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Tag: Laurel MS

Posted on February 24, 2021

‘Home Town’: Ben and Erin Napier Reveal a Common Design Detail They ‘Hate’

“Home Town” stars Erin and Ben Napier know that sometimes a little goes a long way. In fact, that’s how they approach the renovation of their latest midcentury build. They want to modernize it, but not too much.

On the Season 5 episode “Closer to Mom,” the Napiers meet Brach and Ashley Robinson. These two live in New Orleans but started shopping for a home in Laurel, MS, so that they’d have a comfortable place to stay when they visit Ashley’s mom.

The pair end up buying a beautiful 1961 home for $165,000. Erin and Ben know this old house needs some work, but they don’t want to update it so much that it loses that great retro vibe. So Erin works hard to find design solutions that will repair and update the house, without changing its midcentury style too much or spending over their $100,000 renovation budget. Here’s how they pull it off, which might inspire some changes around your own abode, too.

Related Articles

Replace orate ironwork with clean paneling

The only thing wrong with this exterior was the dated ironwork.
The only thing wrong with this exterior was the dated ironwork.

HGTV

When Brach and Ashley first see the house, they’re impressed with the exterior, which is rare. Many of Erin and Ben’s renovation projects include an extensive exterior renovation, but this house has been well-maintained.

Still, Ashley and Brach want to replace one thing: the dated ironwork.

This wood paneling is much cleaner.
This wood paneling is much cleaner.

Discovery+

Erin supports this choice, saying the ironwork looks out of place.

“I just hate the overly ornate wrought iron, on a house that is specifically all about straight lines,” Erin says. So the team rips out the ironwork and replaces it with a midcentury-inspired slatted wood wall.

The dark wood looks great on this brick house, bringing in some much needed color contrast.

Add some color to the kitchen

This dark kitchen was dated, but Erin and Ben Napier didn't want to make this kitchen completely bright white.
This dark kitchen was dated, but Erin and Ben Napier didn’t want to make this kitchen completely bright white.

Discovery+

Ashley and Brach want everything, including their kitchen, to be clean and white—but the Napiers know better.

“White is classic,” Erin explains, “but if you have all white, it can fall flat. It feels cold, it feels sterile.”

Erin and Ben decide to paint the old island (and a second new island) light blue to add some color to this kitchen, and to match a new blue backsplash. However, it’s the original brick floor that really adds some warmth to this white kitchen.

The clients preferred white, but Ben and Erin thought some blue would look great in this kitchen.
The clients preferred white, but Ben and Erin thought some blue would look great in this kitchen.

Discovery+

The team reseals the brick floors to make the colors more consistent, and when they’re finished, it’s clear that both the blue accents and the old brick give this kitchen some character. They soften the modern white features to make the space feel more homey. It just goes to show that color can be key, and some unexpected flooring could make a kitchen feel extra special.

Know which way to lay wood floors

This space was once a carport.
This space was once a carport.

Discovery+

When Ben goes to install the wood flooring in the den, he realizes that he might run into some trouble depending on the direction he lays the floors.

He thinks this room was an addition, so he suspects the walls may not be perfectly parallel with the fireplace. To avoid any problems with angled floorboards, Ben decides to run the flooring perpendicular to the fireplace.

Erin and Ben used paneling in a more modern way.
Erin and Ben used paneling in a more modern way.

Discovery+

“If you’re building a house, you can make that fireplace perfectly square, but we’re pretty sure this was a carport at one point that was then converted into a den, so we’re not sure how square that would be,” Ben says.

In the end, it seems the wood was laid in the right direction. Not only do the boards look even, but they also make the room seem longer and larger.

Use wood paneling in the right spots

This paneling works great with the break.
This paneling works great with the break.

Discovery+

Wood paneling on walls was a popular midcentury design, so Erin wants to create some paneling in the den—but she wants to make sure this retro feature looks fresh.

“Think of houses in the ’60s and ’70s, they would have that, like, pine paneling. This is like a nod to that but a little different, a little more modern,” Erin says.

They cover the brick on the wall behind the fireplace with wide wood paneling, but leave some exposed brick around the firebox for safety. Then they paint the whole wall white. Meanwhile, they remove the wallpaper from the other walls and give the rest of the room a fresh coat of paint.

While midcentury homes often had wood paneling on all four walls, this one accent wall gives the space the right amount of midcentury charm, while still letting the room look contemporary.

Don’t try to match old brick

This outdoor kitchen needed some work.
This outdoor kitchen needed some work.

HGTV

Erin and Ben had good luck when it came to the brick on the kitchen floor, but they run into problems when they work on the outdoor kitchen. They have a plan to build off of the existing brick oven, but they can’t find an exact color match for the 1960s brick.

“The problem with the brick that we found is we can’t get this exact brick that was used on the house in the ’60s,” Erin explains. “So we just used a modern brick but we stuccoed over all of it.”

