A fresh take on a traditional style, our 2016 Idea House combines classic charm with 21st-century sustainability.
THE FARMHOUSE is having a revival, and it’s easy to see why. With its simple lines and casual sensibility, it has a timeless, no-place-like-home appeal. To capture that spirit and combine it with leading building technologies that maximize energy efficiency, This Old House has teamed up with NOW Communities and Union Studio Architecture to create The Farmhouse at Emerson Green, a sustainable house in a forward-thinking development on a decommissioned army base in Devens, Massachusetts. The 1,900-square foot home will average less than half the energy use of a typical house of similar size. Even better, it features low-maintenance materials and an open interior ideal for family living.
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Mobile kitchen island
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Bathtub tray
TOH general contractor Tom Silva and TOH host Kevin O'Connor construct a slatted zebrawood caddy to hold grooming essentials, a book, and even a glass of wine, for those who like a long soak
Navigating the rise in mortgage rates
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Graceful grasses
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A better asphalt driveway
It's long-lasting and recyclable, and it weathers extreme temperatures. You can repair small cracks and divots in asphalt, too. Here's what you need to know to get-and maintain-a great-looking asphalt driveway
Modernizing a mid-century house
A family turns to TOH to renovate a 1960 house that had been awkwardly expanded over time. Their goal: to create a contemporary, energy-efficient, open-plan home that is fully accessible for a son with mobility issues
Making a house her own
Renovating in stages over nearly two decades, a homeowner transforms a once forlorn bungalow into a cozy, very personal space
A little house that lives large
A reimagined interior and second-story addition double the living area inside a narrow shotgun house, while respecting its historical roots
Before & After: Bath Fit for a Queen Anne
Classic meets modern in this primary-suite retreat
Before & After: Kitchen Moving a wall makes it work
Grabbing a few feet from the adjacent dining room yields major layout improvements
