1427 - Home Again 15th Anniversary Retrospective
September 6-12, 2004
HI. I'M BOB VILA.
WELCOME HOME AGAIN.
TODAY, I'M CELEBRATING.
IT'S BEEN 25 YEARS
THAT I'VE BEEN ON TV,
AND WE'RE GOING INTO
OUR 15TH SEASON OF
"BOB VILA'S HOME AGAIN,"
SO TODAY I THOUGHT
WE'D TAKE A CLOSE LOOK
AT SOME OF THE PROJECTS
THAT WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED
WITH OVER THE YEARS,
SOME OF THE FRIENDS
THAT WE'VE MADE,
A LITTLE REMINISCING,
AND A CLOSE LOOK
AT SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT ALL OF US HOME IMPROVERS
HAVE IN COMMON.
SHOULD BE A LOT OF FUN.
STICK AROUND. IT'S GOOD
TO HAVE YOU HOME AGAIN.
CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
I WANTED TO DO
THIS SPECIAL EPISODE HERE
IN ROXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS
AT ROYAL GOVERNOR
WILLIAM SHIRLEY'S
GEORGIAN MANSION,
BECAUSE
IT'S A WORKING MONUMENT
TO CONSCIENTIOUS
HOME IMPROVEMENT.
PETER HARRISON, WHO'S CALLED
AMERICA'S FIRST ARCHITECT,
DESIGNED THIS HOUSE
WELL BEFORE THE REVOLUTION,
AND IT'S THE ONLY REMAINING
COUNTRY HOUSE IN AMERICA
BUILT BY A ROYAL
COLONIAL GOVERNOR.
IT'S SEEN LOTS OF RESIDENTS
COME AND GO,
EXPERIENCED A LOT OF NEGLECT
OVER THE YEARS,
AND YET,
PARTLY BECAUSE OF THAT NEGLECT,
IT SURVIVES TODAY
TO RECEIVE THE RESPECT
AND CARE IT DESERVES.
HOME IMPROVEMENT'S ALSO COME
A LONG WAY IN THE LAST COUPLE
OF DECADES.
IN THE 15 SEASONS
OF "HOME AGAIN,"
WE'VE BUILT OR REMODELED
OVER 30 HOMES.
IT ALL STARTED BACK IN 1989.
AFTER A DECADE OF HOSTING
"THIS OLD HOUSE"
ON PUBLIC TELEVISION,
I DECIDED IT WAS TIME
TO MOVE ON,
AND I STARTED
"BOB VILA'S HOME AGAIN."
HI. I'M BOB VILA.
WELCOME HOME AGAIN.
WHAT YOU SEE BEHIND ME IS
AN OLD SHABBY SHED
THAT WE'VE MOVED
FROM ITS HOME IN CHATHAM
TO MARSTONS MILLS ON CAPE COD.
WE STARTED CLOSE TO HOME,
BUILDING AN AUTHENTIC
LITTLE CAPE COD-STYLE HOUSE
RIGHT ON CAPE COD,
COMPLETE WITH A SALVAGED ELL
TRUCKED IN FROM ANOTHER SITE
DOWN THE ROAD.
THEN WE HEADED TO CHICAGO
FOR A LITTLE URBAN PIONEERING
IN A GREYSTONE TWO-FLAT
AND ITS LITTLE CARRIAGE HOUSE
OUT BACK
WITH SOME AMAZING RESULTS.
IN OUR SECOND SEASON,
WE GAVE A LITTLE RANCH HOUSE
A FACELIFT
AND HEADED SOUTH TO MAKE
AN OLD CRACKER COTTAGE
INTO A FUNKY FLORIDA GETAWAY.
AND IN THE THIRD SEASON,
WE BUILT A GORGEOUS VICTORIAN
ON MARTHA'S VINEYARD
AND CONVERTED
A DATED MALIBU BEACH HOUSE
TO A SPANISH-STYLE FANTASY
WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS.
WE ADDED A SECOND STORY
TO A SUBURBAN RANCH,
REVIVED A FEDERAL ANTIQUE
IN CHARLESTON...
HAPPY GREENHOUSE!
THIS IS GREAT, DIANE.
