October 21, 2026

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‘Home Town’ Has Something Big To Say to the World

Ben and Erin Napier, the hosts of “Home City,” know that Laurel, MS, isn’t a sleepy town anymore. In reality, they say that starter homes priced among $150,000 and $200,000 are very tough to appear by these times.

“If you discover a household at that selling price, you’d greater invest in it appropriate that day,” Erin says.

Thankfully, their most current client requires their advice!

In the episode “Campy Cabin Vibes,” Erin and Ben meet with a Laurel indigenous, Luke, who will work as a touring nurse and wants to put down roots.

As Erin claims, “Every traveler desires a property foundation.”

Luke purchases a 1938 home, and the crew spends $100,000 giving this home some significantly-wanted updates.

Examine on to learn how Erin and Ben make over the dwelling, and hear the one particular well-known pattern that they consider will wreck an outdated home’s charm. Get be aware, and you may well be influenced to try out a handful of of these upgrades yourself!

Display some porch regions, but leave the rest open up

blue house
This house currently experienced a excellent porch.

(HGTV)

Erin thinks Luke’s three-bedroom house appears to be like like a minimal camp cabin. Confident more than enough, it’s a darling framework, with a significant lawn, a tall tree, and a big front porch—but Luke is not so sure if he likes this particular wraparound function.

It is screened in, which is wonderful for staying away from mosquitoes. Luke basically doesn’t like the look of it.

“I need to have to see some depth,” he says.

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Look at: Jasmine Roth’s Big Secret—and Big Regret—About Her New House

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Erin implies a compromise, featuring to open up up the screened segment in entrance, but depart it on the left side of the home. She also designs to paint the home a gentle sage, preserving the woodsy, campy search of the house, though brightening it up.

green house
Right after: The open porch gave the residence some depth.

(HGTV)

In the close, Luke loves the 50 %-open, fifty percent-screened porch. It presents the home some depth, whilst also making it possible for for the comfort of a secured space. It will be excellent for Luke’s puppies, and for Luke, who is very likely to enjoy that they have a spot to run all over where by they really do not operate the hazard of obtaining free.

There is not just one particular form of wall paneling

vertical paneling
This vertical paneling felt dated.

(HGTV)

At to start with, Luke is not impressed with the home’s living room—especially the wall paneling.

“If my eyes are closed, or I appear down, I really feel superior about it,” Luke states about the place. “But the paneling is really hard to get earlier.”

Erin designs to rip it down and replace it with clear, contemporary sheetrock, but when the group pulls down the vertical paneling, they locate a surprise: broader, darker, horizontal tongue-and-groove paneling that Erin thinks operates flawlessly with the cabin concept.

wood paneling
Just after: This wood paneling was hiding underneath.

(HGTV)

“What if we don’t sheetrock it?” Erin asks, as she uncovers the wooden. “You know: We put up new trim, and some crisp, contrasting color. And we maintain these walls purely natural wooden, I think it would be seriously on brand name for Luke.”

She finishes up removing the previous paneling and freshening the area up with new blue trim.

Whilst Luke wasn’t a supporter of the vertical panels, it’s clear that he loves the classic charm of the unique wooden beneath. Holding it also saves some time and cash they had been arranging to commit on sheetrock.

Cased openings are a necessity in previous homes

cased opening
This cased opening retains the residence sensation common.

(HGTV)

In addition to taking down the vertical paneling, Erin suggests opening up the entry amongst the living place and eating area. She is careful to say that she doesn’t imply to go suitable forward and open up the wall wholly.

“Time out. We want to converse about this, The us, and the rest of the planet,” she claims, instantly into the camera. “You fellas like an open idea from time to time, ideal? But if you are working on a residence that was built in the 1930s, if you just blow it out, up to the ceiling and all the way to the partitions, it does not appear primary. It feels bizarre.”

She clarifies that an outdated house needs cased openings to feel reliable, even soon after a renovation.

“They’re that connective tissue between the heritage and a modern structure,” she says. “You need to have it.”

Erin and Ben establish a cased opening fairly than wholly eradicating the wall. When they are finished, the living home feels significantly much more open up, but none of the historic allure is shed.

Use straightforward colors for a basic kitchen area

yellow kitchen
This pink and yellow kitchen was a bit too lively for the homeowner’s style.

(HGTV)

The moment they arrive to the kitchen, Erin and Ben know this room will want a large amount of get the job done. Ahead of renovations commence, the aged kitchen is shiny pink and yellow. Luke suggests it may possibly appear good on a very hot pet dog, but not on a kitchen area.

Erin desires to reimagine the space, with an antique table from Luke’s grandparents, butcher-block counters, and new cabinets with a calming coloration that Erin phone calls “river rock.”

new kitchen
After: This kitchen is understated but exquisite.

(HGTV)

In the finish, the table, cupboards, and counters look wonderful, displaying how new and old components can work so properly jointly.

Erin is delighted, stating, “I wanted the cabinets to be simple, understated, mainly because it’s all about this island we discovered in his grandparents’ store.”

Beadboard makes a wonderful backsplash

beadboard backsplash
This beadboard backsplash helps make the up-to-date kitchen area feel historic.

(HGTV)

To finish the kitchen area, Erin forgoes a tile backsplash in favor of the initial beadboard. This proves challenging, considering the fact that they need to patch up a part that was the moment a window. Having said that, by the time the walls are painted, it all appears authentic.

Erin suggests that this tile alternate is a intelligent, affordable option for men and women attempting to help you save some dollars.

“This isn’t his eternally residence,” Erin says of Luke’s position. “He’s a young person, and he’s heading to be moving on. I assume not investing cash on a backsplash and executing this alternatively was the appropriate point.”

beadboard
This beadboard helps make for a good backsplash.

(HGTV)

Erin also admits that a tile backsplash may perhaps have made this kitchen area look way too new, which is the past matter she wishes for this 1930s residence.

“I received anxious about things going too new and clean. And that was a big motive why we didn’t do a tile backsplash, for the reason that I needed to hold some character,” she states.

It is a terrific aspect that will certainly inspire other home owners to skip the tile, for a much more historic kitchen glance.