A typical middle class Canadian family goes through an experiment to live in the past as a middle class Canadian family would, that life down to their suburban house interior being stripped to the walls and redecorated and refurnished with items solely from the era, the same with their clothes. These items are switched out weekly as they move onto the next era, each week the equivalent of one decade progressing in time throughout the week. They are provided a manual each week on how to live, including recipes from which they must make their meals. The show host provides background on the era in question, and periodically discusses with the family their feelings concerning the experience in light of their twenty-first century current life and mentality.