VILA: ADDED ON A GREENHOUSE
WITH MARTHA STEWART,
AND BUILT AN ENERGY-SAVING CABIN
IN THE WOODS.
THERE WAS A FANCIFUL TROPICAL
KITCHEN IN MIAMI,
AND A PRACTICAL COLONIAL
ADDITION.
THEN I DID MY OWN HOUSE--
AN ABUSED SHINGLE STYLE
GRANDE DAME
WE RESTORED
TO ITS FORMER GLORY...
EXCEPT WITH MORE BATHROOMS.
A STUDIO CITY BUNGALOW
AND A POST-AND-BEAM BARN
FOLLOWED THAT.
AND THEN WE SPENT SOME TIME
IN THE CITY:
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND ACCESSIBILITY IN ROXBURY--
A NEIGHBORHOOD IN RENEWAL--
AND AN ARTISTIC LOFT CONVERSION
IN BOSTON'S LEATHER DISTRICT.
WE HAD A GREAT TIME BUILDING
A HOUSE IN JUST A WEEK
WITH AN ARMY OF HABITAT
FOR HUMANITY VOLUNTEERS
IN YONKERS, NEW YORK.
AND THEN WE HEADED TO VIRGINIA,
WHERE THE GOVERNOR NEEDED
A LITTLE WORK DONE ON HIS HOUSE.
WHAT A PROJECT THAT WAS.
BOB, WELCOME BACK!
WE EXPLORED
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
IN A NEW URBANIST COMMUNITY,
THEN JOINED
A GROUP OF HOMEOWNERS
TO TAKE BACK
AN ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD
IN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND,
ONE PROJECT AT A TIME.
IT WAS ALL ABOUT FARMHOUSES
IN SEASON 12.
A REMODELED DAIRY BECAME
A CHIC SUBURBAN RESIDENCE,
AND NEW CONSTRUCTION BLENDED
WITH ITS NEIGHBORS
IN QUECHEE, VERMONT.
WE BUILT AN ENORMOUS
NEW "EX-URBAN" HOUSE
TO LOOK LIKE IT HAD BEEN THERE
FOR 250 YEARS,
AND JUST RECENTLY, WE RESCUED
A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH
ON BROOKLYN'S WATERFRONT
AND EXPLORED THE WONDERS
OF MODULAR CONSTRUCTION
IN THE BERKSHIRE HILLS
OF MASSACHUSETTS.
THESE PROJECTS HAVE RUN
THE GAMUT OVER THE YEARS
FROM THˇ
E SIMPLE FACE-LIFT
TO WHAT I LIKE TO CALL
THE GUT REHAB.
BUT NO MATTER WHETHER
YOU'RE DOING A SMALL,
AFFORDABLE PROJECT
OR WHETHER YOU'RE BUILDING OUT
A FANTASY VACATION HOME;
WHETHER YOU'RE JUST DOING
SOME REPAIRS AROUND THE HOUSE
OR SOME REPAIRS
AROUND A MAJOR NEIGHBORHOOD,
I'M REMINDED IN LOOKING BACK
THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS
THAT ALL THESE SUCCESSFUL
PROJECTS HAVE IN COMMON.
THEY INVOLVE PLANNING CAREFULLY,
RESPECTING HISTORY,
AND BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE.
I THINK THE FIRST ONE--
PLANNING CAREFULLY--
IS PROBABLY
THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE.
IT'S THE AREA
WHERE A LOT OF PROJECTS FAIL
BEFORE THEY GET STARTED.
AND THE PURPOSE
OF A HOME IMPROVEMENT SHOW
IS TO REALLY EMPOWER
THE VIEWER;
TO TAKE AWAY THE MYSTERY
ABOUT HOME IMPROVEMENT,
ABOUT THE TERMINOLOGY,
SO THAT THEY DO HAVE
A CHANCE FOR SUCCESS.
FIRST, YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW
WHERE TO LOOK FOR PROBLEMS,
HOW TO ASSESS THE CONDITION
YOUR HOUSE IS IN
BEFORE YOU START,
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY,
WHEN TO ASK FOR HELP.
WELL, YEAH, I SAW
THAT THIS POST HAD
A LITTLE BIT OF ROT
AT THE BOTTOM, RAY,
BUT I DIDN'T
THINK THERE'D BE
ANY TERMITE DAMAGE
IN THERE.
