 |
New Yankee Workshop
Check your local PBS station for airtime: PBS Schedule
Premieres on PBS Saturday, January 5, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. (check local listings) Norm builds a dream kitchen for season 20's nine-part mini-series. In the most ambitious project ever attempted on The New Yankee Workshop, Norm takes his followers step-by-step through the kitchen building process. What results is a first class, custom dream kitchen - every part of which was built within the walls of the New Yankee Workshop. By the time you've seen all nine episodes of this mini-series, you may feel confident enough to build your own version of Norm's dream kitchen. | Watch a preview of season 20
|
The New Yankee Workshop Kitchen Project; Kitchen Cabinet Basics, Part 1 of 9 In this introductory program, Norm visits a state-of-the-art "kitchen lab" where a premier hardware manufacturer studies ways to improve function in today's kitchen. Norm then returns to the shop to take stock of the tools, equipment, and space required to build high-tech custom kitchen cabinets. Next, he begins to show how a typical base cabinet is constructed with the materials and techniques he will use during the build out of the dream kitchen. |  |
The New Yankee Workshop Kitchen Project; Kitchen Cabinet Basics Continued, Part 2 of 9 To understand how professionals build high-end custom cabinets, Norm pays a visit to a commercial shop where craftsmanship is clearly on display. He learns that many of the same tools and techniques he uses are used here to turn out some glorious examples of kitchen cabinetry. Back at the New Yankee Workshop, Norm reviews some of the popular door/ drawer options that can easily be built in a home workshop and demonstrates how to make raised panel overlay doors. He goes on to build a dovetailed drawer box and a drawer front for the base cabinet he built earlier. He finishes the basics using little more than a table saw, proving how easy it is to build a wall hung cabinet. |  |
The New Yankee Workshop Kitchen Project; The Hot Wall, Part 3 of 9 The "Hot Wall" - or the cabinetry surrounding the built-in double oven, range, and range hood - is the first section Norm builds, using some of the techniques explained in the first two episodes. Norm introduces the location of the dream kitchen on the footprint of an existing version shop built by its owner 30 years ago. Improvements in materials since then and the use of techniques not available in the 1970s will mean stronger cabinets that are easier to use and maintain, look attractive over a long lifetime, and add considerable value to the home. Best of all, the new kitchen can be built for a fraction of the cost of a kitchen built by professionals. After showing how to build the carcass for the oven cabinet, Norm adds a storage organizer for trays and cookie sheets and a large drawer below for pot lids. He also plans a small base cabinet next to the range and two wall hung units to complete the group. Next, he shows off the details of the prototype inset door and drawer design, which will be used extensively in this kitchen. Norm finishes this episode by building a dovetailed drawer box with a plain front. This drawer design will also be used throughout the dream kitchen. |  |
The New Yankee Workshop Kitchen Project; The Wet Wall, Part 4 of 9 The "Wet Wall" features the necessary cabinets around the sink and dishwasher and the requisite storage for dishes, pots and pans, silverware, and other utensils. In this episode, Norm shows carcass construction by adding a face frame, attaching it to the cabinet with only glue and biscuits, and applying a decorative bead. Then he makes some doors with solid MDF panels and some with glass panels and explains many ingenious tips to installing the drawer runners. He finishes the wet wall by making and fitting shelves with the use of a special jig. |  |
The New Yankee Workshop Kitchen Project; The Pantry, Part 5 of 9 The pantry is perhaps the hardest working unit in any kitchen. A good plan, a review of how it might be used by the family, and some hard work on the design are essential to creating a good storage space. Thus Norm begins this project by visiting a recently completed pantry to gather ideas. He takes note that storage can be very specific to a family's preferences. "Adjustability" is a key element. Then it's back to the New Yankee Workshop to build one for the dream kitchen. Norm devises a clever solution to make sure that this tall cabinet will fit in the new space. He continues building the carcass and face frame using some of the techniques shown on earlier episodes, yet when it comes to the door, the comparison ends. Norm builds a clever series of storage boxes with handsome box joints that hang on the inside of the door. This provides useful storage and takes advantage of otherwise wasted space. |  |
