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S44 E26: A Period Restoration

A little over a year ago, renovation began on the 1720 first period home. Restoration is now complete. Tremendous care went into preserving the home's history while making modern improvements.

by This Old House TV
| Next episode: S45 E1

Many months ago, renovation began on the 1720 first-period home in the town of Ipswich, MA. Tremendous care went into preserving the home’s history while making modern improvements. Once a modest gambrel-style home with a towering two-story ell addition, the house now consists of three buildings—the original gambrel house, a garage with a second-floor primary suite, and the connecting ell that was taken back down to a single-story and widened to accommodate a modern kitchen, living and dining rooms.

Kevin O’Connor tours the first floor of the garage addition before heading out on the new garapa wood porch to check in on Heath Eastman, who is hanging the last handmade exterior wall sconce.

Tom Silva and homeowner Bill tour the original Gambrel house, starting in the upstairs bedrooms with the newly exposed timber frame, then heading down to the living room space to talk to Mauro Henrique about the historic paint choices.

Mark McCullough lights a warm fire in the new Rumford fireplace in Bill’s office.

Jenn Nawada talks about the three parts of the new water mitigation system installed in the yard and the removal of invasive plants, and Richard Trethewey reviews the new HVAC and mechanical systems.

Charlie Silva, Kevin, Bill, and Helen end the tour in the new ell admiring the restored timeframe structure, the repurposed board detail on the ceilings, and the new kitchen that was carefully designed to compliment the elements of the historic house.

Original Air Date: June 22, 2023, Season 44; Ep. 26 23:12

Products and resources from this episode

Next Up In Season 44 - 1720 Cape Ann Gambrel