Home Town's Ben and Erin Napier Revive an Abandoned "Scary Movie" Cabin Overrun With Wildlife

When every other contractor turned down the project, Kevin, a music producer with dreams of transforming his father’s abandoned cabin into a calming oasis, turned to the only duo crazy enough to take it on: Home Town‘s Ben and Erin Napier. With a budget of $90,000 (that quickly grew to $100,000), Ben and Erin took on this passion project and created an idyllic escape in the woods (after evicting the wildlife squatting inside, of course!).

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A dark wood cabin with a moss green porch

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A Cozy “Home Town” Cabin in Laurel, Mississippi

It took an investment of $100,000 and a whole lot of love and elbow grease to restore this one-bedroom cabin after it sat abandoned for decades. The owner, Kevin, a music producer splitting his time between Nashville and Laurel, had searched high and low for a contractor to help restore the property he’d inherited from his father, but the only duo crazy enough to agree were Home Town‘s Ben and Erin Napier (they just can’t say no to a home with heart and history).

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An Abandoned 1980s Cabin in the Woods

The cabin was in very rough shape when Ben and Erin got their hands on it. They knew immediately that the majority of Kevin’s $90,000 reno budget would have to go towards structural upgrades, like a new roof, a repaired chimney and porch, and electrical work and plumbing. In fact, the budget very quickly increased to $100,000 when it was discovered that the roof had basically rotted away. In the end, the extra investment was worth it: a new vaulted ceiling helped create a beautiful open and airy space, with optimal acoustics for Kevin!

Watch a short video of this Home Town makeover.

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Cue the Cozy Cabin Vibes

Erin wanted the cabin to feel nestled in the woods, so she chose a palette of moss green and stone grey for the exterior, but inside, added a few pops of earthy and warm hues to make it feel cozy and inviting. The colours pair perfectly with all of the reclaimed hardwood that graces the walls, floors and furniture.

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The Original Cabin Interior

Prior to the renovation, the cabin interior was dark (and super depressing). The windows were small, and the dark wood ceiling was oppressive. Thankfully, Erin and Ben could see the potential in the space, and set about raising the ceiling and updating the fireplace to make it a focal point.

A cabin living room with a stone fireplace

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A Gorgeous Stone Hearth to Gather Round

Erin gave the fireplace a facelift by mounting a proper mantel, but left the original stonework to maintain the cabin’s rustic history. Kevin was blown away when he toured the space, and could instantly envision himself sitting by the fire, enjoying peace and solitude in his cabin, while writing music.

Moss green cabinets with an extra long kitchen island

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A Moss Green Cabin Kitchen

The kitchen might just be the most jaw-dropping part of this cabin makeover. Erin kept the original layout, and managed to repurpose the original cabinetry and wood island, but everything got a facelift. The cabinets received new doors, painted in a moss green to match the home’s exterior, and Ben had custom pulls made by a local blacksmith.

Ben and Erin Napier standing in the kitchen

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Ben and Erin Napier in the Fresh, Green Kitchen

It’s no secret that Erin was skeptical of taking on this cabin (she called it an excellent set for a scary movie!) but like everything she sets her mind to, Erin gave the makeover her all, and the results speak for themselves. The kitchen is unrecognizable, it’s fresh, charming, and utterly unique (and has us seriously considering moss green cabinets for our dream kitchen board on Pinterest).

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A Moody Blue Bedroom

The cabin is only 1000 square feet, and with Kevin’s $100,000 renovation budget, Ben and Erin were able to renovate the entire space, bedroom and bathroom included. They reconfigured both spaces to allow for the addition of a washer and dryer in the bathroom, and a handy cedar closet in the bedroom.

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Check Out This Magnificent Bathroom Makeover

This bathroom might have had a checkered past, but moving forward, all we see is Buffalo check! After shifting out a closet, Erin made room for this large vanity, and mixed modern elements with the home’s original, rustic, wood walls. The overall look is cool and contemporary, not at all what you’d expect from a 1980’s cabin bathroom!

An open-concept cabin living room and kitchen

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We’ve Got Cabin Fever

Looking at this open-concept cabin, you’d never believe it had become overrun by wildlife: a buzzard named Ricky was one animal who called this home. Ben and Erin were able to see through the dust and debris (and the squatter) and breathe new life into this beautiful, old home.