This Old House

This Old House gives you the inspiration, information and instruction you need to take on home improvement projects of all sizes and succeed. In every issue, find fresh design ideas for every room, creative DIY solutions, step-by-step projects, and tips from the pros. For annual or monthly subscriptions (on all platforms except iOS), your subscription will automatically renew and be charged to your provided payment method at the end of the term unless you choose to cancel. You may cancel at any time during your subscription in your account settings. If your provided payment method cannot be charged, we may terminate your subscription.

Little things mean a lot

Around The House • What’s happening in the world of This Old House

You did it! • Reader projects, tips, and triumphs

At home outside • A California couple renovate a trio of vintage cottages as a singular home where the rooms are linked by garden paths instead of hallways, and nature is always close at hand

All together now • A center island and more open passageways enhance function and flow in a kitchen and its adjacent spaces

GET THE LOOK • Warm wood, bold brass, and clean white finishes combine with stylish shapes to create a welcoming feel

Designed for good times • Spaces for gathering, cooking, dining, and play define this family’s backyard getaway

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE • TOH landscape contractor Jenn Nawada’s tips for designing outdoor living spaces that add beauty and function to your yard

Warm and inviting • A thoughtful remodel delivers a new kitchen hub, a mudroom entry, and more—while honoring the 1929 house’s classic bones

Prefab plunge pools • Shrink its size, and a pool becomes less time-consuming to maintain, more economical to enjoy year-round, and easier to weave into just about any backyard. Here’s what you need to know about the plunge-pool option

VITALS

Is a plunge pool right for you? • While its smaller size might make it the only way to splash around in some yards, a plunge pool isn’t for everyone

PICK YOUR TYPE • Plunge pools come in a range of materials, each with its own unique attributes

HOW BIG? • A smaller plunge pool doesn’t have to mean missing out on the party

TRY A KIT • Steel panels packaged with a vinyl liner allow you to build it yourself

Plan it right • A plunge-pool project requires pros who will coordinate with the manufacturer to get the specs right

INSTALLATION CONSIDERATIONS • While a plunge pool can be put in a small chunk of yard, there are a few moving parts to manage. Here’s what to know to avoid headaches on install day

PLUNGE PERKS • A heater can turn any plunge pool into a four-season escape, but that’s just the start of the upgrades on offer

Site it right

Creature comforts

Make it safe • A child can drown in as little as 2 inches of water. Falls can be a serious concern wherever surfaces get wet and slippery. Here’s how to lessen the risk

Projects that pay you back • Increase your home’s comfort and energy efficiency with help from the new slate of tax credits and rebates

NOW OR LATER

Plants for pollinators • Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds flock to these nectar-rich perennials, pollinating the plants as they go

Upgrading to heat pumps • Energy-saving, climate-friendly, and relatively easy to retrofit, air-source heat pumps are now a viable option for heating and cooling, even in cold climates. Here’s how to put them to work in your home

A look at the main types • Heat pumps are defined by their heat source and transfer medium. Here’s an overview of how air-source systems work, as well as the fundamentals of ground-source technology

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND...