Inside Erin Napier's new 'English-countryside-inspired' home – where British tradition meets American charm

Erin and Ben Napier are synonymous with sweet, Southern style – warming woods, eclectic prints, and country-chic furnishings included.

On HGTV's Home Town, they made their name designing local properties around Laurel, Mississippi – most of which pay homage to this homey aesthetic. But what about their own home? The couple has often treated their social followers to glimpses of their family home over recent years. However, Erin and Ben recently finished decorating their new, larger farmhouse, purchased in 2021. 

Naturally, the home became an ongoing project for the couple, who were free to experiment with the traditional decorating ideas they are already associated with. The British-style farmhouse is the perfect canvas for these timeless design quirks – featuring wooden panels, Shaker kitchen, and chintz wallpaper, naturally. 

'It’s been the joy of my career to design another house for us, but this time as an hour-long HGTV Home Town documentary,' Erin announced via Instagram in late 2022. Since then, we've come across even more photos of the sought-after home – including (what looks to be) the study and the light yellow kitchen inspired by Downton Abbey. 

'I was so inspired by Ms. Patmore’s kitchen from Downton Abbey and tried to match that buttery worn golden cream color of the cabinets,' Erin comments. 'The beams Ben Napier built to replicate the original trim throughout the house feels like it’s always been there, and I can’t imagine the kitchen without them now.'

In the country kitchen, the designer chose a Blue Star fridge, range, and hood, and opted for a brown black for the enamel 'in a nod to antique kitchen appliances and to work with [her] honed black mist granite countertops'.

The third slide on the photo carousel sees the revival of another classical design trend, bobbin, which first emerged in the 17th century. 

'The bobbin poster bed in our room was handcrafted from mahogany by our dear friend Andrew Reid – the expert in heirloom bed design,' Erin comments. 'And I made a custom design for our bathroom floors in collaboration with Mirth Studio, inspired by European bistro tile but with the warmth of this old Tudor and all its 1920s millwork.'

At a glance, the living room (seen above) looks to have been meticulously redesigned to perfectly pay homage to the couple's unmistakable aesthetic. However, Erin explains that, of all the rooms, this one didn't need renovation. 'We just updated the cream paint to show off the woodwork and replaced the light fixtures. The way the sun streams inside every morning takes my breath away,' she says.

'The sofa table is an old store fixture that we used to use in the Scotsman Company general store, but I stole it, and now it's my candle storage cabinet (and every other odd and end you can imagine). The blue and white sofa is the Sylvie sectional by Rowe Furniture and is the irreverent moment in the otherwise formal room (it, and the pile of toys and tiny grocery buggies the girls keep in there).'

Though, for those looking to invest in Erin's sofa, you're out of luck. 'The oatmeal-colored sofa is 25 years old, the greatest sofa my mama ever owned that was passed down to us when we got married,' she says. 

However, Erin did have it reupholstered by a friend who added a linen blend performance fabric that's easy to clean. It's no surprise, therefore, that Erin's 'mama wants it back.' 

We certainly would too.

For yet more Erin-inspired inspiration, we're picking up a copy of Erin's newest book (available on Amazon) below.

Heirloom Rooms: Soulful Stories of Home by Erin Napier – $23.18 on Amazon
This beautifully-illustrated book is a unique celebration of the homes we live in and love. Erin tells the story of her modern family life – and the days that made her home the place she longs for when she’s away.

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