IT'S (ALMOST) A WRAP!
Details, details
In the final, weeks of TOH's Ipswich project, we caught up with the team as they put the finishing touches on the 1720 house, rebuilt ell, and garage addition full-court-press
Lighting that says, "Look up!"
HOW TO HIGHLIGHT the beauty of a vaulted ceiling lined with 300-year-old wood-without detracting from it? That challenge kept Heath Eastman busy for days. Recessed cans definitely wouldn't do. So after some experimentation, TOH's master electrician hit on the elegant solution here: LED strips along the tops of the exposed timber-frame beams to illuminate the ceiling and add ambient light-and three carefully placed pendants over the island to provide task lighting for the kitchen below. "With the ceiling so steep, it took time, planning, and a little luck-not to mention lasers-to pinpoint exactly where to install the junction boxes," says Heath. The results: just brilliant.
(1) Helen and Tom examine the weathered side of the 300-year-old pine board and measure the fit; the other, rougher side was never exposed to the elements, so it was a better choice for refinishing. (2) Tom cuts the opening for the electrical outlet. (3) Mauro buffs in five coats of paste wax for water resistance. (4) Tom and TOH host Kevin O’Connor get ready for installation.
Back-in-time backsplash
This story is from the Summer 2023 edition of This Old House Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Summer 2023 edition of This Old House Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Mobile kitchen island
TOH DIY expert Jenn Largesse shows how to build a rolling kitchen cart with a butcher-block top
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
Looking to buy—or refinance—and feeling frustrated by lenders’ sky-high interest rates? Here’s how to get the best deal
Graceful grasses
With dramatic foliage and distinctive plumes, ornamental grasses come in sizes to suit virtually any garden
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