With the stucco, this outdoor kitchen has a great two-tone effect that looks modern but still midcentury-inspired. It’s a great outdoor kitchen that Ashley and Brach will love using in the summer.

Instead of trying to match the brick, Erin and Ben decided to use stucco.
Instead of trying to match the brick, Erin and Ben decided to use stucco.

HGTV

Source: realtor.com

Posted on February 17, 2021

‘Home Town’ Reveals the Biggest Mistake You Can Make in Your Yard

On HGTV’s “Home Town,” Erin and Ben Napier have made over many homes in Laurel, MS—but in the latest episode, things get awkward when they help a family member with (dare we say?) tacky tastes.

In the Season 5 episode “All in the Family,” the Napiers meet up with Erin’s uncle, Danny, to fix up his new house, a 1900s build that once belonged to another of Erin’s cousins, so this project really feels close to home.

However, the Napiers run into some trouble when it comes to Danny’s personal style. He loves big, over-the-top designs, so Erin and Ben need to find ways to tone down his outsized tastes so that his old home can feel timeless—all without going over the $130,000 budget.

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Here’s how Erin and Ben find a style that works for Danny that’s not too ostentatious—a good reminder that there are plenty of ways to strike a balance with decor that could save you from major renovation regrets in your own home, too.

Don’t make this mistake with your yard: overgrown greenery

This house needed some serious landscaping work.
This house needed some serious landscaping work.

HGTV

When Erin and Ben first see Danny’s house, they point out how great the exterior looks. The color looks great and the structure looks sound. There’s just one issue: the overgrown greenery.

“The house is beautiful,” Erin says, “so we just need to see the house.”

After cleaning up the greenery, this house has better curb appeal.
After cleaning up the greenery, this house has better curb appeal.

HGTV

Luckily, trimming back this landscaping is easy—Erin just needs to decide which plants to keep and which to remove. She decides to keep a maple tree, and removes almost everything else.

When the landscaping is finished, the yard definitely gives the house a cleaner look. Now, it’s the house, not the yard, that people will see first when they pull up.

Cover a doorway with a bookshelf

Erin and Ben Napier wanted to cover this doorway.
Erin and Ben Napier wanted to cover this doorway.

HGTV

To make this home work better for Danny, Erin and Ben decide to turn a den into a big, beautiful bathroom. This means they need to close up one of the entryways, but matching the wood paneling on the wall could be difficult. So Erin gets creative.

“We don’t need that door going to that room, though, so I want to build in a bookcase there and close that off,” Erin says.

This doorway is now a convenient bookshelf!
This doorway is now a convenient bookshelf!

HGTV

Her bookcase solution is a great idea because not only does it allow them to keep the wood paneling as is, but it also adds storage to this space. It’s a great solution and in the end, the new bookcase looks like it was always supposed to be there.

Lights should be grand but not gaudy

Ben and Erin know that a subtle chandelier will make a better statement.
Ben and Erin know that a subtle chandelier will make a better statement.

HGTV

Erin worries that Danny’s flashy tastes will take over this house, so she is careful to make understated design choices while still including features that Danny will like.

“Uncle Danny likes the finest of the finest, and he likes really huge, big chandeliers and light fixtures,” Erin says. “And he likes ornately big, carved desks and beds. So it’s going to be my job to reel that in a little bit.”

One way she does this is with the chandelier in the dining room. She chooses a big statement fixture, but makes sure that it’s not overwhelming the room. The light is large, but it has a simple style in a muted color.

Luckily, Danny loves the chandelier.

“I would have never picked that out; mine would have been gaudy,” Danny says. “This is the way it should be.”

Paint the fireplace for a quick makeover

Erin and Ben need to fix up lots of rooms in this house, but most of the place doesn’t require a lot of changes. In fact, the living room just needs some new paint. The team paints the lime-green walls a creamy off-white, and the brick fireplace a brighter white.

“The white fireplace, all that brick, and then having that wood wainscoting and trim around it, that’s going to look good,” Ben says.

White paint gives this fireplace a fresh look for a low price.
White paint gives this fireplace a fresh look for a low price.

HGTV

This white paint is a simple way to update the space. It also highlights the wood paneling in this room, making the space feel grand. While Danny prefers big features and overstated design, the simple paint job and soft furnishings let the wood paneling in this room really shine.

Go big with the kitchen island

Sometimes it's OK to go big—on the kitchen island.
Sometimes it’s OK to go big—on the kitchen island.

HGTV

While much of this house is in good shape, the kitchen is, as Danny says, a “total redo.”

So the team rips out the old cabinets and counters to create a beautiful kitchen with forest-green cabinets, big windows, and two ovens.

Of course, Erin and Ben want to include an island, but they know that Danny wants lots of extra space for big family gatherings. They decide to install an extra large island that’s farther from the perimeter counters, so Danny can have extra space.

