Every great renovation has a “before” momentthe part where a house stands in front of the camera looking a little nervous, like it forgot picture day. The TOH TV Auburndale House was exactly that kind of project: a 1940s Colonial Revival in Auburndale, Massachusetts, sitting on a beautiful site along the Charles River, yet somehow not fully living up to its postcard-worthy setting.
On paper, the house had a dream location, a family-friendly neighborhood, and classic New England bones. In reality, it also had a featureless façade, a flat-roofed garage that visually elbowed its way to the front, dark interior woodwork, small windows, a rickety rear sunroom, and a layout that seemed determined to keep the river views a secret. The homeowners, Raveen and Allison Sharma, saw potential. The This Old House team saw a challenge. Viewers saw the beginning of a transformation that would become one of Season 32’s most memorable curb-appeal makeovers.
This “before” story matters because it shows what smart remodeling is really about. It is not just picking paint colors, ordering a giant island, and hoping the house magically becomes charming by Tuesday. It is about reading the architecture, understanding the site, respecting the budget, solving hidden problems, and making every change feel like it belonged there all along.
A 1940s Colonial Revival With a Riverfront Identity Crisis
The Auburndale project house was described as a 1940s Colonial Revival with Georgian influences. That sounds elegantand in the right proportions, it usually is. Colonial Revival homes often rely on symmetry, simple classical details, hipped or gabled rooflines, orderly windows, and a strong front entry. The problem in Auburndale was not that the house had no style. The problem was that its best style cues were buried under awkward massing and tired exterior choices.
The main house had a hipped roof, but the attached garage had a flat roofline that did not speak the same design language. Instead of feeling like part of the original composition, the garage looked visually dominant and out of place, even though it was original to the house. The front entry also lacked presence. On a Colonial Revival home, the entry should act like a handshake: confident, welcoming, and clear. Here, it felt more like a quiet nod from across a crowded room.
Then there was the color. The exterior was bland, which is a polite way of saying it did not exactly make people slow down and whisper, “Now that’s a house.” With a beautiful setting near the Charles River and charming neighboring properties nearby, the home needed a design plan that could give it visual confidence without turning it into something it was never meant to be.
The Biggest Before Problem: Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is not cosmetic fluff. It is the first chapter of a house’s story. At Auburndale, that chapter needed editing. The façade lacked depth, the entry needed emphasis, and the garage needed to stop behaving like the main character.
Architect Harriet Christina “Chris” Chu worked with the This Old House team on a plan that addressed those issues through proportion and architectural rhythm. The proposed projecting entry hall addition would give the front door more importance. A larger front door with sidelights would make the arrival feel brighter and more gracious. A new front window would add balance, while a pergola near the garage would help soften the garage’s protrusion and visually connect it to the rest of the house.
The garage itself needed a clever solution. Instead of pretending the flat roof was fine, the team planned to add a gabled roof element so the garage would better relate to the main house. That one move addressed the home’s most obvious exterior mismatch. It is a useful lesson for any homeowner: when one part of a house looks wrong, the answer is not always to cover it with shrubs and optimism. Sometimes the shape itself needs correction.
The Back of the House Had the Viewbut Not the Right Rooms
The rear of the Auburndale house faced the Charles River, which should have been the home’s greatest daily luxury. Unfortunately, the original design did not take full advantage of that setting. The existing sunroom was in poor condition, and the smaller windows limited the connection between the interior and the outdoors.
The plan called for removing the rickety sunroom and replacing it with a two-story addition. On the lower level, the addition would connect to the walk-out basement and become a family-friendly TV or entertainment space. Above it, a new informal gathering area with large windows would finally allow the Sharma family to enjoy the river views properly. In other words, the house was not just getting bigger; it was getting smarter.
This is one of the most important remodeling lessons from the Auburndale “before” phase: square footage is only valuable when it improves how people live. Adding space for the sake of space can create a more expensive version of the same old problem. But adding space that captures light, improves circulation, and connects a family to the best part of the property can transform the entire mood of a home.
Inside the House: Dark, Divided, and Ready for a Rethink
Inside, the Auburndale house had the familiar symptoms of a mid-century home that had not kept pace with modern family life. The rooms were more divided than today’s homeowners often prefer. Heavy, dark-stained knotty pine and bulky shelving made parts of the house feel visually heavy. Small windows and blocked sightlines kept natural light from traveling through the home.
