Erin and Ben Napier of ‘Home Town’ Are Back—This Time, They’re Renovating Their Own House
HGTV
Erin and Ben Napier have returned for Season 7 of their hit show, “Home Town“—and in the premiere episode, they renovate a house very near and dear to their hearts: their own!
In “The Country House,” Erin and Ben head just outside of Laurel, MS, to work on the property that they plan to use as a country getaway.
“To us, vacation is really just being away from technology and work,” Erin explains.
“So we bought a place in the country,” Ben says.
The couple are excited to spend time in this six-bedroom, four-bathroom home, but the 1930 structure needs some renovations before their family can move in. They get to work renovating the kitchen, the main suite, the kids’ rooms, and more.
Erin says she wants a classic country house design, which will involve wall paneling, patterned fabrics, and wallpaper. It’s a lot of work, but in the end, this home is as charming and beautiful as the lush green landscape around it.
Read on to find out how these HGTV stars make their own house feel like home, and learn plenty of tips you might be inspired to try around your own abode.
The right paint color can warm up a room
Before: The kitchen looked a little dated.HGTV
The HGTV stars want to reimagine the kitchen, giving it a warm, comfortable look that also feels very utilitarian.
“I don’t want a kitchen that feels cold or pristine,” Erin says. “I want a kitchen that looks like a million recipes have already been cooked in there the day I step in for the first time.”
After: The yellow color makes this kitchen look classic and homey.HGTV
She makes a lot of changes to this space, but one memorable switch is the wall color. Erin chooses a soft yellow shade that gives the kitchen an aged look. It’s a good reminder that a simple color change can quickly give a room a whole new vibe.
Make a large room feel cozy by dividing up the space
Before: The main bedroom felt too large.HGTV
The primary bedroom is large, but Erin wonders if the space is, in fact, too big. When giving a tour of the newly purchased house, she wonders, “How do you make it not feel cavernous?”
She explains that she wants to split the room into two sections, removing windows in order to add built-in bookshelves to one wall. Then, she hopes to add a desk in front of a small library, creating a bedroom office.
“I want it to have more spaces so it’s more divided,” Erin says of her plans.
After: The library and desk space make the room have two distinct sections.HGTV
In the end, the room looks wonderful. With the spaces divided into a sleeping area and a work area, the room no longer feels overly expansive. With the addition of a bookshelf and clever furniture placement, this massive room feels cozy and comfortable.
Picture lights add a charming ambiance
This lighting feels historic and unique.HGTV
Erin knows that well-placed furnishings will help her new country bedroom feel like home, but she wants to make sure the lighting is right, too.
Historic homes were primarily lit with lamps, she says. “That lamplight is what makes you have a feeling about a room.”
So, while she doesn’t want to light her bedroom library with lamps, she decides that picture lights will give the space that same classic warmth.
“If we’re going to have this library wall here, then I want five picture lights,” Erin says. Adding the lights will make it look like “a cozy English bookshop.”
She also shares a tip about choosing the right lightbulbs.
“People often overlook what kind of lightbulbs they buy,” Erin explains. “You want a light that’s warm white or soft white, and that’s where the glow is.”
Make flooring memorable
Erin and Ben Napier installed the bathroom flooring themselves.HGTV
The home’s previous owners renovated the main bathroom with lots of ’80s style. Now, Erin and Ben are determined to bring some classic charm back to the ensuite. One way they do this is with elegant new flooring—a hardwood printed with white bistro diamonds.
“With a house that has such beautiful, European-inspired architecture, these European-inspired floors are going to be the star,” Erin says.
Sure enough, the floor adds elegance to the new bathroom. It’s a unique update that makes this space feel extra special.
Incorporate whimsical wallpaper
Before: This bedroom didn’t have a lot of personality.HGTV
Erin and Ben want to make their daughters’ rooms feel just as special as their own. Erin even wants the spaces to be “a little enchanting.”
To add a little magic to the bedrooms, she covers the walls with intricate floral wallpaper.
“I grew up with wallpaper in my bedroom, and it made me feel like I was in my own special place,” Erin says. “And I really want to create something similar for my girls.”
Putting up wallpaper is a great way to add some color and playfulness to a blank-slate room.
“I love a floral wallpaper,” Erin says, pointing out, “you can only be little once.”
After: Erin knows her daughter will love this whimsical wallpaper.HGTV
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