After a Heartbreaking Loss, Ben and Erin Napier Design a Fresh Start in a $110,000 Craftsman Home for Their Longtime Friend

Kendall was a longtime friend and colleague of Ben and Erin Napier, and after tragically losing her husband in a car accident, she turned to the design duo to help her create a fresh start in a new home in Laurel, Mississippi. She’d lived in the country with her husband, but wanted a community and neighbourhood where friends and family would be close by to support her. Ben and Erin threw themselves into helping Kendall, finding the perfect 1940s craftsman home, and transforming it into a cozy, light-filled retreat, all for $235,000.

Read: Home Town’s Ben and Erin Napier Risk It All on a $65,000 Blush Pink Craftsman Bungalow

Even pre-renovation, there was a lot to love about the original McCraney house. It was listed for $110,000 (well within Kendall’s $225,000 budget), and had a charming front entrance, with a double staircase draped in ivy (perhaps a touch too much ivy). Erin’s vision for the home helped Kendall seal the deal. They planned to paint the exterior siding an earthy grey-green, paint the window trim white, fix the broken sidewalk, and trim back the ivy. All in, the exterior upgrades would cost $40,000 (well worth it when you consider the value of curb appeal!).

Erin and Ben brought Kendall into the renovated kitchen first, which was the most dramatic part of the renovation. The original kitchen was butter yellow, with dated wallpaper and a motif painted on the cabinets. Post-renovation, the kitchen is modern and airy, thanks to Erin reconfiguring the layout, and opting for a neutral colour palette. Our favourite feature of the makeover was an ode to the former owner, Martha McCraney, whose recipes had been left, scribbled on paper on the inside of a cabinet door. Erin saved them before the cabinets were ripped out, and had them placed back inside the new cabinetry.

In the original layout, the butler’s pantry was hidden behind a wall and cut off from the kitchen. Erin brought the wall down, expanding the size of the room, and making the butler’s pantry not only a focal point, but a functioning storage unit (the butler’s pantry was actually the reason Kendall decided to buy the house!). The mint green coat of paint helps the beautiful piece stand out in the cream kitchen, and feels like a subtle nod to its retro heritage.

Read more: 14 Ways Home Town’s Ben and Erin Napier Modernized Older Homes Without Losing Their Charm

It was important for Erin to ensure that the home felt warm and inviting; a cozy respite for Kendall to continue her process of healing after the tragic death of her husband, while also finding inspiration to start a new chapter. This living room definitely captures a sense of love and security, with its warm colours, while balancing a fresh energy thanks to upbeat prints and lots of lighting and plants.

With older craftsman homes, you won’t find a modern, open-concept layout. Rooms are separated, which may not be on trend, currently, but makes for very cozy spaces, like the dining room. While the living room was made to feel inviting and casual, the dining room has a hint of formality, thanks to the elegant chandelier Erin chose, an updated fireplace, and regal floor-to-ceiling drapes.

Read more: Ben and Erin Napier Restore This 1920s Craftsman Home to Its Former Beauty and Charm

A sunroom flooded with natural light was the perfect spot for a home office. Erin kept furnishings minimal, which creates a serene, uncluttered space, ideal for crossing tasks off the to-do list.

It’s not every day you see a wallpapered ceiling fan to match a room’s walls! Almost the entire home had been wallpapered, which, in 2021 might look dated, but spoke to the love and care the original owner had put into the McCraney home. Still, with all the renovations required (including a brand new master bathroom), the renovations exceeded Kendall’s original reno budget of $115,000. She happily increased it by $10,000, for a total of $125,000 ($235,000 all in for the house and renovations).

Erin always finds a way to add personal touches to her projects, but this one is hands down our favourite and most heartwarming. Kendall had shared love notes from her late husband, which Erin then took and embroidered onto the quilt folded across the bed. When Kendall saw the quilt, it brought tears to her eyes (and ours), and made us love Erin even more than we already did.

Read: Ben and Erin Napier Give Newlyweds a Fresh Start in a $200,000 Family Home After Tragedy

Here is a closer look at the embroidery Erin had done for Kendall. This labour-of-love included embroidering her husband’s exact hand writing and included little details like the hearts and exclamation marks he wrote in the original letter. Erin used a lighter thread so that the letter was subtle but just dark enough so that Kendall could read it at night when she was missing him or needed comforting.

Watch a video of how Erin created this deeply personalized and comforting embroidered piece.

Kendall wasn’t the only one treated to a thoughtful DIY. Ben built this handsome dog bed for Kendall’s massive great dane, Hans.

Read more: How to Remove the Smell of Dog and Cat in Your Home (We Still Love You Pets!)

A spare bedroom was converted into a master bathroom, to create the ultimate suite for Kendall to enjoy and unwind in after a long day. This was the portion of the renovation that tipped the budget over slightly, but as Kendall said, it was worth every penny. Thanks to Erin’s heart-warming designs, and Ben’s restorative renovations, the home was brought back to life, and is now the perfect setting for Kendall to begin a new chapter.

Related: Watch a video of this episode’s reveal and see Kendall’s reaction.