Erin and Ben Napier Find a Home for Just $50K—With One Major Catch
HGTV
On “Home Town,” Erin and Ben Napier are pros at turning cheap old houses into luxurious dream homes, but on the latest episode, they find what might be their biggest bargain yet.
In the Season 7 episode “Mississippi Made,” the Napiers help store manager Hayley find a two-bedroom, one-bath starter home in Laurel, MS, for just $50,000. There is a very big catch: The previous owners had the whole place gutted before deciding to sell. So, while the exterior is intact, the interior is a big, empty box.
“It’s a little deceiving because it looks so fresh and pretty on the outside,” Erin says when first showing Hayley the property.
Luckily, Erin and Ben have $100,000 left in the budget to reimagine this clean slate. Read on to find out how they create character from scratch, with plenty of budget-friendly design ideas you might be inspired to try around your own abode.
Screen in a porch for more livable space
Before: This 1940s home was in good shape on the outside, it just needed a few tweaks.HGTV
While the exterior is in much better shape than the interior, Erin and Ben want to make a couple of additions. The “naked” yard needs some landscaping, plus Erin suggests adding a screen to the porch, which will both add some architectural interest and make this outdoor space more comfortable year-round.
“It’s going to give a lot of balance to the house in the way the front looks,” Erin explains.
After: This screened-in porch will be a great place to hang out.HGTV
The screen does indeed give the home more dimension, but the real advantage is giving this 1,500-square-foot home additional living space.
Don’t skimp on new flooring
The engineered hardwood looks just as good as hardwood.HGTV
While the floors in this home aren’t in good shape, Erin hopes to patch and refinish the original wood as a cost-effective way to give Hayley beautiful wood flooring. However, once construction starts, the team realizes that the old wood simply can’t be salvaged.
“I really hate to break a promise to Hayley,” Erin says, disappointed. “We talked about wood floors and how we thought we could refinish the ones that were there, patch where we needed.”
Still, the house needs some kind of flooring, so Erin chooses engineered hardwood, which she knows is less expensive than true hardwood but will still look like wood.
While most first-time homeowners would often choose the less expensive option like luxury vinyl, the engineered hardwood is worth the extra cash, with Erin calling the honey-colored planks “gorgeous.”
A blank slate makes it easy to match materials
Before: This house was previously gutted.HGTV
While starting from scratch can have its challenges, Erin and Ben know that since everything is new, at least they’ll be able to match kitchen features exactly how they want.
Erin decides to use a maple butcher block counter, so she’s glad to see Ben using maple for the kitchen’s custom island stools. Combine that with the floors, which look like maple, and this space looks perfectly coordinated.
After: The Napiers match the counter to the stools to the floors.HGTV
“What I like: You got the maple butcher block, maple stools that are stained the same color as the floor,” Ben says when the house is done.
“It’s pretty,” Erin replies.
It’s a good lesson on how starting with a blank space can put homeowners at a design advantage. With this house, the Napiers don’t need to scramble to match new wood to an old finish, or match paint colors to what’s already in the house. While starting fresh can be pricey, these HGTV stars get exactly the look they want.
Add pops of color with the appliances
The kitchen vent and oven stand out in this new kitchen.HGTV
While matching colors might help a space look cohesive, Erin knows that the kitchen will need a pop in order to work for Hayley’s style. So Erin and her design producer, Amanda, choose a custom color for the new oven and vent hood, a task they say they’ve “never” gotten to do.
This blue oven reflects the homeowner’s style.HGTV
They decide on a “show-stopping” light blue hue, which looks both soft and playful. To finish the look, the designers pair the custom appliances with a cream-colored penny tile backsplash.
Wallpaper adds personality for cheap
This old bathroom needed an update.HGTV
This house has only one bathroom, so Erin and Ben want to make it count. Still, this is a starter home with a limited budget, so they need to choose upgrades that won’t cost too much—such as wallpaper.
Luckily, Erin knows of a fun, colorful wallpaper that she thinks will remind Hayley of her previous home.
“It’s a little bit feminine and it’s a little bit Florida—and I think Hayley is going to flip out.”
Wallpaper can give any space an instant makeover.HGTV
Hayley ends up loving the flowery pattern—and, as Erin points out, wallpaper isn’t the only cost-effective bathroom update.
“That’s shower panels that look like subway tile,” she says during the home reveal. “The vanity wasn’t custom, but it feels like it was, and the floor is sheet vinyl, it looks so luxury.”
It proves that first-time homeowners can get a luxurious look on a budget if they choose the right materials.
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