WELL, UPON INSPECTING
THE HOUSE,
I FOUND A LIVE COLONY
OF TERMITES RIGHT HERE.
AND THEY'RE COMING UP
THE POST HERE
AND TRAVELING UPWARDS.
I'VE GOT A PIECE OF
BOARD HERE, A 2 X 4,
THAT LOOKS GOOD
ON THIS SIDE,
AND ON THIS SIDE,
IT'S JUST EATEN AWAY.
VILA: NO DO-IT-YOURSELFER
SHOULD EVER UNDERESTIMATE
THE VALUE
OF HAVING A REAL PRO
HELP ASSESS THE SITUATION.
OK, LET'S TALK
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE ACTUAL CONDITIONS
THAT YOU FOUND HERE
IN THE HOUSE.
WELL, WHEN THE CEILING
WAS REMOVED,
WE FOUND MORE OR LESS
WHAT YOU CAN SEE RIGHT NOW,
EXCEPT THAT THERE WAS
NO TEMPORARY SHORING.
UH-HUH.
THIS IS SOMEWHAT OF
A FRIGHTENING SITUATION.
INDEED.
WHICH WAS ACTUALLY HIDDEN
BY THE CEILING.
VILA: BUT I ALSO THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT TO DEMYSTIFY
THE NUTS-AND-BOLTS DOMAIN
OF THE CONTRACTOR,
SO THAT EVEN IF YOU'RE HIRING
SOMEONE TO DO THE JOB FOR YOU,
YOU'LL KNOW HOW TO TELL
IF THE JOB'S BEING DONE RIGHT.
NEVER HAVE THERE BEEN
SO MANY NEW PRODUCTS
AND BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES
TO CHOOSE FROM,
SO IT HELPS TO
KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE STYLE OF YOUR HOUSE
AND HOW IT WORKS
BEFORE YOU MAKE THESE CHOICES.
IF YOU KNOW HOW THEY'RE MADE,
YOU HAVE
A MUCH BETTER CHANCE
OF WEEDING THROUGH
ALL THE INFORMATION
BUILDING PRODUCTS MANUFACTURERS
ARE SENDING OUT THESE DAYS
AND USING THE RIGHT PRODUCT
FOR THE JOB.
BUT IN HERE,
WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT
CARPET IN THE MEDIA ROOM,
AND WE'VE GOT GARY JOHNSTON
FROM DUPONT,
WHO'S GONNA TELL US
ALL ABOUT
WHAT SORT
OF CARPET WE'VE PUT
DOWN HERE, RIGHT?
WELL, I'M HAPPY
TO BE HERE, BOB.
THIS IS DUPONT
STAINMASTER CARPET,
AND THE REASON
WE SELECTED IT
TO GO IN THIS ROOM
IS BECAUSE THIS IS
A CASUAL ROOM,
AND THERE'S A LOT
OF ACTIVITY IN HERE.
PEOPLE LIKE TO GET
DOWN ON THE FLOOR,
AND IF THERE'S
ANYTHING GREAT
ABOUT CARPET,
IT'S THAT
IT FEELS GOOD.
WHAT ABOUT INSTALLATION?
WELL, INSTALLATION
IS VERY SIMPLE.
BASICALLY,
YOU HAVE TO PUT DOWN
A NICE CUSHION.
YOU NEED A NICE,
QUALITY CUSHION
UNDER YOUR CARPET.
THAT HELPS WORK AS
A SHOCK ABSORBER TO
ABSORB FOOT TRAFFIC
AND KEEP YOUR CARPET
LOOKING BETTER OVER
A PERIOD OF TIME.
AND THEN MAKE SURE
THAT IT'S INSTALLED
WITH A POWER STRETCHER
SO YOU GET A NICE, EVEN,
SMOOTH FINISH ON IT.
VILA: THANKS, GARY.
WE'VE CERTAINLY HAD
OUR ALL-TIME FAVORITES,
AND SOME OF THEM
HAVE ACTUALLY MADE THEIR DEBUTS
ON "HOME AGAIN."
MAN: I'VE GOT ABOUT
A QUARTER-INCH TROWEL.
TROWEL IT ON FAIRLY THIN...
RIGHT UP TO THE LINE.
I'M INSTALLING
THE RUNNING BOND PATTERN,
ALTHOUGH ANY PATTERN
THAT'S AVAILABLE WITH BRICK
IS AVAIˇ
LABLE IN THESE.
VILA: ALL RIGHT,
THIS SECTION OF
THE KITCHEN FLOOR
HAS HAD TWO DAYS
TO SET UP.
THE MASTIC
IS ALL DRIED.
NOW, CHUCK, WHAT IS
THIS PROCESS?
I'M TROWELING IN
THE GROUT--
TWO PARTS SAWDUST,
ABOUT ONE PART OF LIQUID.
GREAT-LOOKING STUFF,
MM-HMM.
AND YOU JUST
DUMP IT DOWN?
JUST PUT IT
RIGHT ON THE FLOOR;
PUSH IT INTO THE CRACKS.
AND THE FINAL STEP
IS RUBBING IN
THE SEALER.
AND I IMAGINE
IT'S THE KIND
OF FLOOR
THAT WILL
REALLY TAKE ON
A BEAUTIFUL PATINA.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT
TO PLAN FOR RESULTS
THAT WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY
NOT JUST THIS YEAR,
BUT FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.
IF YOU CAN FIND WAYS
TO MAKE LIFE AT HOME EXCITING,
AND YOU CAN AFFORD IT,
IT'S WORTH IT.
I'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO GIVE
HOMEOWNERS THE INSPIRATION
TO MAKE THEIR OWN DREAMS
COME TRUE.
AND CONTRARY TO WHAT SOME MIGHT
LIKE TO BELIEVE,
YOU HAVE TO WORK THESE DETAILS
OUT IN THE PLANNING PHASE.
VERY, VERY NICE.
HERE'S ALSO WHERE
THE SOFTER SIDE OF
HOME IMPROVEMENT
BECOMES IMPORTANT:
THE INTERIOR DESIGN.
WE'VE HAD SOME EXCITING TALENTS
AND SOME FANTASTIC RESULTS.
ADDED INTO THE RICH WOODS
AND LEATHERY FEEL
IS THIS KIND OF
HAPPY PALETTE AS WELL.
BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE,
IN NEW YORK,
YOUR HOUSE NEEDS
TO BE HAPPY.
YOU TALKED US
INTO A VERY BUSY
WALLPAPER.
RIGHT, AND WE THINK
IT LOOKS SPECTACULAR.
I LOVE IT.
IT'S A VERY DENSE
PATTERN.
IT WORKS IN A SMALL ROOM
BECAUSE IT GIVES YOU
A VERY INTIMATE FEELING.
THE BLUE--WE CAN USE
THE BLUE HERE
BECAUSE THE COLOR WE'VE PUT ON
THE WALLS IS NOT TOO YELLOW,
WHICH ALLOWS US TO INTRODUCE
AN ARRAY OF COLORS.
YEAH. THE "SAGE GARDEN"
DOESN'T HAVE MUCH YELLOW
IN IT.
NO, IT DOESN'T.
SO YOU CAN USE
ALL THESE COLORS.
BEAUTIFUL!
VILA: NEXT, WE'LL LOOK AT HOMES
FROM A HISTORIC PERSPECTIVE
AND THE MANY FIELD TRIPS
WE'VE TAKEN.
RESPECTING A BUILDING'S HISTORY,
ITS FOUNDATIONS,
ALMOST AS IMPORTANT
AS CAREFUL PLANNING
IN THE SUCCESS
OF A RENOVATION PROJECT.
AND EVEN THOUGH
WE'RE A YOUNG COUNTRY,
THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T HAVE
PLENTY OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BUILDING HOMES
OF ONE SORT OR ANOTHER
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME.
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST CONCRETE
FORMS OF COLLECTIVE KNOWLEDGE
WE PRESERVE AS HUMANS.
WHY WOULD WE WANT TO REINVENT
THE WHEEL?
AT THE SAME TIME,
WE ALSO DON'T WANT TO IGNORE
THE EXCITING NEW IDEAS
THAT COME TO LIGHT EVERY DAY.
AND OF COURSE,
WRIGHT REALLY
ENJOYED CREATING
THE INGLENOOK
AND THE HEARTH,
AS IT WERE,
THE CENTER
OF THE HOUSE.