“Having that big island, pushed out from the kitchen a little bit, double ovens, it’s going to be awesome,” Ben says.

It all shows that, sometimes, bigger is indeed better.

Source: realtor.com

Posted on February 4, 2021

‘Home Town’: Erin and Ben Reveal 5 Trendy Renovations To Ditch Today—and Why

“Home Town” stars Erin and Ben Napier know which home renovations are most popular these days. But they also know well that sometimes, upgrades aren’t the best idea—particularly if you want your house to have character.

In the latest episode, “A Laurel Hug,” Erin and Ben meet up with an old friend, Kendall, who recently lost her husband. She’s decided to move back home to Laurel, MS, to be closer to family, and has bought a house for $110,000. She loves this 1940s build, but Erin and Ben know the place will require a lot of work—and more cash than her $115,000 renovation budget will allow.

Yet the Napiers find a way to make this house look amazing while pushing the budget only a bit higher. And their secret is largely avoiding a lot of the most popular renovation trends! Here’s what they do—or more importantly, don’t do—which might inspire some changes around your own abode, too.

1.Don’t paint the front door if it looks great already

house
This house already looked beautiful, but it needed a new color.

(HGTV)

Erin and Ben know this yellow house needs a fresh coat of paint, so they plan to give the house a brown exterior with a green door, which will provide a pop of color.

The brown paint looks great, but when the new door comes in, unpainted, Erin has second thoughts about giving it a new color. The deep wood tone works great with the new, darker house color. In the end, she decides to keep it as is.

house
As it turns out, this door looks best with a natural wood tone.

(HGTV)

“It was more peer pressure from all the neighbors,” Ben says when he and Erin finally get to show Kendall the new exterior. “Everybody was texting, like, ‘Hey, so ya’ll aren’t going to paint the door, are you?’”

Everyone on the block loves the wood front door, and it seems Kendall does, too.

2. Don’t knock down walls if you like nooks and crannies

living room
This old home is far from open concept.

(HGTV)

While lots of buyers these days want homes with an open floor plan, Erin and Ben note that this old home still has lots of walls, and they plan to keep it that way.

“I like rooms, and I like little nooks,” Erin says when explaining her decision to keep the walls up in the living space. “That’s what makes a house interesting.”

In the end, Erin and Ben prove that keeping the walls up is the right choice. With the original layout intact, this home is able to keep its unique 1940s charm. Even with a fresh coat of paint and some new furnishings, this home still feels old in the best way possible.

3. Don’t try to fix imperfect floors

kitchen
Erin and Ben Napier find these floors have lots of character.

(HGTV)

When Erin and Ben first give Kendall a tour of this house, it’s filled with orange carpet. The carpet doesn’t make the best first impression, but Kendall is able to see some hardwood floors peeking out from underneath, which gives her hope for this house.

So Erin and Ben make sure to have the carpet removed and the wood floors sanded. However, these old hardwood floors aren’t perfect. While one would expect a uniform look from new hardwood, these floors have patches of darker and lighter wood. The color isn’t consistent, but Erin says this is actually an asset.

“This is what I love about old hardwood floors. … They really tell the history of the house,” Erin says.

Indeed, these old floors add extra character to the home. When the renovation is finished, these floors turn out to be a great feature—and a big upgrade from orange carpet.

4. Don’t go wild with tile if you like a classic look

bathroom
David and Erin talk tile in Kendall’s new bathroom.

(HGTV)

White subway tile is classic, beautiful, and inexpensive—so it should be perfect for Kendall’s 1940s house.

However, Erin believes that subway tile has been overused, so she chooses a tile that is ever so slightly different from that classic look: a white tile with a beveled edge. The bevel gives it a bit of texture.

David, the tile installer, says he loves this look because it reminds him of antique mirrors, which have beveled edges as well.

bathroom
This tile may look traditional, but it has one unique detail.

(HGTV)

Erin seems happy with the comparison, explaining that one of her biggest goals with this renovation is preserving the classic feel.

“It’s so much about the historic architecture and keeping it the way it is,” Erin says.

When the bathroom is finished, Erin loves the look. To the naked eye, this shower tile looks like it’s lined with typical subway tile, but up close, there’s a classic detail that’s reminiscent of an older style.

5. Don’t make a kitchen too clean and pristine

kitchen
The backsplash looks great in this kitchen.

(HGTV)

With Erin already finding a unique alternative to subway tile for the bathroom, she decides against using that tiling in the kitchen as well. Instead, she finds a white tile with a touch of color to give it a slightly aged look.

“I love the way these tiles have a little patina and an aged color about them,” Erin says. “Like, I didn’t want anything perfectly white and shiny in this house that feels historic and a little bit aged already.”

When the tile is installed, it looks great. It gives this kitchen a bit of character, helping it blend in with the rest of the old house.

backsplash
This backsplash has a little bit of color, making it charmingly imperfect.

(HGTV)

Source: realtor.com

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