Ben and Erin Napier Give Newlyweds a Fresh Start in a $200,000 Family Home After Tragedy

Brooke, a close friend of Ben and Erin Napier, saw more than just a drafty old project when she first set eyes on the Ronk House, a $200,000 pink family home from the 1940s. Brooke had lost her husband some years prior, and was raising her son Kingston as a single mother when she met and fell in love with Robbie, her new husband. To Brooke, the Ronk House was more than just a home, it was a fresh start for her new family, and one the Napiers were more than thrilled to help renovate, decorate and totally transform, with a $100,000 reno budget.

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Brooke’s husband Robbie had a hard time seeing past the home’s pink exterior, but Erin promised the couple a new colour scheme that would feel fresh and lively, like a spring day, and boy did she deliver. The pink siding was covered in a warm cream, and the shutters were given a fresher, bolder shade of green. Erin and Ben also replaced the rotting gable with a flat roof over the front door, which harkens back to the home’s original, historical design. A little landscaping and flower boxes were the finishing touches on the home’s major exterior makeover.

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The kitchen left a lot to be desired, but provided Erin with ample opportunity to make her mark. She had dreams of new uppers, all the way to the ceiling, new floors, a large kitchen island, and a bright new backsplash and range hood. See how it all came together in the next slide (not that we really doubt Erin’s plans…)

While the giant new countertops were heavy, awkward and hard to install, the added effort paid off! The result is a bright, exquisite island that pairs beautifully with the elegant design of the porcelain tile backsplash. And Erin was thrilled with the luxury vinyl tile she sourced for the floors, which looks just like slate tile, but for a fraction of the price. (Vinyl is also way more comfortable under foot than hard tile!)

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The formal living room had crimson red walls that stopped Brooke and Robbie in their tracks. They loved the layout, the fireplace and the built ins, but begged Erin to work her magic on the walls. Erin applauded the attempt to inject a little colour from room to room, but felt something a bit tamer and sweet would suit the newlyweds much better (and we couldn’t agree more).

From the gorgeous green built ins, to the modern-meets-traditional furniture, there was so much to love about about the new formal living room, but it was a custom piece of artwork, created by a family member of Brooke’s, that brought her to tears. The artwork depicted Brooke’s new family, with new husband Robbie and son Kingston, with her first husband watching over them. It was the perfect symbol to centre the room around, and one Brooke will surely treasure forever.

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The living room might have brought Brooke to tears, but when Robbie saw the dining table Ben had made out of beautiful dark Southern walnut and white oak from his grandfather’s wood shop, he couldn’t help but get a little emotional! Brooke loved how the old, floral wallpaper suddenly looked chic and dramatic with black wainscoting. Erin has a gift for envisioning an older motif in a fresh and exciting way.

The family room was one of the selling points of the home: it was massive! But it proved challenging for Ben and Erin. They were limited to a $100,000 reno budget, which meant making strategic choices, like vinyl flooring instead of hardwood. They also chose to paint the walls white, to brighten the space, but kept the ceiling in its original form. Erin also opened up a wall (not pictured here) to create a walk out to the brand new deck. It’s the ultimate indoor/outdoor space.

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A corner of the family room was dedicated to Brooke’s son Kingston. Ben hung tools from Robbie’s grandfather’s wood shop: a small one for Kingston, and a large one for Robbie, as a nod to the family’s future. A toy chest with Kingston’s name painted on top was built out of a piece of furniture Brooke and her first husband had purchased when they were newly married. The symbol of the family’s past was just as important to the young family, as the nod to their future.

The overall result of the Ronky Tonk reno is a family home that’s nearly perfect, it just needs one more thing: a baby nursery! After completing the $100,000 reno, Erin and Ben were thrilled to learn their friends were expecting a baby. The new home couldn’t have come at a better time, and offers the perfect space for a growing family to set down roots.