We begin our interview series with Kevin O’Connor, the long-time host of This Old House. Six years before joining the show, Kevin worked in finance while renovating his 1894 Queen Anne home—an experience that sparked his enthusiasm for DIY and historic restoration.
Kevin’s unexpected path to becoming the host of This Old House is now part of the show’s lore. “In Kevin, we found the perfect mixture of optimism and energy, two ingredients an old house owner must have to survive,” says Russell Morash, the show’s creator.
Nominated for an Emmy in his debut season, Kevin is currently in his 16th season hosting This Old House and Ask This Old House.
C&H: Your casting as host was very serendipitous. Can you share how it happened?
Kevin: It’s still surprising to me. My wife and I bought our first house five years ago—it was a real fixer-upper and just the kind of project we wanted. After several months we realized we were in over our heads and emailed This Old House for advice. I’d grown up watching the show, so it seemed natural.
To my astonishment, the show didn’t just reply—they came to our house and filmed a small segment for Ask This Old House. We spent half a day with the crew, met the team, and had a blast. The next day I went back to my job as a banker thinking that was the end of it.
Three months later a producer called out of the blue and asked if I wanted to help with the show. After meetings at the studio and on a job site, they offered me the host role for their two most popular programs. It was bizarre—and I never looked back.
C&H: How has hosting This Old House changed your life beyond improving your DIY skills?
Kevin: On a daily level, it’s a job with travel, deadlines, and the responsibility of maintaining a legacy. That pressure matters—I don’t want to be the person who ruins something people care about. But the biggest change is the work itself: it’s creative, challenging, and constantly educational.
Fame—being recognized, getting an autograph request, or a good restaurant table—is fleeting and quickly becomes background noise. What truly fulfills me is the opportunity to work on projects I care about with a passionate team. That’s what excites me when I show up at the job site.
C&H: Do you have a favorite project and what made it special?
Kevin: My first project—a small barn conversion in Concord, MA—will always have a special place for me. It was simple, elegant, and thrilling because it was my first. But the Carlisle project tops them all. We celebrated our 25th anniversary with that ambitious effort: three buildings were involved—one renovated, one rebuilt, and one converted from a working barn into a stunning living space.
I loved the scale and challenge. We spent a full season on Carlisle (26 episodes instead of the usual 18), which let us explore the story in depth. Because we owned the property, we could create a dream home without a homeowner’s budget constraints—great for TV and a lot of fun. I’ve worked on several projects since, but Carlisle remains my favorite.
C&H: How are things progressing on the New Orleans project, and what is TOH’s approach to rebuilding there?
Kevin: New Orleans has been a tough project—labor shortages, infrastructure challenges, and delays make every step harder. Still, our producer and the local craftsmen are doing remarkable work. When we work out of state we rely heavily on the local team’s expertise.
As for a formal company philosophy about New Orleans, I don’t know that one exists. What matters to us is that it’s a meaningful story. For me, politics and arguments about what should or shouldn’t be rebuilt aren’t the point. The homeowner we met grew up in the neighborhood, spent years repairing the house with friends, then lost everything to six feet of floodwater. She fought for two years to get back in, raised funds, and planned a rebuild. We’re helping to restore her home in a way that honors its historic character and the neighborhood.
Along the way we’ll tell individual stories and educate viewers about New Orleans architecture and building styles. I’m fully on board with that.
C&H: What do you think about the growth of online DIY resources, including independent publishers and blogs?
Kevin: The expansion of DIY content online is remarkable and, in many ways, validating for those of us who love old houses and hands-on work. There are many excellent shows and websites that didn’t exist a few years ago, which is great. At the same time, a lot of content is low quality—there are sites and programs that wouldn’t hold my interest for a moment.
C&H: How close are you with the rest of the crew? Anything viewers don’t know about them?
Kevin: The core crew have been together for over 20 years and they’re a tight-knit group. I’m the newcomer, but they welcomed me from day one and now we’re good friends. There aren’t any big secrets—the guys are as down-to-earth and genuine as they seem on TV. They’re approachable, humble, and deeply committed to their trades—carpentry, plumbing, landscaping, and more. They’re role models and friends, and what you see on screen is largely who they are in real life.
C&H: What renovation trends are most relevant right now?
Kevin: The biggest trend is sustainability—“green” building in its many forms. Rising energy costs, concern about climate change, and awareness of resource consumption have made homeowners and builders more focused on efficiency and environmental impact. It’s not just a trend but a growing movement that’s reshaping how we approach renovation.
C&H: What will it take for green building to become broadly accepted?
Kevin: The shift is already happening: consumers are pulling sustainability into the market rather than practitioners pushing it. That consumer demand is powerful and will drive the field forward. The sector is still young, and it’s hard to predict which technologies or practices will become dominant, but the movement is here to stay.
C&H: What signature have you brought to the show compared with earlier hosts?
Kevin: I aim for approachability. A host’s job is to ask clear questions and draw out the craftsmen’s deep, practical knowledge—not to pretend to be an expert on everything. I respect my colleagues’ expertise and try to showcase their skills and lessons while stepping back so the professionals shine.
C&H: How is your Victorian fixer-upper progressing?
Kevin: Slowly but steadily. After five years we’re wrapping up Phase One, which included a kitchen remodel, two bathrooms, converting an attic into three bedrooms and a bath, rebuilding the porch, creating an office, playroom, and laundry, and replacing major systems like heating, much of the electrical and plumbing, and a lot of plaster. We reconditioned windows, tackled landscaping, and spent significantly on painting.
Renovating has been a great learning experience—rewarding but also frustrating at times. There were weekends I wanted to pay to finish the work so I could spend time with my young son and wife instead of talking about the house. Still, I’m committed to finishing and hope Phase One completion is imminent.
C&H: What interests do you have outside home improvement?
Kevin: Finance remains a passion—I miss it sometimes. Before TV I was a corporate banker and enjoyed structuring deals and working with clients; I still read the Wall Street Journal every day like it’s my sports page. I also enjoy golf, beach time with family, and travel. I’ve visited about twenty countries and hope to see many more; Russia and China are on my list when travel becomes easier with a child at home.
C&H: What’s your most important DIY tip?
Kevin: It will take longer and cost more than you think. Repeat: it will cost more and take longer than you expect. Adjusting your expectations up front will save frustration and keep projects on track.
C&H: Thanks, Kevin.
This spring you can watch Kevin and the This Old House crew as they rebuild an 1892 New Orleans home belonging to a fourth-generation Lower Ninth Ward resident that was damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
Photos courtesy of Kevin O’Connor, This Old House, and Tracey Powell.