Erin Napier's Cost-Effective Kitchen Countertop Trick is So Clever

A kitchen is the heart of a home, but getting the renovations right can be pricey. Luckily, we have our resident guiding star when it comes to polished Americana designs (and budget-friendly) cook space makeovers: Home Town host Erin Napier.

During the Home Town reveal of one of her latest projects — a house on the outskirts of Laurel that she and husband Ben Napier renovated as a staycation getaway for their own family — Erin shared an ingenious go-around for capturing that perfectly lived-in, English-countryside kitchen ambiance with soapstone countertops.

Erin's Soapstone Look, For Less

“We wanted soapstone, but our pocketbooks didn’t want soapstone,” said Ben during the reveal of their home on HGTV.

“This isn’t a Nancy Myers movie,” Erin added. “So we have granite — black mist leathered granite — which is the exact same look [as soapstone] and also [a fraction] of the price.”

Like soapstone, granite with a “leathered” finish has a textured, less shiny appearance than polished granite, giving it the worn look Erin wanted. Because of its dimple-like texture, which is created by impressing diamond-tipped brushes into the stone, it does a good job hiding smudges and water spots.

Erin's inspiration for the space was Ms. Pattmore’s kitchen in Downton Abbey. "I want a kitchen that looks like a million recipes have already been cooked in there the day I step in for the first time," said Erin.

The Napier's tied together the rest of the timeless design with warm buttercream V-groove paneling, wood beams custom built by Ben and vintage-inspired appliances.

Bring the Look Home

To get the same soapstone look in your own space, look for granite described as "matte" or "honed." (This just means the granite was never buffed to receive the polished finish of traditional granite.) Lowe’s, Arizona Tile and Bedrosians have a variety of options.

Check out the full tour of Ben and Erin's Southern staycation house for even more brilliant ideas on how to achieve their timeless country style. You can follow Erin on Instagram @erinnapier and Ben @scotsman.co and catch up on episodes of Home Town on discovery+.