Eyes that see the good in things: Jan. 27, 2020

I watch entirely too much TV, so it makes me wonder how I could completely miss a show that airs on a channel that I watch often. I was excited about the message behind the first show that I watched the other night, a show I thought was new. But apparently, it’s been around since 2017 and I’m just a little late to the party.

I clicked on “Home Town” just to see what it was about. The show is hosted by a couple of Southerners, Ben and Erin Napier, who love fixing up old houses, almost as much as they like living in their small, hometown in Laurel, Miss. According to the Napiers, they’re striving to make the place they live more “livable, lovable, welcoming and fun.”

The sense of community, the common language and the pace of a small town has an appeal. The Napiers realize, though, that those same towns can be at risk when it comes to financial vulnerability, outmigration and potential loss of the very history and features that define their original charm.

Fortunately, in a town the size of their hometown, a couple of heroes can make a big difference. “Our town is going through a major rebirth” says Erin, “and it’s so exciting to be a part of it.” Aside from saving old homes, the couple is heavily involved in the city’s downtown revitalization.

Their story began when, as newlyweds, the couple purchased and restored a 1925 Craftsman style home. They loved watching their old home get a whole new life, and they decided to make a career out of doing the same thing for others. The Napiers are heavily involved in the restoration of these homes, but many of the townspeople also work on the homes, as a way of welcoming the new homeowners to their community.

And when it comes to restoring historic old homes, the couple shares the workload. Ben has first-hand building experience and is a skilled woodworker. Erin, with a background in art and graphic design, brings the decorating and design sense, and is skilled at communicating her vision.

They both love the idea of preserving the past, respecting a home’s history, staying authentic to original architecture, and, whenever possible, incorporating period elements and reclaimed materials into their restorations.

One of the shows that I watched last weekend was the restoration featured in “Home Town’s” pilot episode. A young couple, Ross and Laura, were moving to town and in search of a home in a historic neighborhood. Ben and Erin showed them a home with a bland brick exterior. The house was built in 1940 and the outside of the home had the plain brick exterior and a porch that was wrapped in aging and not very attractive louvered glass.

Of course, one of the great things about old Southern homes are the porches. This wasn’t one of those beautiful Southern porches, it had undergone unsightly renovations in the past and it was not pretty. But the interior of the home had promise with high ceilings and architectural features that were true to the design of the home. Plus, the price was right.

The kitchen was large, but dated. For the renovation, a wall between the kitchen and the dining room was removed. The original hardwood floors were revealed and refinished. Ben custom-built a small center island and dining room table using wood reclaimed from homeowner Ross’s family cabin.

The Napiers would be happy with nothing less than a complete exterior transformation. The sagging porch was leveled, the brick skirt was removed, and the porch was completely redefined with new columns, railings and stairs. “In this small town, the porch is just as important as the living room or kitchen,” says Erin. “It’s where you gather. So, we treated this porch like a living space.” The updated porch was spacious enough to accommodate a seating area and a dining area, and the necessary Southern home’s porch swing. When it was finished, the home once again had a charming Southern porch.

At the end of the show, when the home was finally revealed to the new homeowners, all of the towns people who had also worked on the home, gathered on the porch to celebrate. The couple was touched when the mayor spoke about everyone working together to welcome their new neighbors to the community.

The Napiers are still working in their hometown of Laurel, Miss, but they are getting ready to take their expertise on the road. HGTV has announced that a new show called “Home Town Rescue” will be coming soon to HGTV where fans can watch another town brought back to life. The new series will feature Ben and Erin Napier as they work together to renovate an entire town.

HGTV revealed more about the new series in a press release. “HGTV has given the production greenlight to new event series ‘Home Town Rescue,’ starring Ben and Erin Napier who will take on their biggest project yet – an entire town in need of a renovation. The Napiers will mobilize members of one community to renovate multiple individual homes in the town and upgrade public spaces, such as parks, local diners and/or recreational centers. The husband and wife duo, who currently star in the network’s hit series, ‘Home Town,’ helped rebuild their own neck of the woods in Laurel, Miss. – inspiring the population to transform the town’s empty storefronts and houses that were in disrepair into a thriving destination for tourists and locals alike.

“‘Home Town Rescue’ will change one lucky community in a powerful and significant way,” said Betsy Ayala, Senior Vice President of programming and development for HGTV. “We’ve seen how Ben and Erin put their heart and soul into every incredible renovation. It’s time for another town to benefit from their experience and expertise. This time, a different community will see their hometown restored to its former glory.”

“Home Town Rescue” is a six-episode series slated to premiere on HGTV in 2021. Any towns interested in a helping hand can, e-mail [email protected] to tell Ben and Erin about their town. Don’t forget to include photos! 

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