40 something
wall to wallWorkshop wonders
A behind-the-scenes look at the Ask This Old House studio’s four trade-focused corners, each with a
homey mix of tools, materials, and mementos BY KATE WOOD
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PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANTHONY TIEULI3 > As Norm Abram
likes to say, you can
never have too many
clamps! This
cascading display is
twice as extensive as
what you see here.
1 > Though they
replicate the real
windows they
replaced, these
LED-backlit panes
only date to 2016. Not
having to rely on the
sun is a big help when
projects take longer
than expected.
2 > It appears to be a
standard workbench,
but this surface is
enviably versatile: The
height’s adjustable,
it’s got built-in vises
and holes for bench
dogs, and, of course,
it’s easy to roll to
wherever it’s needed.
5 > Mini license plates
playfully recall a Las
Vegas house call in
Season 5 where Roger
Cook put in a privacy
screen: Kevin,
Tommy, Richard, and
Playboy—Roger’s
self-appointed tag.
9 > The succulent art
replicates a Season 14
project by landscape
designer Jenn
Nawada. It’s also
fake—even easy-care
succulents need
some natural light.
10 > More faux: the
sliding barn door,
which was added in
Season 15. Originally,
the low-ceilinged area
behind it (less than
ideal for 6-foot-plus
Roger) was the
landscaping zone.
7 > What looks like loft
storage for extra
materials is actually a
cleverly concealed
door. The boards
and pipes are only
about a foot long, and
the whole shebang
swings out to allow
access to the studio’s
HVAC unit.
6 > Though the plants
on this ersatz potting
shelf add color—and
the varieties were
chosen because they
can thrive in low
light—they’re fakes.
Carpentry>
Landscaping>
8 > The gator head,
and the owl on the
shelf above, go back
to Season 1. They
were in a Tom Silva
segment on humane
pest control.
4 > This pegboard-o’-
tools is meant to be
set dressing—tools
for each project are
laid out elsewhere—
but the guys often
grab (and use) these.
16 THISOLDHOUSE.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 40 YEARS
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