Home Town:
Move It or Lose It

Moving day takes on a new meaning when Erin and Ben agree to help clients Robyn and Cassidy move — then renovate — a family farmhouse home that had belonged to Robyn's great-grandmother.

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February 16, 2018

By: David L. Haynes

Show: Home Town

Related To:

Shop This Look

Photo By: Todd Douglas/ Verbatim

Photo By: Laura Armour

Photo By: Todd Douglas/ Verbatim

Photo By: Laura Armour

Photo By: Todd Douglas/ Verbatim

Movers and Shakers

For this project Erin and Ben did something they'd definitely never done before — pick up and move an entire house. "Robyn and Cassidy came to us with a pretty interesting idea, " said Ben. "They want us to move and then renovate her great-grandmother's home... I mean, that's like the ultimate family heirloom."

Before

The house, built in 1938, had belonged to client Robyn's great-grandmother, and sat on what was once a dairy farm. When the land was sold, the new owner didn't want to keep the house. Robyn and her husband Cassidy decided to — if possible — move the house to another tract of land they owned. Ben and Erin agreed to oversee the move and then, if the house survived, renovate it. The house came with two bedrooms, 1800 square feet and desirable features like high ceilings, hardwood floors and original bead-board. It also had three separate front entrances, a rotting porch and two missing support columns.

After

Aside from one collapsed brick chimney and fireplace, the house move was a success. The newly refurbished exterior returns the house to its craftsman style roots with a full-width porch, new railing and tapered columns.

From: Erin Napier and Ben Napier

Meet the Homeowners

Cassidy (L) and Robyn (C) Rahaim pose for a pic with Ben and Erin in the new bedroom for the Rahaim's daughter, Holly. The Rahaim's budget was $100,000, of which $15,000 would be required for the house move, leaving a renovation budget of around $85,000.

Front Porch, Before

The front porch had a rotted floor, three separate front dooras and, with some of the support columns missing, was structurally compromised.

Front Porch, After

The porch is entirely rebuilt with new wood flooring, new railing, tapered columns and iron chandelier for exterior lighting. It's a space that positively cries out for classic wooden rockers.

Front Entry, Detail

Two of the "extra" front doors were replaced with large new windows, trimmed in seafoam green, and the front door is painted mustard yellow.

Living Room, Before

Two separate spaces inside the main entrance had high ceilings and original wood floors, but each room had a fairly small footprint and felt cramped.

Living Room and Foyer, After

Ben and Erin opened up a wall and added a high cased opening, creating a combined foyer and living room that has a light and open feel. A smaller cased archway opens onto the newly remodeled dining room.

Living Room and Foyer, After

A second high cased opening now opens onto the newly refurbished kitchen.

Living Room, Foyer and Kitchen, After

The front section of the home now has an uninterrupted sight line spanning the width of the house, from the living room to the new kitchen.

Living Room, After

The refurbished living room includes refinished original hardwood floors, new crown molding and a classic light fixture with mercury-glass shade.

Living Room, Detail

Ben refurbished this antique bench using wood reclaimed from part of the home demolition.

Living Room, After

The original brick fireplace was damaged during the move, but in its place is a built-in bookcase created by modifying the fireplace mantel and surround.

Living Room, Detail

Dining Room, Before

Dining Room, After

Acoustic tile ceiling and painted plywood were removed, revealing the original wood paneling and ceiling, far more in keeping with authentic farmhouse style.

Dining Room, Before

Dining Room, After

Cassidy and Ben worked together to create the custom wood dining table.

Dining Room, After

Before

The kitchen was cramped and awkward but would be reimagined as a new bedroom and playroom for Robyn and Cassidy's daughter, Holly.

Girl's Playroom, After

The newly refashioned space is ideally suited for a young girl and left room for a spacious closet.

Before

Girl's Bedroom, After

The room retains original French doors, and an alcove with built-in shelving provides a cozy bed nook with integrated drawer storage.

Girl's Bedroom, After

From: Erin Napier

Girl's Bedroom, Detail

Before

After

Before

In the renovated home, this sunroom at the rear of the house would become the new kitchen.

After

Utilizing this space allowed for a kitchen much larger than the home's original one, now converted into Holly's bedroom.

Kitchen, After

The new kitchen features a original bead-board, subway tile, farmhouse sink and a vintage schoolhouse light.

Kitchen, After

For an authentic country-home feel, Erin opted for a painted wood floor, using a rich brick-red oil-based floor paint accented by an ornately patterned rug that ties in with the color scheme.

Kitchen, Detail

Ben fashioned these custom vertical dish racks that provide plenty of storage but allow light from the windows to show through.

Before

After

The Reveal

Robyn and Cassidy check out the custom dining table in the newly renovated farm house.

Behind the Scenes

Ben and Erin work together to transform the mantel, from the fireplace that was damaged in the move, into a built-in bookcase.

Behind the Scenes

Erin and her friend Mallorie select a vintage schoolhouse lamp for use in the Rahaim's home.

Behind the Scenes

Erin and Mallorie on a shopping expedition

Behind the Scenes

Ben works on the restoration of the front porch for the Rahaim house.

Behind the Scenes

Ben inspects a vintage train-station style bench that he refurbhished for the Rahaim project.

Behind the Scenes

Just prior to the reveal, Erin puts some finishing touches on the staging in the newly relocated kitchen.

Behind the Scenes

Erin adds some decorative touches to the new bedroom for the Rahaim's daughter, Holly.

Y'all Please Do Come Back!

If you enjoyed this Home Town renovation, we think you'd also like: "A 1920s Craftsman for a Nashville Songwriter". And keep checking back here for more new galleries, exclusive videos and Home Town updates.

Home Town: Move It or Lose It

Related To:

Shop This Look

Movers and Shakers

Before

After

Meet the Homeowners

Front Porch, Before

Front Porch, After

Front Entry, Detail

Living Room, Before

Living Room and Foyer, After

Living Room and Foyer, After

Living Room, Foyer and Kitchen, After

Living Room, After

Living Room, Detail

Living Room, After

Living Room, Detail

Dining Room, Before

Dining Room, After

Dining Room, Before

Dining Room, After

Dining Room, After

Before

Girl's Playroom, After

Before

Girl's Bedroom, After

Girl's Bedroom, After

Girl's Bedroom, Detail

Before

After

Before

After

Kitchen, After

Kitchen, After

Kitchen, Detail

Before

After

The Reveal

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

Y'all Please Do Come Back!

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