The East Boston neighborhood of modest two-story homes was quiet, very quiet, on a recent picture-perfect August morning. Overhead, a few low-flying planes buzzed across the clear summer sky as they approached the runway at Logan airport just beyond the harbor a block away. The only clues as to which house on the street was the lucky recipient of a "This Old House" makeover was some blue scaffolding criss-crossing the home's exterior and a large white truck parked in the driveway with a contractor's name that would make any fan of the show green with envy — Silva Brothers Construction. For the granddaddy of all television home improvement shows, its 28th season is opening with a renovation that's a little different from the norm, say the show's producers. For starters, the selection process was opened to homeowner submissions. And, the winning entry itself is unique — a two-family house owned by two single women, Christine Flynn, 53, and her niece, Liz Bagley, 35. "As single women, Liz and Christine represent the fastest growing segment amongst all new homeowners," said "This Old House" producer and Connecticut native Deborah Hood. "This is one angle that makes this project very timely and exciting for the 'This Old House' crew." Its modest budget also created quite a challenge for master carpenter Norm Abram, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey and landscape contractor Roger Cook, said the show's newest host, Kevin
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O'Connor, during a recent tour of the project.

Standing in the gutted first floor apartment, lathe and plaster walls exposed, O'Connor said the budget for the renovation — $250,000 for both of the home's units — is the most modest renovation he's been involved with since he started with the band of brothers four seasons ago. "It's a great story with two single women, the fastest growing demographic of homebuyers," he said. Based in a working-class neighborhood, the project speaks to what a lot of people are faced with — a humble home with a tight budget, he added.

The women learned in March that their home was selected and work began in earnest in April. While production is still going on, 10 episodes were taped at the time of this visit in August. Ultimately, 18 episodes will be filmed, with completion scheduled by Thanksgiving. The homeowners elected to live on the premises during the renovation and said they couldn't be happier with the process. "The construction crew comes every day, but are usually gone by 4 or 5 p.m., said Bagley, who lives on the home's first floor and wants a modern look to her apartment. "I have to admit, I was clueless when it comes to designing. I've owned my own home before and I did makeover a bathroom, but I'm inexperienced with home repair."

"It's a great adventure," said Flynn, a corporate travel director. "We really didn't know what we were getting into."

O'Connor said the women have been two of the most hands-on owners he's met. One of their first jobs was tearing down ivy clinging to the home's stucco faade, he said. Bagley is the fourth generation to live in the house built in 1916 by her great-grandfather, an East Boston ferry captain. The property has been in the family ever since, the women said.

Flynn grew up in the house and said that after an aunt died, the last family member to live in the home, Bagley had the idea that the two of them should buy the house together. Flynn said she wants a more traditional look to her upstairs living space. A hutch original to the house has been saved to reinstall in her unit and Silvia rescued two original doors found in the basement that will go on the home's double front entry. Oddly, they're keeping the radiators, which Trethewey is glad about, said O'Connor.

One new addition Flynn's very excited about is a banquette for the kitchen that master carpenter Norm Abram is building for her as his signature piece.

Born in Rhode Island, Abram has been with the show since its debut in 1979. He was "discovered" by series' creator Russell Morash after Abram built a barn for him. This project is house No. 49 for Abram. So, which is his favorite?

"There all special," said Abram in a telephone interview, admitting that a large home in Newton, Mass., from season two was one favorite.

"The Newton house was a joint venture with the historical society. It was important to me that they saved a significant building," said Abrahm, author of eight companion books to the series and a member of the board of trustees of Old Sturbridge Village.

The current project is the first time the team's tackled a two-family, he said. The tight budget creates some issues, he said.

"It's easy to get carried away . . . and the first thing you know, it's out of hand. But, Liz and Chris were very firm about the budget," he said. "It's more challenging and allows us to show the public to carefully make choices — trading one thing for something else or maybe not doing some things at all."

The plan was to first address the basics that most older homes need — new plumbing, wiring, boilers, insulation — then add some items from the women's wish list.

Flynn's 1,800 square-foot apartment, located on the second and third floors of the home, has seen the most dramatic change with two bedrooms sacrificed to make one big common room, said Hood. A bathroom retreat added to the third floor was a special luxury for Flynn that O'Connor said he knew she'll really love using. Bagley, a systems analyst, also had a wall knocked down in her 1,295 square foot space and added an outdoor deck off one of the small bedrooms. During the last few months, making joint decisions — such as what color to paint the exterior of the house — was challenging, but in the long run both women had the same goal. "The fact that we're keeping the house in the family is the great aspect to the whole thing," said Bagley.

The new season of "This Old House" featuring the East Boston house starts on Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. on most PBS' stations, including Channel 13 from New York. At press time, Connecticut Public Television's schedule wasn't available.