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Arts & Culture

THIS OLD HOUSE: Charleston Southern Charm

In Charleston, S.C., THIS OLD HOUSE follows the renovation of a "Single House" already under way.
Courtesy of ©Kevin O'Connor
In Charleston, S.C., THIS OLD HOUSE follows the renovation of a "Single House" already under way.

Airs Saturdays, March 31-May 26, 2018 at Noon on KPBS TV

Follow Kevin and company to Charleston for two projects filled with southern history and charm.

Post your questions! Kevin will select a few to answer during this very special Facebook Live on Thursday, March 29 at 4:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. EST), leading up to our season premiere on PBS!

THIS OLD HOUSE presents a second Charleston, South Carolina, project for the show’s 39th season. In addition to the renovation of a "single house" already under way, America’s most trusted home-improvement show follows the transformation of a neglected vacation home into a full-time residence.

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In Charleston, S.C., THIS OLD HOUSE follows the transformation of a neglected vacation home into a full-time residence.
Courtesy of ©Kevin O'Connor
In Charleston, S.C., THIS OLD HOUSE follows the transformation of a neglected vacation home into a full-time residence.

Situated in the Cannonborough/Elliotborough neighborhood, the house is a two-story shotgun-style home (a distinctively Southern architectural style in which rooms are arranged one behind the other with doors at each end of the house) in need of a significant overhaul.

Although the home has belonged to the same family for generations, it has not been lived in for 10 years and has fallen into disrepair.

Homeowner Judith says she used to spend summer vacations at the property as a child, visiting her grandmother. But today Judith hopes to make it her year-round home, together with her wife Julia.

The couple plans to bring the 2,000-square-foot property built in the late 1800s back to its former glory by restoring such historic details as pocket doors, fireplaces, two front porches, and more.

Demolition is under way with the goal of saving as much material as possible given the home’s location in a historic district.

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The 39th Season of THIS OLD HOUSE

EPISODE GUIDE:

"Charleston - Southern Charm" airs Saturday, May 31 at Noon - A new series begins in Charleston, South Carolina, where Kevin and the team introduce two projects: a brick 1840s "single house" — unique to Charleston's historic downtown district — and a multi-generational 1890s home in a nearby transitioning neighborhood.

"Charleston - Demo Time" airs Saturday, April 7 at Noon - Demo starts on the Charleston projects. Homeowner Judith discusses planting options with Roger and then he visits a nursery that can provide what she needs. Kevin tours the American College of Building Arts. Richard goes privy diving.

"Charleston - Brick and Mortar" airs Saturday, April 14 at Noon - An old fireplace will house a new stove. Tommy discusses using interior casework with exposed brick. The kitchen house brick needs repointing. Roger tours hidden gardens. Across town, demo continues while Tommy and Judith look at flooring options.

"Charleston - Southern Roots" airs Saturday, April 21 at Noon - A new foundation starts out back while out front Roger determines if a crepe myrtle can be saved. Kevin visits Fort Sumter. The single house mantel and windows are restored and the old kitchen house will be connected to the main house.

"Charleston - Good Wood" airs Saturday, April 28 at Noon - Kevin meets a lumberjack on the Edisto River. In a house with no stud walls, Tommy watches how pipes are disguised and Richard seeks out places for HVAC equipment. Kevin learns about Single Houses. A crepe myrtle is pruned and Tommy talks termites.

"Charleston - Rough Plumbing" airs Saturday, May 5 at Noon - Richard works on rough plumbing at the Elliotborough house while Kevin, Judith and Julia meet a kitchen designer. The rotting porch is assessed. A new floor is made to look old at the Single House. Tommy and Mark snake wires through a brick wall.

"Charleston - Smithies" airs Saturday, May 12 at Noon - The old piazza columns are restored offsite. Blacksmith students at a local college for the building arts fabricate the iron gate. Modern light fixtures are selected for an old house. New siding mixes with old to meet historic district codes.

"Charleston - Rainbow Row" airs Saturday, May 19 at Noon - Judith looks at house colors starting at Rainbow Row, while Tommy inspects the termite damage at her house. At the Single House, Tommy catches up with the progress. A timber frame teacher and his students build a pergola offsite and dry fit it.

"Charleston - Raise The Pergola" airs Saturday, May 26 at Noon - The pergola goes up. Ross tours a smart home. Kitchen cabinets are installed at the Single House. Kevin visits a local craftsman who’s building a table out of cypress harvested from a river. Richard checks out the HVAC at the Elliotborough house.

WATCH ON YOUR SCHEDULE:

Past episodes and clips from the series are available to stream on demand for a limited time after each broadcast.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION:

THIS OLD HOUSE is on Facebook, Instagram, and you can follow @ThisOldHouse on Twitter. #TOHCharleston

CREDITS:

THIS OLD HOUSE and ASK THIS OLD HOUSE are produced by This Old House Ventures, LLC, and presented on PBS by WGBH Boston.