUNTS] ALL RIGHT.
RIGHT WHERE
IT WANTS TO BE.
IS THAT IT, TERRY?
LITTLE LOWER.
Vila: THAT'S IT.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, KEVIN,
LET'S TALK ABOUT
THE STEPS INVOLVED
IN LAYING OUT
THIS PARTITION.
YOU'VE ALREADY PUT
A CHALK LINE HERE.
WHAT'S THAT FOR?
Parquette: THAT'S
OUR STRAIGHT LINE, BOB.
WHAT'LL HAPPEN IS
THE 2 X 4 WILL SIT HERE,
AND WHEN
WE STAND THE WALL UP,
IT ENDS UP
IN A STRAIGHT LINE
ALL THE WAY ACROSS.
THAT'S HOW
WE KEEP THE HOUSE
STRAIGHT AND SQUARE.
AND THESE 2 PIECES THAT
WE'VE JUST SET DOWN,
WHAT ARE THEY?
THIS IS A TOP
AND A BOTTOM PLATE.
WE NAIL OUR STUDS
IN-BETWEEN WHERE THE Xs ARE.
EXACTLY. OK,
WELL, LET'S WATCH
AS WE GET ALL
THE STUDS IN PLACE.
ALL RIGHT, SO WHAT ARE
THE DIFFERENT STEPS HERE?
Parquette: FIRST WE'VE TACKED
THE BOTTOM PLATE INTO PLACE.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE--
TEMPORARILY, RIGHT?
TEMPORARILY, YES.
THE TOP PLATE WILL BE
PULLED OUT TO THE BACK.
THE STUDS
ARE GONNA BE PUT
INTO PLACE AND NAILED.
AND THE SHEATHING GOES ON,
AND THEN
WE STAND THE WALL UP.
Vila: SO WHEN
WE STAND IT UP,
THESE NAILS THAT
ARE HOLDING IT IN PLACE
WILL HELP IT LINE UP
EXACTLY WHERE IT GOES.
IT HOLDS IT
RIGHT IN PLACE,
AND IT HELPS IT
FROM SLIDING OUT ON US
WHEN WE PICK UP THE WALL.
THAT WAY
IT WON'T KICK OUT
AND COME DOWN ON US.
EXACTLY.
READY, TOGETHER?
[OVERLAPPING CONVERSATION]
THAT'S GOOD.
GET A LITTLE MORE.
THAT'S IT.
AND THAT WRAPS THINGS UP.
COME HOME AGAIN†NEXT TIME
WHEN WE'LL BE
PUTTING DOWN
THE FIRST-FLOOR DECK,
FRAMING MORE SIDEWALLS
AND THE ROOF STRUCTURE.
ALSO, BOB RYLEY WILL JOIN ME
TO FRAME INTERIOR PARTITIONS
THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY--
HAMMERS AND NAILS.
TILL THEN, I'M BOB VILA.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU
HOME AGAIN.
|
 | Carpentry, Construction & Materials
• Boise Cascade - "All-Joist" engineered wood joists
• Riverside Forest Products - "CDX" OSB exterior sheathing
• Seminara Construction (South Dennis, MA) - General contractor
• Shepley Wood Products - Building materials
Interior Design & Home Furnishings
• Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities (Boston, MA) -
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