Home Town: The Church House

Ben and Erin help a local minister and his wife reimagine and reinvent their current home, transforming it to better accommodate their large family while incorporating some novel and as classic stylistic elements.

By: David L. Haynes

Show: Home Town

Related To:

Shop This Look

Photo By: Laura Good

Photo By: Laura Good,Laura Good,Laura Good

Photo By: Laura Good

Photo By: Laura Good,Laura Good,Laura Good

Photo By: Laura Good

Miracles Happen

Erin and Ben take on a project in the nearby town of Ellisville, Mississippi — just a few miles down the road from Laurel. Their clients are Charlie Turner, minister at the Ellisville Presbyterian Church, and his wife Melissa. The couple and their five kids have been living in the clergy home provided to them by the church. The house is functional, but stylistically it's far from their dream home. Erin and Ben aim to help them change that.

Before

Prior to the renovation, the house was '70s ranch-style basic — with plain brick exterior, dated iron porch columns and no defining features. Though it served the basic purpose as a place to call home, Melissa likened its outward appearance as "like a place you'd go to renew your driver's license."

After

The Turner home now features a freshly painted exterior in cream white, contrasting black window trim and natural-wood accents.

From: Erin Napier and Ben Napier

After

Unfinished cypress columns and support beams, and a new and stylistically coordinated front door, help redefine the look of the home's entry.

The Big Idea

Erin and Ben's biggest renovation concept for this project was to enclose the carport, creating an addition to expand the home's living space and the overall footprint.

Creativity in Action

Ben sketches out a design idea for the enhanced layout for the Turners' home.

Work in Progress

Living Room, Before

In the renovation plan, the old living room seen here will actually become a girls' bedroom for the Turner's two daughters. The enclosed carport becomes the new living room.

Living Room, After

Barely recognizable from it's former incarnation, the carport has been transformed into a spacious, functional and stylish living room.

Living Room, After

Erin furnished the new living space in keeping with Melissa's design style, which she describes as "eclectic, vibrant, colorful, and a little bohemian."

Living Room, After

The black door at right is the original solid wood door, now updated with a distinctive new look, which opens onto a newly modernized laundry room.

Living Room, After

"I wanted the living room to feel eclectic and bohemian, but not be too precious," said Erin. "I want everything to be durable and comfortable."

Living Room, After

Living Room, Detail

The vintage desk in the living room was salvaged from one of the old Sunday-school rooms in Charlie's church.

Living Room, Detail

Foyer, After

Kitchen, Before

The old kitchen had floor-tile countertops, dated cabinetry and yellowed laminate flooring.

Kitchen, After

A wall was removed to open up the kitchen and a new cased opening provides a transition into a newly defined foyer and the new living room.

Kitchen, After

The old damaged vinyl flooring has been replaced with sheet laminate in patterned gray, selected for its affordability but also stylistically in keeping with the home's new modern motif.

Kitchen, After

Both the upper and lower cabinetry are actually the original cabinets, also an option to help keep costs low, but they have been refaced and raised to ceiling height, repainted in vibrant blue and updated with new hardware. An integrated refrigerator enclosure helps further streamline the look.

Kitchen, Before

Prior to the renovation, the kitchen was lacking in storage and adequate counter space.

Kitchen, After

Highlights in the kitchen include additional counter space and prep area, butcherblock countertops and a new vent hood with Moroccan tile accent.

Dining Room, Before

The space that was serving as a dining room was actually a pass-through between the kitchen and the old living room.

Dining Room, After

Adding a wall for the separation of this space from the new bedroom helped create a real dining room that is separate and defined.

Dining Room, After

Erin and Ben created a cozy space with a custom-built table and seating made from church pews. Ben customized the pews to create a L-shaped bench which, paired with vintage wooden chairs, provides comfortable seating for up to six.

Dining Room, After

Before

The old living room gets repurposed as part of the remodel and renovation.

After

The old living room has been transformed into a fun and feminine space for the Turners' daughters, Stella and Millie.

Before

After

The twin beds were custom built by Ben and have upholstered headboards with durable stain-resistant fabric.

After

The new girls' bedroom features a large closet with customized shelving and clothes hanging space.

As seen on Home Town, the Turner residence has been fully renovated by Ben and Erin Napier. After renovations, their Laurel, MS home now features a new living space after the carport was converted.

Before

Prior to the renovation, the house exterior was lacking in visual style and personality.

After

The exterior now has a stylized and cohesive look, a striking palette and natural wood for a softening accent. The new wooden planters provide additional landscaping as well as a visual element that creates an enhanced line for the addition that was previously the carport.

The Reveal: The Turner Home

Charlie and Melissa get their first look at their newly renovated home.

The Reveal: The Turner Home

Behind the Scenes

Erin and Mallorie but some finishing touches on the staging of the dining room, prior to the final reveal.

Behind the Scenes

Ben and his brother Jesse are ready to start another custom project in the Scotsman Co. woodshop.

Behind the Scenes

Erin adds new plants tothe vertical garden on the front porch. The living wall replaces the home's original front door.

Measure Twice ...

Erin and Ben work together in the prep for the new bathroom renovation.

... Then Get Some Rest

Ben opts for a purely practical approach when it comes to taking bathtub measurements.

Behind the Scenes

Ben and Erin do some of the preliminary work on the kitchen renovation.

Behind the Scenes

With the kitchen renovation complete, Erin puts some final staging touches in place — including, of course, cupcakes.

Finis

Keep checking back at Home Town Central for more new photo galleries, Home Town news and exclusive video including the special digital companion series, Erin'spired.

Home Town: The Church House

Related To:

Shop This Look

Miracles Happen

Before

After

After

The Big Idea

Creativity in Action

Work in Progress

Living Room, Before

Living Room, After

Living Room, After

Living Room, After

Living Room, After

Living Room, After

Living Room, After

Living Room, After

Living Room, After

Living Room, After

Living Room, Detail

Living Room, Detail

Foyer, After

Kitchen, Before

Kitchen, After

Kitchen, After

Kitchen, After

Kitchen, Before

Kitchen, After

Dining Room, Before

Dining Room, After

Dining Room, After

Dining Room, After

Before

After

Before

After

After

After

Before

After

The Reveal: The Turner Home

The Reveal: The Turner Home

The Reveal: The Turner Home

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

Measure Twice ...

... Then Get Some Rest

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

Finis

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