Erin and Ben Napier of ‘Home Town’ Spot a Type of House That’s Really Bad To Buy
HGTV
On “Home Town,” Erin and Ben Napier help make houses feel like home—but they must also make sure a property is safe to live in.
In the episode “A Solid Foundation,” the HGTV stars meet Chase and Corrinn, who have bought a 1929 property in Laurel, MS, for $250,000. They plan to renovate it for $70,000, but this budget won’t go far once Erin and Ben find rotted subflooring and unstable walls, which Ben says are “the kind of problems that eventually bring a house down.” Clearly, this is not the type of house the couple should live in with their four kids.
The Napiers need to spend an extra $8,000 to keep this place standing. To save money, they find plenty of ways to incorporate family heirlooms and upcycle old parts of the house. Here’s how they pull it off, with plenty of lessons on mixing old with new in creative ways you might want to try, too.
Painting trim can make a big difference
Before: This 1929 home had a bold color palette.HGTV
When Chase and Corrinn first see their new house, Corrinn is underwhelmed by the exterior.
“I’m just wondering if fresh paint is the only thing it needs,” she says.
Erin proves just how much a little bit of paint can do when she has her team give the shutters, trim, and front door a new color. Once the work is done, it’s clear that this alone can transform a home.
After: This house looks classic with neutral tones.HGTV
Reuse old materials in new ways
This Little Free Library is made from materials from the family’s old barn.HGTV
Luckily, the exterior of this home doesn’t need much work, so Ben is able to focus some of his attention on a special feature for the front yard: a Little Free Library that neighborhood kids can enjoy.
“They think childhood literacy is very important,” Erin says of Chase and Corrinn. “It’s something that’s really special to Ben and I, too. And so building the Little Free Library on the corner in front of their house makes a lot of sense for this family.”
Ben uses materials from Chase’s parents’ old barn to create a small home for books that looks a lot like the main house. He even repurposes an old window from the barn to make the library doors. It’s a creative addition that allows Chase to treasure a little part of his family’s old property.
Upcycle old flooring
Before: Erin and Ben Napier wanted to remove the flooring in the “scary” basement.HGTV
While ripping up the basement’s subfloor and foundation to strengthen the ground underneath the house, Ben is left with a bunch of old parquet floors. He decides to use this to build a puppet theater for Chase and Corrinn’s kids.
After: With a few updates, the basement will be a great playroom.HGTV
Ben uses part of the parquet flooring and wood from Chase’s grandfather’s house to build a mini stage for puppets. The materials look great on the puppet theater and, together, they make an adorable basement feature that the kids will love.
Erin and Ben show once again how easy, and meaningful, it can be to reuse materials.
Ben made this puppet stage using the old flooring.HGTV
Certain heirlooms are fine to keep as is
Chase’s grandfather’s piano looks great in the dining room.HGTV
When Erin and Ben decide to bring Chase’s grandfather’s old piano into the new house, they don’t change it at all. They simply put the instrument in the dining room, the perfect spot for gathering as a family.
“I love a piano in a dining room. It feels like the place for celebration,” Corrinn says.
This proves that sometimes sentimental furnishings don’t need a makeover or even a fresh coat of paint. All they need is a new home. Chase is impressed by these meaningful additions.
“You’ve now taken two things from my past and making it my future and my babies’ future—and it’s just perfect,” he says.
New materials can still have a classic look
This tile bathroom floor looks like wood.HGTV
While the Napiers love to reuse and repurpose, they decide not to keep any part of the dated pink bathroom. They give the space a new glass shower, a new vanity, and flooring so fresh and unique that Erin and Ben say they’ve never used it before.
However, this new tile doesn’t look modern. It has a rustic, aged style and looks a lot like wood. In fact, the material even fools Ben, who taps the tile and says, “I thought it was wood!”
It’s a smart flooring choice that gives the bathroom a contemporary look while also matching the era of the house.
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