This Old House | Newton Victorian [S7, E1] | Full Episode

We're just 34 days away from our big 40th-anniversary TV special on PBS! In the meantime, take a stroll down memory lane with Bob Vila, as he introduces the Season 7 in Newton, MA. This series premiere episode is available FREE for a limited time in celebration of TOH's 40th anniversary! To view the rest of Season 7, get a FREE trial membership to TOH Insider. Learn more https://bit.ly/2XEaAPf #ThisOldHouse #AskTOH SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse In this episode:This Old House constructed a freestanding addition to a Victorian cottage in Newton, Massachusetts. Linda Helfet loved her 1880s Victorian. The house was filled with historic detail inside and out, from the porch's intricate spindles through the etched-glass front doors to the staircase's newel post and balustrade. But her 20th-century family was outgrowing the tiny rooms built for late 19th century life. The dining and living rooms did double-duty as game, craft and entertaining rooms. In the summer, her family could enjoy the spacious deck that she and her husband built themselves. But come winter the family had to cram itself back into the too-small house while the cold weather lasted. They needed more room. But Linda wasn't ready to give up her historic home in favor of a more spacious modern one. She came to This Old House looking for a way to add on without destroying the house's historic appeal. For expert advice, This Old House turned to Sara Chase from the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities. She revealed that the house's design combined two different Victorian styles: Stick, whose exterior ornamentation suggests the framing elements underneath; and Queen Anne, whose details are pure decorative flourishes that give the house a playful touch. Sarah recommended that Linda keep four principles in mind as she contemplated an addition. First, she should make sure that the new roof slope was in harmony with the main house's steeply pitched roofline. Next she should keep an eye on the addition's overall scale and proportions; the main house was relatively narrow for its height and any addition should echo these characteristics. Also she should remember that the size and placement of windows and doors should be proportional to the size of the house. Finally, she should make sure the materials used on an addition complement the original, wooden house. A concrete or brick addition would look out of place. About This Old House TV: This Old House is the No. 1 multimedia home enthusiast brand, offering trusted information and expert advice through award-winning television, a highly regarded magazine, and an information-driven website. This Old House and Ask This Old House are produced by This Old House Ventures, LLC and are presented on PBS by WETA Washington, DC. Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter http://bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: https://ift.tt/2ROpRve Tumblr: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTumblr