A Touch of Provence in Southern Mississippi

As seen on Home Town, the existing exterior of the Carson house was lost on the street with plain white siding and few distinguishing feaures. After the renovations, their Laurel, MS house now features a new copper roof entry portico, cedar window boxes to highlight the painted blue wood windows, new wood shutters and a fir wood door. Host Ben Napier custom built the new working blue wood shutters. (after)

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Storybook Cottage Feel

With a few imaginative embellishments, and a hint of whimsy, Erin and Ben transformed a plain, boxy house that hardly warranted a second look into this eye-catching charmer, one of the most interesting houses on the street.

Neutral Kitchen with white Limestone Countertops

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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French Country Cozy

Without doubt the star of the renovation is this newly expanded kitchen with its coffered ceilings, reclaimed wood beams, limestone countertops and a warm, earthy feel.

Brown Living Room with Pine Ceiling Beams

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Euro-Inspired Interiors

Reclaimed wood beams are used in the living room as well, helping give the space a warm and insular feel.

As seen on Home Town, the Carson’s Laurel, MS house had a plain dining room lacking style before renovations by hosts Ben and Erin Napier. After the renovations, the Carson's Laurel, MS dining room now features newly painted gray walls with a white wainscott, updated blinds and drapes, a new china cabinet along with new drop cloth chair covers that host Erin Napier created. (after)

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Grounded in Gray

The dining room has a tranquil, soothing feel with its soft gray walls, white wainscoting and informal furnishings including linen slipcovered chairs.

As seen on Home Town, homeowners Scott and Linda Carson (R) stand with hosts Ben and Erin Napier (L) outside their newly renovated home. After the renovations, their Laurel, MS house now features a new copper roof entry portico, cedar window boxes, new wood shutters and a fir wood door. The interior features a completely renovated French Country style living room, dining room and kitchen with new distressed cabinet doors, new floor and wall tile, new heart pine reclaimed beams and a custom built Scotsman white oak table built by host Ben Napier. (portrait)

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Meet the Homeowners

New homeowners Scott and Linda Carson (R) pose for a pic with Ben and Erin outside the newly refurbished home. Scott and Linda are newcomers to town and have eclectic and discerning tastes. Scott is a retired Army chaplain, and the couple lived in cities all over the US as well as overseas — in Italy, France, Germany and Belgium. They're eager to settle into a quieter, small-town life. "We're looking to downsize," said Scott. "I just want a comfortable atmosphere, just something that fits our personality." Linda, who values dining and food preparation as an experience, is hoping for a chef's kitchen. "I would love a French country kitchen," she says, "that would give me the atmosphere of being in Europe again."

From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Before

The Cater House. Prior the renovation, this modest 1940s-era Cape Cod could practically have gone unnoticed with it's plain all-white palette and few distinguishing features. It came with three bedrooms, two baths and 2150 square feet. The asking price was $107,000, leaving a potential renovation budget of $63,000.

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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After

The feature that really transforms the look of the house is a new arched portico over the front door with rolled copper roof, bead board underside and side trellises. Other defining exterior features include a new front door in natural wood finish, pine window boxes and custom-made working shutters with black metal shutter-dogs to tie in with the iron railing.

From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Living Room, Before

The living room, like much of the house, had well preserved and beautiful hardwood floors but, aside from that, the room was plain and had little personality.

Neutral Living Room with Brown Coffee Table

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Living Room, After

Erin's designs drew on the Carson's preference for French Country style and create a warm, welcoming feel.

From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Living Room, Before

The plain white-on-white motif, with no contrasting elements, gave rise to a bland color palette for which Erin coined the name "Homemade Marshmallow." The fireplace, which could potentially be the focal point of the room, is visually lost against the wash of white.

Neutral Living Room with Reclaimed Wood Beams

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Living Room, After

The wood beams in natural finish, and the simple but elegant furnishings, provide contrast and give the room a whole new life. The beams are from reclaimed wood that came from Sweetwater Mill near Huntsville, Alabama. The lumber specialist estimates that the tree from which the lumber was milled was 250 to 300 years old when it was cut down.

From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Living Room, Before

Neutral Living Room with Whitewashed Fireplace Surround

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Living Room, After

The real show piece in the new living room is the newly designed but old-world inspired fireplace. The surround was built out using vintage bricks and covered in white mortar for a whitewashed and textured finish that makes it look as if it had been there for generations.

From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Dining Room, Before

Gray Dining Room with Drop Cloth Chair Covers

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Dining Room, After

The walls are painted in soft gray with white trim. The original wainscoting is retained and given a fresh coat of paint, and a new light fixture is added along with new draperies.

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Dining Room, After

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Dining Room, After

The linen slipcovers for the dining room chairs were custom made by Erin.

From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Sitting Room, Before

This room off the main living room could serve as a home office or library.

Neutral Sitting Room with Brown Leather Chairs

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Sitting Room, After

Using two generously large leather chairs, side table and rustic console bookshelves, Erin staged the space as a reading room — the perfect spot to seek solitude and enjoy a quiet read.

From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Kitchen, Before

Prior to the renovation the kitchen was small and nondescript. The existing three-inch concrete countertops were deemed to be too high for the new kitchen design.

Neutral Kitchen with White Oak Prep Table

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Kitchen, After

The old countertops were replaced with buttery smooth limestone. The original cabinets were retained but enhanced with new trim and white paint, and the doors given a slightly distressed finish to augment the French Country motif.

From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Kitchen, Before

Neutral Kitchen with Reclaimed Wood Beams

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Kitchen, After

The new kitchen has coffered ceiling with the same vintage reclaimed wood beams as seen in the living room, and a new floor in contrasting stone tile. The signature feature is the bakery table custom made by Ben from sturdy white oak. "White oak's really hard to work with," said Ben, "but it's going to be beautiful when we're finished, and the more they use it, the better it'll be...This will be one of those pieces of furniture that stays in a family forever, and that makes me so happy."

From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Kitchen, Before

Neutral Kitchen with Custom Made Basket-Light

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Kitchen, After

In another signature touch, in addition to new recessed lighting, Erin added a single pendant basket-light that she custom made using an old basket found at a local salvage shop.

As seen on Home Town, the Carson’s Laurel, MS house had a cramped kitchen and was lacking personality before renovations by hosts Ben and Erin Napier. After renovations, the home now features an updated larger French Country styled kitchen complete with new limestone countertops, stainless steel appliances, new wall and floor tile, distressed cabinet doors and a custom built white oak prep table built by host Ben Napier. (After)

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Kitchen, After

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Kitchen, Detail

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Kitchen, Detail

This kitchen has so much personality, and I think it's really the Carsons' personality.
—Erin Napier

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Kitchen, Detail

Ben used a remnant from the white oak used for the bakery table to create a custom cutting board, bearing the trademark 'Scotsman' logo of Ben's woodshop.

As seen on Home Town, homeowners Scott and Linda Carson (L) react to the reveal of their newly renovated kitchen by hosts Ben and Erin Napier (R). After the renovations, their Laurel, MS kitchen now features a completely renovated French Country styled kitchen with new distressed cabinet doors, new appliances, new floor and wall tile, new heart pine reclaimed beams and a custom built Scotsman white oak table built by host Ben Napier. (After/ Reveal)

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Behind the Scenes: The Reveal

As seen on Home Town, homeowners Scott and Linda Carson (L) react to the reveal of their newly renovated kitchen by hosts Ben and Erin Napier (R). Host Ben Napier points out the basket ceiling pendant that host Erin Napier built from a basket she found at a flea market and a pendant light kit. Her total costs were 30 dollars in comparison to a similar fixture that costs over 300 dollars. After the renovations, their Laurel, MS kitchen now features a completely renovated French Country styled kitchen with new distressed cabinet doors, new appliances, new floor and wall tile, new heart pine reclaimed beams and a custom built Scotsman white oak table built by host Ben Napier. (After/ Reveal)

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Behind the Scenes: The Reveal

As seen on Home Town, hosts Ben and Erin Napier (L) present homeowners Scott and Linda Carson (R) with a gift of the original hand sketch drawn by host Erin at the beginning of the Carson renovation. (After/ Reveal)

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Behind the Scenes: The Reveal

Ben and Erin present the Carsons with a framed copy of Erin's original artistic rendering of the house.

As seen on Home Town, homeowners Scott and Linda Carson (R) stand with hosts Ben and Erin Napier (L) in the newly renovated kitchen. After the renovations, their Laurel, MS kitchen now features a completely renovated French Country styled kitchen with new distressed cabinet doors, new appliances, new floor and wall tile, new heart pine reclaimed beams and a custom built Scotsman white oak table built by host Ben Napier. (portrait)

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Behind the Scenes, The Reveal

As seen on Home Town, hosts Ben and Erin Napier (C) stand in the newly renovated kitchen. After the renovations, the Carson's Laurel, MS kitchen now features a completely renovated French Country styled kitchen with new distressed cabinet doors, new appliances, new floor and wall tile, new heart pine reclaimed beams and a custom built Scotsman white oak table built by host Ben Napier. (portrait)

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Behind the Scenes

As seen on Home Town, Ben (L) and Erin Napier (C) stand in the Carson family residence's kitchen after completely removing the 3 inch concrete countertop from the existing cabinets without damaging the wood cabinets. (demolition, portrait)

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Behind the Scenes: Demo Day

As seen on Home Town, Ben (L) and Erin Napier (C) discuss how quickly the concrete countertops came off in the Carson family residence's kitchen after completely removing the 3 inch concrete countertop from the existing cabinets without damaging the wood cabinets. (demolition)

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Behind the Scenes: Demo Day

As seen on Home Town, Ben Napier (C) hammers a crow bar into the 3 inch thick concrete countertops in the Carson family residence's kitchen while trying to preserve the wood cabinetry below. (demolition)

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Behind the Scenes: Demo Day

Ben works on removal of the three-inch-thick concrete countertops in the old kitchen.