THERE'S A SCIENCE
TO WALKING THAT FINE LINE
BETWEEN COPYING HISTORY
AND PROGRESSING INTO THE FUTURE,
AND I'VE ALWAYS
TRIED TO HELP PEOPLE FIND
THAT LINE FOR THEMSELVES.
IT'S CALLED
THEIR INSPIRATION.
FIELD TRIPS ON "HOME AGAIN"
ARE A GREAT WAY TO EXAMINE
OUR BUILDING HISTORY
AND TO UNDERSTAND
HOW OUR WIDELY VARIED
ARCHITECTURAL STYLES
REFLECT OUR EQUALLY VARIED
LIFESTYLES AS AMERICANS.
WOMAN: THE PEDIMENT
OVER THE DOOR.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
HAS REALLY COME OF AGE
IN THE LAST COUPLE
OF DECADES.
PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN IT UP
ALMOST LIKE A NATIONAL PASTIME.
BUT THEY'VE ALSO LEARNED
THAT HOUSE MUSEUMS
ARE REALLY DESIGN CENTERS,
LEARNING CENTERS.
LEARNING FROM THESE HOUSES,
WE CAN ADAPT
THEIR TRIED-AND-TRUE PROPORTIONS
AND BUILDING TECHNIQUES
TO TODAY'S HOMES.
ENCOURAGINGLY, THERE ARE
NOW WHOLE SCHOOLS DEVOTED
TO THIS KIND OF LEARNING.
STUDENTS FROM
THE NORTH BENNET STREET SCHOOL
HAVE ACTUALLY LED THE WAY
IN RESTORING
SOME OF THE ELEMENTS
OF THE SHIRLEY-EUSTIS HOUSE,
LIKE THE CUPOLA
AND ITS BALUSTRADE
AND EVEN SOME OF THE 19TH-
AND 18TH-CENTURY SASH.
ROBERT, I THINK
ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS
ABOUT THE PRESERVATION
CARPENTRY PROGRAM HERE
IS THE FACT THAT
YOU'RE REALLY WORKING
WITH REAL HOUSES.
THESE ARE PIECES FOR THE
SHIRLEY-EUSTIS MANSION
HERE IN ROXBURY, RIGHT?
ROBERT: THIS IS THE BALUSTRADE
FROM THE CUPOLA.
SO THIS WILL
ACTUALLY BE INSTALLED
AT THE HOUSE.
ROBERT: YES.
VILA: AND THESE
BALUSTERS--
ARE THEY
AUTHENTIC COPIES
OF THE ORIGINAL ONES?
WELL, THEY ARE.
HERE'S ONE OF THE ORIGINAL ONES.
UH, THESE WERE ARCHIVED
IN THE ATTIC.
AND THEY'RE PRETTY CLOSE.
THIS IS A STICKING BOARD SET-UP
FOR A HAND PLANE.
UH, JACKIE IS MAKING A SASH DOOR
FOR THE CUPOLA,
AND THE CONSTRUCTION
OF THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF SASH
THAT GOES IN THE DOOR
IS APPLIED MOLDINGS.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT PART
OF RESPECTING HISTORY
IS CALLED RECYCLING.
I'VE ALWAYS TRIED
TO SHOW VIEWERS
THAT IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT
GETTING SOMETHING SHINY AND NEW.
OH, SO THIS IS
WHAT YOU'RE--
ISN'T THIS GREAT?
AND WHAT DOES
THIS LOOK LIKE?
THE PANTRY?
I DON'T KNOW
ABOUT THE COLOR.
WELL, I KNOW.
IT'S...
BUT IT LOOKS
LIKE THE PANTRY
AND THE IRONING
BOARD EXACTLY.
OH, SURE, SO IT DOES
MATCH YOUR KIND OF
EARLY 1900S CABINET LOOK.
OH, YEAH.
WHERE DID YOU
FIND THIS, FRED?
THIS CAME OUT OF
A LOCAL PROPERTY
THAT WAS
BEING DEMOLISHED,
AND I WAS ACTUALLY
ABLE TO TAKE
THIS ONE OUT
WITH MY OWN HANDS.