The living room had potential, but one wall limited the connection to the future sunroom and river-facing spaces. The plan called for partially removing that wall, opening the living area to the new addition. The dining area would remain, but new windows would improve the view and bring more light into the main level.
The kitchen was another major target. Before the renovation, the house had two dining areas next to each other, which is a classic old-house puzzle: plenty of rooms, but not always the right rooms in the right places. By removing the wall between the kitchen and informal eating area, the team could create a larger kitchen with a central cooking island. For Raveen, an avid cook, that change was not just decorative. It would turn the kitchen into a functional family hub.
The Kitchen Before: Functional, But Not Future-Friendly
The original kitchen had one feature worth preserving: the sink’s general location under a front-facing window. Allison liked being able to look out toward the neighborhood and keep an eye on the front yard, where the children often played. Rather than move everything just because renovation was underway, the design kept that practical advantage and improved it with a larger casement window.
That decision is a small but powerful example of thoughtful remodeling. Not every existing feature is a problem. Some features simply need better framing, better materials, or better proportions. The best renovations do not bulldoze every habit a family already loves. They protect the good parts and upgrade the frustrating ones.
The new kitchen plan also reflected a broader shift in how families use homes. Kitchens are no longer hidden workrooms. They are command centers, homework stations, snack negotiation rooms, and the place where everyone mysteriously gathers even when there are comfortable chairs elsewhere. Opening the Auburndale kitchen helped the house support real family life, not just a floor plan on paper.
Bathrooms and Bedrooms: Small Rooms With Big Consequences
Upstairs, the “before” layout included two bathrooms connected by a pass-through space with a shared bathtub. That arrangement may have worked at one time, but it was not ideal for a modern family looking for privacy and convenience. The renovation plan called for two new bathrooms: one serving the hallway and another connected to the primary bedroom.
The primary bedroom also had plans for built-in cabinetry and access to a rooftop deck above the new sunroom addition. That deck would give Raveen and Allison a private place to enjoy morning coffee and river views. It is hard to overstate the appeal of that idea. A bedroom with storage is good. A bedroom with storage and a peaceful coffee perch overlooking the Charles River is the kind of thing that makes Monday feel slightly less rude.
The lesson here is that secondary spaces often determine whether a renovation truly works. Kitchens and façades get the spotlight, but bathrooms, storage, bedroom circulation, and private outdoor access can dramatically improve daily life.
The Basement Before: Cramped, Useful, and Full of Potential
The basement was another area where the house had more promise than polish. Before renovation, one room felt cramped, with a stone fireplace and finishes that did not make the most of the space. The plan included removing a wall opposite the fireplace to connect the basement with the new rear addition. The existing basement area would become an activity room, while the new portion would serve as a TV room.
New laminate wood flooring would replace tile, and a drywall ceiling would conceal exposed pipes. These are not glamorous details, but they matter. A basement becomes more livable when it stops feeling like a basement trying to apologize for itself. Better flooring, a clean ceiling plane, thoughtful lighting, and clear zones for games, crafts, laundry, or TV can turn below-grade space into one of the hardest-working areas of a family home.
Hidden Challenges: Lead Paint, Asbestos, Termites, and River Protection
The Auburndale project was not just a design exercise. Like many older-home renovations, it came with serious hidden conditions. The team faced asbestos removal, termite damage, lead-paint-related rules, and conservation requirements tied to the riverfront location.
These challenges are the unglamorous side of remodeling, but they are also where professional planning earns its keep. A pre-1978 home can involve lead-safe work practices when painted surfaces are disturbed. Older buildings may also contain asbestos in unexpected places, and removal must be handled carefully by qualified professionals. Near a river or floodplain, erosion control and conservation measures can affect how work proceeds on the site.
For homeowners, the Auburndale “before” stage is a reminder to budget for what cannot be seen in listing photos. The house may look like it needs windows, paint, and a kitchen. Then the walls open up and announce, “Surprise, I brought environmental remediation.” Not fun, but absolutely part of responsible renovation.
Why the Auburndale House Worked as a TOH Project
The best This Old House projects are not only beautiful at the end; they are educational from the beginning. Auburndale worked because its problems were common enough for viewers to understand and specific enough to be interesting. Many homeowners struggle with awkward garages, small windows, dark woodwork, divided kitchens, outdated baths, and underused basements. Fewer have a Charles River view, but the design principles still apply.
