This Old House Logo PNG
The This Old House logo focuses on renovation, construction, and visual appeal, as the TV show’s name needs to catch the eye. At the same time, the emblem appears timeless, friendly, and stylish.
This Old House: Brand overview
This Old House is one of the most popular and enduring home repair television programs in the United States. It debuted on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in 1979. Producer Russell Morash had the concept for the show because he wanted to make a program that showed off the process of remodeling historic homes.
The show debuted on February 20, 1979, with its inaugural episode. It highlighted the renovation of a Victorian home built in 1860 in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Bob Vila, a writer and contractor, hosted the program. Almost away, he gained popularity among viewers for his approachable and captivating presentation style.
The program’s initial concentration was renovating historic properties in the Boston area. Each season focused on a multi-month renovation project. Viewers could follow every step of the process, from planning to finalizing.
Master carpenter Norm Abram joined the cast in 1982 and quickly became a mainstay and fan favorite. His attention to detail and aptitude for demystifying intricate procedures greatly raised the program’s educational value.
The show rose in popularity during the 1980s. It became one of the highest-rated programs on PBS and won multiple Emmy Awards. A spinoff program devoted to woodworking, The New Yankee Workshop, debuted in 1989 and was hosted by Norm Abram.
Bob Vila’s departure from the show in 1989 over his participation in advertising contracts caused a rift. Steve Thomas took over as host until 2003.
The brand began to grow in the 1990s. The magazine, first published in 1995, offered tips on decorating and home repair. It quickly gained popularity and is still one of the top publications in its field.
The program began its website in 2002, and since then, it has grown to be a valuable addition to the magazine and television show, providing homeowners with online tools.
Another host switch occurred in 2003 when Kevin O’Connor took over for Steve Thomas. O’Connor is still the show’s host today. O’Connor kept the program’s essence and central idea while infusing it with new life.
The show celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2008, solidifying its place among the longest-running American television programs.
The program changed in the 2010s to adapt to the shifting media world. It began utilizing streaming services and social media to reach a wider audience.
Ask This Old House is a new spinoff that the brand started in 2016. In it, the show’s experts respond to fan inquiries and offer solutions for certain home repair issues.
The program celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2019, marking a milestone that solidified its place as a cultural icon and essential component of American television.
The longest-running home repair program on American television, the series completed its 40th year of airing in 2020. A special episode featuring interviews with former and present cast members and the most memorable moments from the show’s history was released to commemorate this milestone.
Major alterations to the ownership structure occurred in 2021. In March, the streaming platform and device maker Roku purchased the company’s Ventures, LLC. This sale included the rights to the “This Old House” brand, its associated digital assets, and the television shows “This Old House” and “Ask This Old House.” Despite the ownership change, the program adhered to its original format and aired on PBS.
The organization increased its online presence in 2022. A brand-new podcast featuring the show’s experts on remodeling and home improvement was released. The business made a major effort to be more visible on social media, producing brief instructional videos for sites like Instagram and TikTok to reach a younger demographic.
A new spin-off program, “This Old House: Next Gen,” launched in 2023. This program focused on contemporary interior design trends and environmentally responsible restoration techniques. It targeted millennials and Generation Z. The program aimed to maintain the brand’s instructional style while appealing to a new generation of homeowners.
The company launched an interactive portal for home improvement education in 2024 as part of its ongoing effort to expand its online presence. Users of this site had access to a large collection of educational videos, articles, and virtual workshops led by the professionals on the show.
While upholding its fundamental goal of imparting home renovation skills to individuals, the organization persisted in adapting to the shifting demands of its audience and the media world.
Meaning and History
What is This Old House?
It is a popular American television series focusing on home renovation and remodeling. The show provides viewers with practical advice, expert tips, and step-by-step instructions on various aspects of home remodeling, including carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, and landscaping. A team of skilled craftsmen and contractors work on various projects, transforming old and outdated homes into beautiful, functional living spaces. In addition to the TV show, a magazine and website are produced with additional content, including articles, videos, and guides for DIY enthusiasts and homeowners looking for home improvement tips.
1979 – today
The This Old House emblem is both carefree and serious: carefree in its color palette but complex and serious in its structure. This symbol essentially embodies the dream that everyone aspires to—having a cozy, beautiful, easy, and pleasant environment. This principle perfectly conveys the essence of the TV show, which focuses on restoring old homes. It’s no wonder the show has gained immense popularity, and its logo has become widely recognizable.
In this wordmark, everything carries significant meaning, making it both practical and philosophical in its depth. Several key aspects stand out:
- A progressive design with a touch of antiquity shows that even the oldest house can look modern after restoration and professional repair.
- A light style that confirms that work can be enjoyable if approached with passion and proper preparation, as demonstrated by this TV project.
- Monotony indicates that excellent results can be achieved even with minimal resources—what matters is the inspiration, motivation, and knowledge gained from the show.
- Combining large and small letters in the same font makes the logo harmonious and original, even without using different typographic styles.
Each detail in the logo is crucial, making it meaningful, in-depth, and minimalist in design. This contrast reflects an excellent marketing approach for promoting the show. The emblem is primarily intended to intrigue viewers, encourage them to watch, and keep their attention for a long time.
Visually, the wordmark looks simple, but its hidden content is anything but. It fully captures the show’s character, which seems to discuss simple and utilitarian things but does so playfully and spectacularly. This is what optimal advertising should be.
The text is arranged on two levels, emphasizing the word “House” in the lower line. It is so large that it dominates almost the entire space, leaving minimal room for “This Old.” Overall, the text has a very creative structure.
- The first part of the name is incredibly small and compact. It is nestled between the “H” and “s,” perched like on a pedestal on the letters “o” and “u.” The initial glyphs in both words are uppercase, while the rest are lowercase, adding a touch of realism to the logo as the text follows grammatical rules.
- The second line is rendered in mega-large characters. The font here appears blocky, as it lacks small elements—on the contrary, all the glyphs seem solid. Even the presence of curves does not disrupt this harmony. The first letter is also uppercase, while the others are lowercase.
Both lines are unified by massive serifs pointing to the left. They are absent only from the rounded glyphs—”o” and “e.” Another common factor is the color. All words are colored in a pastel shade of cornflower blue, which looks like it has faded under rain and sun, becoming muted and soft. This perfectly underscores the brand’s concept, representing a TV show about restoring homes worn by time.
The “This Old House” emblem is a brilliant example of traditional form and original color working together perfectly. It is ideally balanced and not overloaded with elements, making it strong, powerful, clean, and trustworthy.