As seen on Home Town, Ben (L) and Erin Napier (C) work on breaking up and removing the 3 inch thick concrete countertops in the Carson family residence's kitchen while trying to preserve the wood cabinetry below. (demolition)

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Behind the Scenes: Demo Day

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images

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Behind the Scenes: Demo Day

As seen on Home Town, Erin Napier (C) works with contractor Jonathan Walters (L) to remove the old storm windows from the exterior of the house. They need to examine the main windows to verify what condition they are in and if they will need replacing as well. (demolition)

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Behind the Scenes, Demo Day

As seen on Home Town, Erin Napier (C) works on removing the wood hearth from the living room fireplace in the Carson family residence. She uses caution to ensure that the hearth comes off in one piece and can be saved and restored at a later date. (demolition)

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Behind the Scenes

Erin works on carefully removing the existing wood mantel in the living room since the new design features a new and larger fireplace surround made from vintage brick for a more Old World look.

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Behind the Scenes

As seen on Home Town, Erin Napier (C) works with contractor Joshua Nicaud (L) to carefully remove the wood hearth from the living room fireplace in the Carson family residence. Once all the nails have been pried loose, they slowly pull the hearth away from the wall. (demolition)

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Behind the Scenes

Erin carefully removes the old mantel, taking care to avoid damage so the piece can be salvaged and potentially repurposed elsewhere.

As seen on Home Town, Ben (C) and Erin Napier (L) work in the Carson family residence to remove the wall paneling in the hallway beside the kitchen. To make the kitchen larger, they must remove this bearing wall and include the hallway square footage into part of the enlarged kitchen. (demolition)

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Behind the Scenes

As seen on Home Town, Ben Napier (C) stands on a ladder in the Carson family residence's hallway and explains to Erin Napier (L) how he can figure out the direction the ceiling joists are running before he removes the wood decking. He uses the direction of the decking and the nail holes to determine that the ceiling joists run from the front of the hallway to the back, which is the direction they needed the joists to run. (demolition)

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Behind the Scenes

In order to expand the footprint of the kitchen by removing a wall, Ben inspects the condition and direction of the ceiling joists to make sure there will be adequate structural support once the wall is removed.

As seen on Home Town, hosts Ben and Erin Napier (C) work on the final design decor in the kitchen. After the renovations, the Carson's Laurel, MS kitchen now features a completely renovated French Country styled kitchen with new distressed cabinet doors, new appliances, new floor and wall tile, new heart pine reclaimed beams and a custom built Scotsman white oak table built by host Ben Napier. The basket ceiling pendant that host Ben Napier is straightening was built by host Erin Napier from a basket she found at a flea market and a pendant light kit. Her total costs were 30 dollars in comparison to a similar fixture that costs over 300 dollars. (action)

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Behind the Scenes

During final staging before the reveal, Ben checks out the basket-light pendant custom made by Erin.

From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Before

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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After

It had no personality at all before; none at all. It was just a little white box, and now it is overflowing with personality. It's smiling, and it just looks so happy and inviting.
—Erin Napier

They put their heart and soul into it, and it shows. It shows in the soul of the house.
—homeowner Linda Carson

As seen on Home Town, hosts Ben and Erin Napier (C) sit outside the newly renovated Carson residence. After the renovations, the Carson's Laurel, MS house now features a new copper roof entry portico, cedar window boxes, new wood shutters and a fir wood door. The interior features a completely renovated French Country style living room, dining room and kitchen with new distressed cabinet doors, new floor and wall tile, new heart pine reclaimed beams and a custom built Scotsman white oak table built by host Ben Napier. (portrait)

Photo: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images. From: Erin Napier and Home Town

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Y'all Please Come Back

If you enjoyed this Home Town renovation, we'll just bet you'd also like this one:
From Nashville to Mississippi: A 'Home Town' Homecoming
And keep checking back here for more new galleries, exclusive video, Home Town updates and more.

A Touch of Provence in Southern Mississippi

Storybook Cottage Feel

French Country Cozy

Euro-Inspired Interiors

Grounded in Gray

Meet the Homeowners

Before

After

Living Room, Before

Living Room, After

Living Room, Before

Living Room, After

Living Room, Before

Living Room, After

Dining Room, Before

Dining Room, After

Dining Room, After

Dining Room, After

Sitting Room, Before

Sitting Room, After

Kitchen, Before

Kitchen, After

Kitchen, Before

Kitchen, After

Kitchen, Before

Kitchen, After

Kitchen, After

Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen, Detail

Kitchen, Detail

Behind the Scenes: The Reveal

Behind the Scenes: The Reveal

Behind the Scenes: The Reveal

Behind the Scenes, The Reveal

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes: Demo Day

Behind the Scenes: Demo Day

Behind the Scenes: Demo Day

Behind the Scenes: Demo Day

Behind the Scenes: Demo Day

Behind the Scenes, Demo Day

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

Before

After

Y'all Please Come Back

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