The project also showed how a renovation can respect a home’s original character while making it more livable. The Sharmas did not need a completely different house. They needed their house to become the best version of itself: brighter, more open, more connected to the landscape, and more consistent with its Colonial Revival roots.
Design Takeaways From the “Before” Phase
1. Fix the Shape Before Decorating the Surface
Paint matters, but proportion matters more. The garage problem could not be solved by color alone. Adding a gabled roof and using a pergola helped reshape how the front elevation read from the street.
2. Let the Best View Lead the Plan
The Charles River was the property’s strongest asset. The renovation plan responded by adding larger windows, improving the rear addition, and opening interior spaces toward the view.
3. Keep What Already Works
The kitchen sink location stayed because it served the family well. Smart renovation is not about changing everything; it is about changing the right things.
4. Respect the Architecture
Colonial Revival homes benefit from balance, clear entries, traditional rooflines, shutters, ordered windows, and landscape elements that feel structured but welcoming. The Auburndale plan leaned into those strengths instead of fighting them.
5. Expect Hidden Conditions
Older homes can contain lead paint, asbestos, water issues, structural surprises, insect damage, and outdated systems. A realistic renovation plan includes money, time, and patience for discoveries behind the walls.
Experience Section: What Homeowners Can Learn From the TOH TV Auburndale House Before Renovation
Watching or studying the Auburndale House before renovation feels a bit like walking through a real-life checklist for older-home remodeling. The first experience-related lesson is to look beyond the obvious flaws. A bland exterior is easy to criticize, but the deeper question is why it feels bland. In Auburndale, the issue was not one single feature. It was the combination of a weak entry, awkward garage massing, small windows, muted color, and a front elevation that lacked hierarchy. When homeowners evaluate their own houses, they should resist the urge to start with a shopping list. Instead, start by asking: What is the house trying to be, and what is getting in the way?
The second lesson is to walk the property before designing the rooms. The Auburndale site had a major gift: the Charles River. Yet the existing house did not fully celebrate it. Many homes have a similar hidden advantage. It might be a garden, a mature tree, afternoon light, a quiet side yard, or a view down the street. A strong renovation identifies that advantage early and organizes daily spaces around it. Before deciding where to spend money, homeowners should stand in every room at different times of day and notice where the light, views, and natural gathering spots already exist.
The third lesson is that curb appeal should feel architectural, not decorative. Adding random shutters, trendy paint, or oversized lights can make a house look busier without making it better. The Auburndale approach worked because the exterior changes corrected proportion and focus. The entry became stronger. The garage became less awkward. The pergola added depth and a period-friendly garden element. This is the difference between dressing a house in accessories and improving the bones of the composition.
The fourth lesson is to protect family habits that already work. Allison liked the kitchen sink’s front-facing window because it connected her to the neighborhood and the children playing outside. That detail may seem small, but daily comfort is made from small details repeated hundreds of times. If a homeowner loves where morning light hits the breakfast table, or appreciates a mudroom bench near the door, those things should be preserved or improvednot erased in pursuit of a magazine layout that does not match real life.
The fifth lesson is to prepare emotionally and financially for hidden problems. The Auburndale project involved asbestos, lead-paint rules, termite damage, and conservation measures. That is not unusual for older homes. A “before” tour can look exciting because everyone talks about windows, kitchens, decks, and bathrooms. But the budget may first need to handle abatement, structural repair, drainage, electrical upgrades, plumbing, or permit requirements. Homeowners should build a contingency fund and choose contractors who communicate clearly when surprises appear.
The final experience takeaway is simple: good renovation is patient. The Auburndale House was not transformed by one dramatic gesture. It required many coordinated decisionsrooflines, windows, walls, finishes, baths, landscape, safety, and systems. That is why the “before” stage is so valuable. It is the moment when the house tells you what it needs, if you are willing to listen. And sometimes what it says is, “Please help my garage stop wearing that flat little hat.”
Conclusion
The TOH TV Auburndale House before renovation was more than a dated home waiting for a makeover. It was a study in potential: a 1940s Colonial Revival with a beautiful riverfront setting, a family ready for more usable space, and a design puzzle involving curb appeal, light, views, safety, and architectural identity. Its flaws were clear, but so were its opportunities.
By focusing on proportion, entry presence, window placement, open family spaces, careful environmental work, and a stronger connection to the Charles River, the This Old House team set the stage for a transformation that felt both dramatic and believable. For homeowners, the project remains a useful reminder that the best “after” photos begin with an honest, thoughtful look at the “before.”
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