East Boston project (Part 1 of 18)

For the first time ever, the experts at THIS OLD HOUSE gathered house proposals on the Web and now find themselves working with two single female homeowners in the dynamic neighborhood of East Boston. The challenge for this new season is to renovate their 1916 two-family house on a modest budget. While the house needs new wiring, plumbing and insulation, the homeowners hope to spend most of their money on stylish new kitchens and baths. Downstairs, homeowner Liz Bagley wants an open, contemporary look, complete with a new back porch. Upstairs, her aunt, Chris Flynn, prefers a more traditional approach that includes adding a new bath in the attic and greatly expanding her kitchen. After a thorough inspection, host Kevin O'Connor and master carpenter Norm Abram discover additional problems with the roof, heating systems and an aggressive vine that is engulfing the house. (Part 1 of 18)