Ben and Erin Napier transformed this home on one of Laurel's nicest streets, taking it from an ordinary brick house with lackluster exterior to a neighborhood gem with a fresh, white outside and, inside, a coastal color theme that draws on blues, greens and sandy grays.

The Crosby House is located in Laurel's historic district on one of the town's most beautiful streets. The house was built in 1962 and was home to William and Ouida Crosby. William was a mill worker in town, and the couple lived here for 40 years. The house is 2,100 square feet and comes three bedrooms and two baths. List price is $110,000. The quaint little house in a Cape Cod style is in good shape structurally, but the plain brick exterior and dated ironwork leave it lacking in visual flair.

The exterior gets a substantial facelift with a shingle roof in dark green that provides a colorful contrast to the ivory-white of the brick. "There's just nothing that looks more crisp and fresh than a green and white cottage," said Erin. Other new exterior enhancements include a wood accent above the entrance and a carefully selected shade of yellow for the front door that integrates nicely with the creamy white of the brick.

A walkable neighborhood was a high priority on the clients' wish list, and the street where the house is located provides exactly that, with its corridor of regal and long-established oak trees.