Home Town's Ben and Erin Napier Create One of Laurel's Finest Homes With This $140,000 Reno

When Seth and Susan Ladd returned to Laurel, Mississippi from New York City, they knew they wanted to find their forever home. (Seth grew up in Laurel, and had taken a job at the hospital where he was born!) Ben and Erin Napier sold them on a spacious $240,000 Cape Cod-style home from the 1970s, but promised to give it a modern day makeover, befitting a couple with big city sensibilities. Did they manage to pull it off, while peeling off the home’s original, tacky wallpaper? Read on to find out!

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Ben and Erin Napier standing outside a renovated brick house from the 1970s

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Welcome to the Ladd House

Susan and Seth were easily sold on the 1970s Harry House. It was 3,900 square feet, offering ample space for the young couple to relax and entertain after being cooped up in a New York City apartment. And with four bedrooms and three bathrooms, the home had everything the newlyweds would need to call it their forever home. Plus, at $240,000, it left $140,000 in their budget for major renovations (and as always, Erin had big plans!).

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She’s a Brick House

Ben might have been enamoured with the strong bones of the red brick home, but Seth couldn’t wrap his head around it. “It’s…a lot of brick,” he pointed out. Susan was iffy on it too, but Erin promised them a limewash would transform the brick facade, and age beautifully. Combined with a fresh coat of paint on the front door, painted shutters, decorative shutter dogs and copper sconces flanking the entryway, and the newly designed Ladd House was almost unrecognizable, in the best way possible!

Seth and Susan Touring The House with Home Town's Ben and Erin Napier

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A Major Makeover in The Ladd House

It was one big reveal after another for Seth and Susan, who instantly fell for Erin’s fresh take on their home’s entryway. Gone was the peeling and stained 1970s wallpaper, and in its place, fresh, blue walls that gave a nod to the home’s Cape Cod build. The couple especially loved Erin’s DIY statement wall, made with a collection of antique gold framed mirrors arranged up the stairs. The entryway was quite dark, but the mirrors reflected what light there was, and created the illusion of windows to brighten the space.

A 1970s kitchen with dark wood and tacky wallpaper

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A Very Dated Kitchen With Loads of Potential

The wallpaper was a true 1970s time warp, but the Napiers were able to see past the dated cabinetry, questionable wallpaper and carpeted breakfast nook to appreciate the large footprint and natural light the kitchen provided. They knew with the Ladd’s $140,000 reno budget, they could transform this kitchen into one of Laurel’s finest.

A contemporary kitchen renovation by Ben and Erin Napier

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The Finest Kitchen in Laurel, Mississippi

This kitchen makeover might just be Ben and Erin’s most beautiful! They put roughly $50,000 towards it and the results are breathtaking. They reconfigured the counter to create one long, open space with an island, ripped out the brick flooring and carpet to install engineered hardwood, and splurged on a beautiful quartz countertop with unique gold veining. You might say it’s the gold standard of kitchen makeovers!

A dining room with a beautiful contemporary wallpaper

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A Very Fine Dining Room

The dining room’s original wallpaper was a tad too busy and bold for the New York City expats but Erin wanted to find a way to combine the home’s original stately style with a look that felt chic and modern for the young couple. The result was a muted but decorative wallpaper that paired perfectly with the freshly painted wainscoting. Updated lighting, and a dining set with a touch of rustic French charm pull it all together!

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Cozy in the Cape Cod-Inspired Den

A den off the kitchen and dining room felt like an off note in a song, as Ben put it. It had dark wood walls and an oppressive brick fireplace that didn’t connect with the feminine wallpaper throughout the rest of the home. Erin decided to lean in to the home’s Cape Cod roots and gave the den a Hampton’s spin with a blue and white colour palette, a pedestal around the fireplace to break up the brick and provide a mantel, and loads of cozy textures.

Bedroom makeover with blue and white pattern

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A Bed Fit for a Rockefeller

The primary bedroom feels like a stately escape, thanks to new carpeting, and a bold blue and white wallpaper, but it’s the Reid Classics four poster bed that makes the space! These beds were originally designed for the creme de la creme of American society, including the Rockefeller family. Not bad for a couple of newlyweds laying down roots in Laurel, Mississippi.

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A Sensible Primary Bathroom

The bathroom for the primary bedroom was actually quite spacious, but a weird wall ran down the center and divided the space into his and hers vanities. Erin had the wall removed, which created space for a gorgeous walk-in shower, free-standing bathtub, double vanity and a toilet closet. The budget for both the master bedroom and bathroom rang in at $40,000 (a worthy investment for a forever home!).

Erin Napier in the renovated dining room with decorative wallpaper

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A Big Budget, Big Payoff Makeover

It’s not often Ben and Erin get to play with a $140,000 renovation budget, so it’s no surprise they had a field day transforming this dated 1970s abode into a forever family home. As Susan put it, “Y’all, this is amazing!” And it truly is. The Napiers honoured the home’s original style, but gave it a contemporary spirit that the Ladd’s can truly call their own!