This Old House | Design Elements (S42 E11) | FULL EPISODE

Ceiling mounted speakers disappear in plaster. The new HVAC system gets turned on. New garage doors are side mounted. The pool is lowered into place. The homeowner makes kitchen design choices.

With the board and plaster going up inside, Kevin O’Connor finds Tom Silva and local technology installer Erich Plummer hiding sound speakers in the living room ceiling.

Just in time for cold weather, the heating contractor is ready to fire up the HVAC system. Richard Trethewey meets Mike Gamache and his daughter to show the difference between and old condenser and modern more efficient units.

The traditional powered door opener for a garage is in the center of the door, but now homeowners can have some flexibility. Kevin finds garage expert Scott Grace installing a side mount garage door.

The homeowners want to take advantage of every square inch of their backyard. Among the amenities is a pool. Kevin meets Karen Larson and her truck which will deliver and install a pool in one day.

Designer Kristen Martone and homeowner Kassiane show Kevin their choices on a color scheme and other design elements for the kitchen and living room.

About This Old House TV: This Old House is America’s first and most trusted home improvement show. Each season, we renovate two different historic homes—one step at a time—featuring quality craftsmanship and the latest in modern technology. We demystify home improvement and provide ideas and information so, whether you are doing it yourself or hiring out contractors, you’ll know the right way to do things or the questions to ask. Our experts including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor give you the tools you need to protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.

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This Old House | Design Elements (S42 E11) | FULL EPISODE

[mitchdenner]

Instant pool for only double the price and probably the same if not longer lead time. Must be nice.

[williamsparksjr.]

My favorite part? The people walking backwards during the HVAC install trying to be noticed.

[ackket]

I don't know if that should really qualify as a pool

[jacilynns]

I have never understood why people want their, already well lit, houses to be blindingly bright. For a house not far from water you want it to be relaxing and warm.

[DustinPlatt]

My issue with the speakers inside the ceiling with plaster hiding it is what happens if the speaker decides to go bad? You have to cut open the wall to get to it. What if the wiring goes bad? You'd have to troubleshoot all the speakers installed. Idk, maybe it's just me.

[valenzaplumbing]

Two cars stacked in a garage like that? It looks like the ceiling height is normal?

[rd-chon]

How is maintenance and repairs done on the speakers ?

[danielkennedy]

I have a question. Why is all equipment / fixtures being installed before drywall is finished and painted?

[jptrainor]

The high efficiency AC system will more than make for the.... Err.... Heated pool in winter?

[SLK]

You are doing a great job. I would like to come to you for a job in interior design, I have a lot of experience, and a very meticulous approach to work ... I am planning to go to Canada, maybe I will find something similar there...

[robre]

always gloss over the sheetrock plaster portion in the history of home improvement shows.

[kylestraveljournal]

That speaker is so unnecessary, why does it need to be buried in mud? To fix that would be a nightmare. So many things going into this house make me think these are all sponsor placements. Who ever thought "i need my speakers in my ceiling?" or "wow a prebuilt pool that cost more and is smaller, i need that" Even the paint colors, its black white and gray how hard is it to pick a color?

[wsfwsf]

I'm sure the next door neighbors enjoy it when those 2 nuclear power plant AC units kick on, during a warm summer night.

[saulgoodman]

It that AC worth it to get maybe 5-10% more efficient? When it costs more, and uses double the amount of power. Then it would for a smaller one.

[ncooty]

@3:13: Exactly how is that encased speaker not a code violation as an inaccessible junction?

[resxua]

Speakers are better in a wall. No ear on the top of the head.

[saulgoodman]

The speaker stops working, now it's going to be more work and more money to repair it.
When these people sell the house. The new owners might not even know about them.

[IfPushComesToShove]

pool on a truck!! maybe he doesn't know about fiberglass pools

[nhdenver]

sounds like a problem for 5 years from now.

[johnames]

oh they are persona injury lawyers, guess it pays really well