Erin Napier Shares Her Favorite Behind-the-Scenes Details from Season 7 of 'Home Town'

There's a reason we can't get enough of Home Town: small town charm. Every episode is full of smiles, heartfelt stories and history about the town of Laurel, Mississippi. Luckily, Erin has been sharing her favorite details about the designs, filming and behind-the-scenes tidbits. Read on for behind the scenes design details, Erin's personal connection to nearly every project and how they deal with the brutal Mississippi summer heat.

Season 7 kicked off with a project full of Ben and Erin's signature design moves. "We got to make a rural hideaway for the Verrettes and used natural elements, millwork and light color to make it the home they always wanted,” Erin wrote on Instagram. Built-in bookshelves and knotted wood beams add warmth to the bright and airy living room.

Crisp white uppers provide lots of storage without weighing down the space, while light gray lower cabinets, a natural Roman shade and a petite industrial pendant bring modern Craftsman charm.

In the second episode, Ben and Erin tackled a funky build with soaring ceilings and a list of interesting must-haves. “We will flex our design muscles by changing a perfectly beautiful house to be more personalized for Mike who moved to Laurel from the Pacific Northwest,” Erin shared. “There will be very fancy countertops and pickleball and hot tubs.”

“For Mike, we used luxury finishes and simplified modern lines, darker color, bits of brass and lots of bold art from his collection to change the personality of this Lowcountry style bungalow,” Erin wrote. Deep, saturated walls bring drama to the airy space. Art from Mike’s collection decorates the walls on either side of the fireplace, as well as the space above the hot tub right outside the sliding glass doors.

Episode 3 came with a special look into the place where Ben and Erin started it all. “This is a hugely important episode for us that tells the story of how we met, why our alma mater Jones College is so special to us and so many others," Erin posted on Instagram. With the help of Ben's college roomate, the Napiers updated the historic president's home. Erin made sure to include a spot for the young, musical family moving in to stylishly display their instruments.

“Last night was a homecoming as warm as fresh baked bread. Jones College will always be home for everyone who leaves it,” Erin said. She and Ben surprised the Jones College chief of staff and his wife with a sweet nursery for the newest addition to the family.

Episode 4 had a special connection to a previous Home Town project. “Angela is buying a house for her and her son. If you remember the episode from Season 5 about Lisa and Mike’s Dwell project they lovingly called Helen’s House after her mother, you’ll have to see this episode that’s a continuation of their story,” Erin shared. She infused the quaint home with warm oranges and cozy corners.

The fifth episode was not only one of the coolest restorations of the season, it also marked the 100th episode of Home Town. “A couple who are longtime Laurel business owners recently purchased an iconic historic building downtown, and they want to convert the upper level into their residence. We were tasked with turning a gymnasium-like space into a luxurious downtown loft,” Erin shared. The old ballroom was transformed into a liveable extension of the couple's renovated home complete with the original stage.

“Some behind-the-scenes of our 100th episode: The hallway of closets and pantry was a sort of fancy luxury tunnel that ends in the main bedroom. [Jeremy Thomley] saved our bacon on that light fixture because no one, not me or my design producer, had a better solution for such a massive space,” Erin wrote on Instagram. “I had doubts we could pull this one off and make it look like a home, but somehow our incredible team did it.”

The home featured in Episode 6 was aptly dubbed the “Craftorian” for its quaint Craftsman charm. As with most things in Laurel, Erin had a personal connection the the home: “Some behind-the-scenes: The upstairs was also totally redone but not featured on TV, my uncle Danny liked it when we showed it to him years ago, bought it and owned it for a short time before selling to the guy who took out a load bearing wall in the living room then gave up on it, and now it’s one of my favorites in downtown.”

In Episode 7, Erin and Ben stepped out of their comfort zones to give an aunt and niece duo a funky, colorful getaway. “Aunt Yulanda and her great niece Antinisha don’t agree on much at all, but we do our best to find some common ground for them in a midcentury cottage,” Erin posted. With plenty of storage, counterspace and room to cook, the happy spring green kitchen put a smile on both women's faces.

In Episode 8, Erin's clients were faced with a difficult decision: Should they renovate the home where they raised their son or the house homeowner Suzie was raised in and inherited from her parents? “This is, I think, one of the quintessential episodes of our entire series for a few reasons: Homeowners Scott and Suzie were my teachers when I was a little girl. This is really my hometown and getting to work with a family like the Walkers is such a special opportunity,” Erin said. “If you watch just one episode of Home Town this season, this one is it.” Spoiler alert: Suzie’s family home takes the win, and Erin turns it into a vibrant space full of art, family and history.

Episode 9 was all about giving a couple moving back to their roots the perfect balance of indoor-outdoor living — with some Old West flair thrown in. “For those of you who love design with a bit of a Western-rustic vibe, we welcome Southerners back home who have been living out West for years,” Erin shared. The spacious pool serves as a nice gathering spot on warmer days.

Episode 8 showcased a first for Ben and Erin: designing a brand new home. They still managed to imbue the new build with vintage charm by incorporating rich colors, antique furniture and plenty of millwork. “Our first new build and on a $150k budget, but we did all we could to infuse it with historic charms,” Erin shared on Instagram. “Millwork is the difference between new construction and historic homes when you’re talking interiors, and with LVT floors we needed every last bit of character inside. I love the charming awning, and it seems like they did, too.”

“This episode is another of the most authentic and emblematic stories of what it means to really be from here,” Erin wrote. “If you live in Laurel, you’ve probably met our homeowner Shug or know Sarah’s family, who has been here outside of Laurel for maaaaany generations. And if you’re not from here, watch for a masterclass in Southernisms, laugh until you cry and fall in love with this gorgeous house that used to be her grandmother’s.” A floral motif backsplash and dreamy blue cabinets come together to create the perfect countryside cottage kitchen.

Episode 12 featured another first for Ben and Erin and one of the most unique homes in Laurel. This midcentury-meets-Mediterranean abode came outfitted with a garden room and fountain that Erin turned into a potting studio for the homeowner. “The design is a jaw dropper in a home you’ve seen another homeowner pass on a few years ago. My friend [Saron] is the potter in residence and we give her family the most interesting home in Laurel,” Erin posted on Instagram.

“This was a special one for me and a tricky maneuver to pull off a kitchen Saron and Neal would be 100% happy with,” Erin shared. “We all screamed with delight when we saw it finished. 😄” Terra cotta tile ties into the home’s Mediterranean history, while worn wood beams add rustic flair. Ben built the dining table out of wood salvaged from the old kitchen.