The New Yankee Workshop Kitchen Project; The Kitchen Office, Part 6 of 9 The "Kitchen Office" is the communications center of the house. Here, Norm creates a desk with file storage, a shelved, wall-hung cabinet for display and books, a place to conceal lighting, a computer/TV/phone area, a series of pigeon holes for organizing the small stuff, and a cork board for pinning up messages. Norm is able to isolate the office somewhat from other activity in the kitchen by using a pair of clever wing walls that visually separate the space and provide easy access to the electronic wiring, vital in keeping a busy family connected. |  |
The New Yankee Workshop Kitchen Project; The Island, Part 7 of 9 "There's a lot happening on this island," jokes Norm. And he means it. Clad in panels of beautiful reclaimed heart pine, this one features a butcher block top, a drawer-mounted microwave, tray storage, and a carefully engineered pull-out drawer for trash or recyclables. This beautiful and highly functional centerpiece, with two massive turned legs also done in the old pine, is no mere cabinet - it's a statement where old values and new realities fit very well indeed. |  |
The New Yankee Workshop Kitchen Project; The Wet Bar, Part 8 of 9 Let there be no mistake - the small wet bar is a distinct change of pace from the other elements in the dream kitchen. While it has a place near the other units, it is separated from them, allowing Norm to change materials from painted wood surfaces to natural cherry. With its related yet distinct style, the bar features a small copper sink, natural cherry paneled walls, a cherry countertop, a wine cooler, and plenty of mirrored surfaces, glass shelves, and concealed lights to add elegance to the space. Most impressive are the twin glass-paneled doors Norm builds from scratch. |  |
The New Yankee Workshop Kitchen Project; Finish and Install, Part 9 of 9 Often the weak link in home shop built kitchens is getting a professional finish that looks good and stands up to the wear and tear. Norm teams up with his painter as he sprays on two smooth undercoats followed by a brushed-on finish coat that looks great and should wear well. Norm begins the process of installing his cabinets. He carefully surveys the existing space, analyzes the conditions, creates a level reference line, and sets the cabinets to floor and wall. Sharing all the tips and techniques learned over many years, Norm puts the cabinets together with the precision and accuracy we've come to expect from this master. Then, with every appliance installed, every surface polished and prepped, the lights hung, the floor polished, and the stone counters revealed, Norm is able to stand back and enjoy the satisfaction of having created a masterpiece. The Dream Kitchen is finished and open for business. |  |
The New Yankee Workshop; Adirondack Trio In the beginning of The New Yankee Workshop there was the Adirondack Chair (Season 2), a classic design updated by Norm. It became one of the most popular projects he ever did. Later, Norm added an Adirondack Love Seat (Season 14) to his collection, using improved methods and materials. Now, in celebration of the show's twentieth anniversary, Norm builds a chair, a table, and a footrest to complete the set. To add to the fun, Norm invites a friend to build one of these classic chairs alongside the master. |  |
The New Yankee Workshop; All-Weather Loveseat A popular trend finds folks sitting in cushioned comfort on sofas and chairs that are able to withstand all kinds of weather. Protected by tough all-weather fabrics, these cushions provide much more comfort than wood alone. Norm finds a beautiful example built in traditional teak and complimented by stunning fabric to reproduce for the New Yankee Collection. |  |
The New Yankee Workshop; Lolling Chair When reading the Declaration of Independence, no doubt some of our founding fathers would have chosen to sit in a favorite "lolling" chair. This kind of chair, with an upholstered seat and back, was popular then and has come down to us today as a classic form still much used and much loved. Antiques expert Gary Sullivan helps Norm with his research, and a professional shows him what's involved in the upholstery. |  |
The New Yankee Workshop; "Tap" Table Norm visits historic Portsmouth, New Hampshire to track down a table he wants to build on The New Yankee Workshop. At the famed Antiques Gallery of Ronald Bourgeault, he finds exactly what he's looking for; a table referred to as a "tap" table (short for tap-room). With its turned maple legs and round pine top, this historic specimen might well have served tavern guests in the mid-18th century. This particular "tap" table, with dimensions of 28" round and 26" tall, has splayed legs that connect with a Queen Anne style apron, supporting a well-worn top. Norm hopes to reproduce his version of this useful table right down to the original painted patina. |  |