VILA: THEY CAN FIND
FORGOTTEN TREASURES,
AND FOR A LITTLE MONEY
AND ELBOW GREASE,
THEY CAN ADAPT THEM
TO THEIR OWN HOMES
TO GREAT EFFECT.
THERE AGAIN, IT HELPS
TO KNOW YOUR HISTORY.
THIS STARTED OUT AS
A SALVAGED ITEM, RIGHT?
IT SURE DID.
CANARY YELLOW,
AS I BELIEVE.
AND SO YOU STRIPPED
ALL THE PAINT.
AND WHERE IS
THE ADDITION?
YOU CAN HARDLY TELL
THAT YOU'VE ENLARGED IT.
MAN: WE MADE A JOIN HERE.
AND ADDED THIS WHOLE
SECTION TO FILL IN
THE WHOLE WALL.
THEN AGAIN, SOME FIELD TRIPS
ARE JUST FOR FUN.
WE'VE BEEN
TO SOME PRETTY FUNKY PLACES,
AND IT'S AMAZING WHERE YOU CAN
FIND YOUR INSPIRATION.
THIS IS LUCY THE ELEPHANT
IN MARGATE, NEW JERSEY.
SHE'S ONE OF 3 ELEPHANTS
THAT WERE BUILT
IN THE LATTER PART
OF THE 19TH CENTURY.
SHE'S THE ONLY ONE
THAT SURVIVES.
SO WE ARE STANDING
WHERE SEVERAL
MAJOR ROADWAYS
WILL INTERSECT
BELOW GROUND HERE?
THAT'S RIGHT.
INTERSTATE 90 INTERSECTS
WITH 93 GOING NORTH,
SO WE'RE STANDING
ON OFF-RAMPS
FOR INTERSTATE 90.
AND WHEN YOU COME
INSIDE HERE,
YOU'LL SEE
IT'S A PRETTY
SPACIOUS AREA
WHERE YOU CAN GET
YOUR SPACE SUIT ON.
AND ONCE YOU'RE
DRESSED IN YOUR
SPACE SUIT,
YOU ATTACH
AN UMBILICAL TO IT
WHICH SUPPLIES YOU
WITH OXYGEN AND
WATER AND COOLING
WHILE YOU'RE GETTING
READY TO GO OUTSIDE.
AND THIS HATCH CLOSES
AND ALLOWS YOU TO
DECOMPRESS THIS VOLUME
AND THEN GO OUTSIDE
USING THE FAR HATCH.
VILA: COMING UP,
WE'LL LOOK AT NEW PRODUCTS
AND TECHNOLOGIES
AVAILABLE TO HOMEOWNERS.
NEXT TIME
ON "BOB VILA'S HOME AGAIN,"
WE'RE CELEBRATING
MY 25TH YEAR ON TV.
WE'LL TAKE
A RETROSPECTIVE LOOK BACK
AT MANY OF
THE GREAT PROJECTS
THAT WE'VE TACKLED
OVER THE YEARS.
WE'LL REVISIT MANY
OF THE INTERESTING FRIENDS
WE'VE MADE ALONG THE WAY.
ALSO, WE'LL RETURN TO
A VARIETY
OF THE SPECTACULAR HISTORIC
HOUSES THAT WE'VE TOURED
AND SOME OF THE FIELD TRIPS
THAT WE'VE TAKEN JUST FOR FUN.
SO DON'T MISS IT.
THAT'S NEXT TIME
ON "HOME AGAIN."
NEXT TIME
ON "BOB VILA'S HOME AGAIN,"
IT'S A SPECIAL CELEBRATION
OF THE PROJECTS
WE'VE TACKLED
IN THE PAST 14 YEARS.
DON'T MISS IT.
WHAT FASCINATES ME ABOUT
THE FIELD OF HOME IMPROVEMENT
IS THAT WHILE IT'S ROOTED
IN HISTORY,
IT'S GROWING AND EXPANDING
AT AN ASTRONOMICAL RATE.
THERE ARE SO MANY
NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND PRODUCTS
OUT THERE EVERY DAY,
AND IT'S EXCITING TO THINK ABOUT
HOW THEY'RE GOING TO EVOLVE
AND BECOME PART OF
OUR MAINSTREAM BUILDING CULTURE.
OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS
ON "HOME AGAIN,"
WE'VE SEEN QUITE A FEW
NEW TECHNOLOGIES COME OF AGE.
WHAT HAVE YOU GOT
FOR US HERE?
WELL, WE'VE GOT
A MASTER CONTROL
WHOLE HOME CONTROLLER
HERE IN MY HAND.
BASICALLY CONTROLS
EVERYTHING IN THE HOUSE.
VILA: SOLAR ENERGY,
PHOTOVOLTAICS,
AND ALTERNATIVE FUELS ARE
BECOMING MORE AFFORDABLE
AND PRACTICAL EVERY DAY.
IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE ENERGY,
THERMAL INSULATION TECHNOLOGY
HAS BECOME SO ADVANCED
THAT VENTILATION AND MOLD ISSUES
HAVE NOW ARISEN
AND ARE BEING DEALT WITH.
THE EVOLVING CONCEPT
OF THE "CONNECTED HOME"
PROMISES TO BE THE FUTURE
OF HOME COMMUNICATIONS,
SECURITY,
AND ENTERTAINMENT.
GOVERNMENT INCENTIVES
LIKE ENERGY STAR
HAVE GIVEN BUYERS REAL REASONS
TO BUY MORE ENERGY-EFFICIENT
APPLIANCES.
SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY
IS BEING RETHOUGHT,
AND THE SCIENCE OF HARVESTING
WOOD FOR THE FUTURE
IS COMING OF AGE.
STREAMLINED ALTERNATIVES TO
TRADITIONAL BUILDING METHODS
ARE ALL COMBINING TO CUT
THE TIME AND EXPENSE INVOLVED
IN BUILDING AND POWERING
OUR HOMES.
AND THERE ARE
WHOLE NEW SOLUTIONS
TO OLD PROBLEMS
LIKE WIND AND FIRE RESISTANCE,
PEST CONTROL,
LAWN CARE,
WATER FILTRATION,
AND EVEN THE MOST BASIC
OF FUNCTIONS.
IF YOU HIT THIS BUTTON
ON THE REMOTE,
AS YOU CAN SEE,
THE LID IS RISING.
WE'VE REALLY DONE
IS TAKE THE BIDET
AND MOVE IT INTO
THE 21ST CENTURY.
THE WASHLET WAND
WASHES ITSELF
WITH A STREAM OF WATER
BEFORE IT EMITS.
IT MOVES OUT
INTO THE BOWL.
YOU CONTROL
THE WATER TEMPERATURE.
VILA: OOH, MY GOSH!
YOU'LL HAVE
A DRYING CYCLE.
SO THE DRYING CYCLE
EMITS WARM AIR?
CORRECT.
I UNDERSTAND
THEY'RE CONTINUALLY
DEVELOPING NEW FEATURES
IN JAPAN,
BUT CERTAINLY THIS IS
THE LATEST THAT
WE'VE SEEN IN AMERICA.
BUT IMPORTANT AS IT IS TO
CONSTANTLY IMPROVE BUILDING
MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES,
IMPROVING OUR COMMUNITIES
IS JUST AS IMPORTANT.
WE'VE SEEN
HOW CO-HOUSING WORKS
TO MAKE LIVING IN DESIRABLE
COMMUNITIES AFFORDABLE
AND KEEPS THEM DIVERSE,
AND HOW POOLING
THEIR RESOURCES
MAKES THEM STRONGER TOGETHER
THAN APART;
HOW THE NEW URBANISTS
ARE TRYING
TO BRING BACK
THE AMERICAN HOMETOWN,
WHERE PEOPLE SIT
ON THEIR FRONT PORCH
AND CHAT WITH NEIGHBORS
AND DON'T HAVE TO MOVE
TO A NEW HOUSE WITH
EVERY NEW PHASE OF LIFE.
WE'VE SEEN
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY'S EFFORTS
TO MAKE THE AMERICAN DREAM
AFFORDABLE
TO ANYONE WILLING TO PUT IN
SOME SWEAT EQUITY.
WE'VE SEEN HOW EVERY HOME
CAN BE MADE MORE ACCESSIBLE
TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
WITH A LITTLE PLANNING AHEAD.
THERE'S A REASON WHY
THERE ARE NO CABINETS
UNDERNEATH HERE.
THAT'S 'CAUSE, AGAIN,
IT'S ACCESSIBLE.
IT ALLOWS FOR
A WHEELCHAIR USER
TO GAIN EASY ACCESS
BOTH TO THE STOVETOP
AND TO THE SINK AREA.
VILA: AND NOW
VIEWERS CAN ALWAYS STAY
CONNECTED TO "HOME AGAIN"
THROUGH MY WEB SITE
AT BOBVILA.COM.
IT'S AN EXCITING AND EVOLVING
RESOURCE FOR ALL HOMEOWNERS.
NEXT, WE'LL MEET
SOME OF THE FRIENDS
WHO HAVE SHARED THEIR OWN
HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
IF THERE'S ONE THING
THAT I'VE LEARNED FROM DOING
"HOME
AGAIN" FOR 15 YEARS,
IT'S THAT HOME IMPROVEMENT
APPEALS TO EVERYONE.
I'VE CERTAINLY MET
A FEW CHARACTERS ALONG THE WAY.
UH, PAM, DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT WATER HEATERS?
THESE ARE THESE
SMART WATER HEATERS
THAT HAVE TO BE
HOOKED UP.
OH, YEAH, SURE.
I CAN DO THAT
FOR YOU.
YOU CAN?
I DID THAT ACTUALLY
FOR THE AUDITION ON
"HOME IMPROVEMENT."
THEY MADE ME INSTALL
A WATER HEATER.
AND SO
I'VE HAD A LOT OF--
GO TO WORK.
OK, I'LL DO IT.
VILA: I'VE MADE
A LOT OF FRIENDS
WHO WERE PROUD TO SHOW OFF
THEIR OWN HOME IMPROVEMENT
PROJECTS,
GREAT AND SMALL.
VILA: TIM! TIM! TIM!
TIM, YOU'RE--TIM!
YOU BETTER PAY
ATTENTION HERE.
ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD!
MOVE THAT OUT!
OK, ALL RIGHT,
THERE YOU GO.
VILA: AND SHARE
THEIR SKILLS.
SOME GET THEIR KICKS DOING
INTERIOR DECORATING PROJECTS
WITH PAINT, GLASS, TILE,
SALVAGED ITEMS,
OR ANYTHING ELSE
THAT COMES ALONG.
THAT'S GREAT.
YOU'VE GOT A WHOLE
SCHOOL OF DOLPHIN
OVERHEAD.
YEAH. WE CARVED THOSE
OUT OF THE 2 X 12S
THAT MAKE UP THE TOP OF
THE KITCHEN AND THE BEDROOM.
VILA: SOME COULD SPEND ALL DAY
IN THE SHOP
AND CONSIDER WOODWORKING
FAR MORE THAN A HOBBY.
HOW MANY HOURS
DO YOU THINK
YOU'VE PUT INTO IT?
MAN: UH, A SOLID
4 MONTHS' WORTH;
3 MONTHS' WORTH.
IT'S BEEN
QUITE AN EXPERIENCE.
PRETTY TEDIOUS,
BUT IT'S REWARDING
IN THE SAME BREATH,
YOU KNOW?
VILA: AND SOME PREFER
THE OUTDOORS,
LANDSCAPING AND HARDSCAPING
TO MAKE OUTDOOR LIVING
A PRIORITY.
THIS, I'VE FOUND, IS MUCH EASIER
WITH THE HELP OF A PROFESSIONAL,
BUT IT'S NEVER WITHOUT
ITS DANGERS,
EVEN ON "HOME AGAIN."
MAN: THIS IS
A FLORIDA NATIVE,
BUT WE WON'T SEE IT
AROUND HERE IN A WHILE.
WE'LL SEE IT MORE
DOWN IN THE KEYS
OUT IN THE WILD.
VILA: UH-HUH. WELL,
WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF--
MAN: YOU GOT A LITTLE
POISON IVY RIGHT THERE.
IS THAT POISON IVY?
I'LL LEAVE IT ALONE.
I'VE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES
IN THE LAST 25 YEARS,
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
THE NEXT 25 YEARS.
AS ALWAYS,
YOU WON'T HAVE TO MISS IT.
TILL THEN, I'M BOB VILA.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU
HOME AGAIN.
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