Erin and Ben Napier's Best Kitchen Designs

Take a tour of our favorite kitchen remodels from Home Town. Custom cabinetry, backsplashes, reclaimed fixtures and one-of-a-kind details are certain to inspire your own space.

March 30, 2023

By: Emily Fazio

Show: Home Town

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Photo By: Laura Good

Photo By: Todd Douglas/ Verbatim

Photo By: Laura Good

Photo By: Laura Good, Laura Good, Laura Good

Photo By: Laura Good

Photo By: Todd Douglas/ Getty Images

Photo By: Laura Good

Erin and Ben Bring Style and Function to Every Remodel

Ben and Erin Napier are on a mission to lovingly transform homes in their hometown of Laurel, Mississippi. With pride, they restore and reimagine spaces to honor and preserve historical significance. And when it comes to the kitchen — the heart of the home — the duo adds character and function without sacrificing charm. You might just say Home Town kitchen remodels take the cake.

Source a Restored Kitchen Island

A long sideboard table now acts as a narrow kitchen island in this remodel. The dark brown island, which balances out all the light cabinetry, provides additional prep space and storage for decorative items, such as mixing bowls and cake stands.

see more: 100 Beautiful Kitchen Island Inspiration Ideas

From: Erin Napier and Ben Napier

Elevate Your Ceiling

Wooden ceiling beams mirror the floors while accentuating the height of this remodeled kitchen. More charming accents — a glass-paned door and a vintage table — weave all the natural wood tones together. Pale yellow cabinets and a veined stone countertop anchor the new space.

see more: The Property Brothers' Best Kitchen Ideas From 'Forever Home'

From: Erin Napier and Ben Napier

Go for Glass-Paned Doors

They're controversial, but when styled right add sleek character to any kitchen: Glass reflects light to create a brighter space. Here, cookbooks dominate the top shelves, while neutral glassware and dinnerware decorate the middle and bottom ones.

see more: Update Kitchen Cabinets With Glass Inserts

From: Erin Napier and Ben Napier

Lean Into a One-of-a-Kind Backsplash

This fully renovated kitchen boasts new appliances, gray wooden lower cabinets and spacious, open shelving. The stunner? That backsplash. A curved white vent hood complements the cooly-shaped slab of granite built into the wall behind the induction cooktop range. Antique wooden chairs and rustic floorboards add Erin's classic charm.

SEE MORE: Home Town: The Littlest House in Laurel

From: Erin Napier and Ben Napier

Dare to Use Color

Bold, blue cabinets make a statement in this kitchen remodel. Contrasting white walls and light floors balance the deep-hued cabinets. Woven Roman window shades bring cozy texture, while an earthy butcher block countertop adds organic appeal. A new vent hood, accented with Moroccan tile, and a vintage rug tie the space's color palette together.

SEE MORE: Home Town: The Church House

From: Erin Napier and Ben Napier

Lean Into Butcher Block

Butcher block is an affordable, eco-friendly option for a kitchen remodel. Here, the Napiers went with countertops manufactured using a variety of species for a true, craftsman-like finish. To tie in the natural theme from floor to ceiling, Erin painted diamond details on the rustic hardwood floor and installed reclaimed wood shelving for glassware storage.

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From: Erin Napier and Ben Napier

Find Value in Reclaimed Materials

An industrial-cool vintage table — complete with a new, reclaimed wood countertop — functions as a one-of-a-kind island and serving table. Sage green cabinets and finished butcher block counters draw from the same earthy palette. In the adjacent room, green paneling and floor-to-ceiling curtains create a moody dining nook featuring a statement industrial pendant.

see more: Our Favorite Farmhouse Kitchen Designs From 'Farmhouse Fixer'

From: Erin Napier and Ben Napier

Embrace Your Inner Barista

Inspired by their espresso machine — which pops against a black-stained recess — these homeowners let an abundance of mint rule their kitchen's color palette. White quartz countertops add function and balance, while counter-height island seating at the island makes for a nice spot to entertain friends or serve piping-hot cappuccinos.

see more: 30+ Coffee Station Ideas for Simple or Sophisticated Spaces

From: Erin Napier and Ben Napier

Go Bigger With Windows

Three large windows above the kitchen sink offer a panoramic view of the backyard. Brick tile veneer maintains the character of this older home while functioning as a backsplash. The Napiers went with black soapstone countertops and integrated a range hood into the wooden cabinet above the cooktop.

see more: Top 36 Kitchen Paint Colors

From: Erin Napier and Ben Napier

Let Light Inside

New windows flood this formerly dark kitchen with daylight, while green cabinets create an earthy ambiance. A white stone countertop with an undermount sink adds function around the perimeter of the room, anchoring a large dining island. Ben and Erin chose a dramatic wraparound backsplash with ornate stars and blue-gray floor tile for added interest and personality in the new space.

From: Erin Napier and Ben Napier

Save Space With Built-In Appliances

Built-in double-wall ovens and an integrated microwave simplify the organization of this contemporary kitchen. Ceiling-height cabinets and a spacious island offer extra storage. Dark, woven counter-height stools contrast all the white, as well as the sleek stone countertops.

SEE MORE: 36 Before-and-After Kitchen Makeovers

From: Erin Napier and Ben Napier

Mix Pattern and Color

This bright kitchen remodel features wraparound lower cabinets (which Erin painted soft sage green) and a sweet patterned backsplash. A wicker shelf serves as plate storage on one side of the range. Erin's cool hack: A wall-mounted glazed container keeps wooden utensils handy for daily use. The butcher block kitchen island offers generous prep space.

SEE MORE: Home Town: Gone Coastal

From: Erin Napier and Ben Napier

Embrace Open Concept to Expand a Small Kitchen

Ben and Erin removed a wall in this once-cramped kitchen, opening it up into the adjacent room — then wove dark green through the space with a new island, a hand-glazed subway tile backsplash and an earthy back door. The island (topped with butcher block counters) offers generous space for dining and food prep.

SEE MORE: Home Town: Saving Jena's Childhood Home

From: Erin Napier and Ben Napier

Don’t Demo to Demo

It's not necessary to take a space down to the studs to truly transform it à la this renovation by Erin and Ben. They knocked down two walls to create an open-concept kitchen, but kept the base cabinets. Fresh French doors bring in some light. The layout of the space stayed the same, save for an expansive (new!) kitchen island, complete with an induction cooktop.

SEE MORE: Home Town: Room to Grow

From: Erin Napier and Ben Napier

Let Your Tile Make a Statement

White subway tile grouted in gray makes a subtle statement in this neutral cook space. Erin and Ben installed the tile floor-to-ceiling, beyond the traditional backsplash. Celadon-colored cabinets create a soft, welcoming ambiance, as do the stone countertops and glass-door shelving. Modern mixes with charming (the rustic pendant, cozy rug and diamond-paned window) for a homey effect.

SEE MORE: Home Town: History in the Making

Find Budget-Friendly Solutions to High-End Finishes

This family wanted to incorporate copper details into their new kitchen, but the cost of a copper vent hood was steep. As a budget friendly solution, Erin built a vent hood wrapped in warm heart pine. An ornate tile backsplash, wood floors and a cozy area rug also incorporate warmth with rustic colors.

SEE MORE: Home Town: A Bachelor's Paradise

From: Erin Napier and Ben Napier

Embrace Rustic Finishes

Sage green cabinets and lots of warm wood makes for an extra-rustic space. A large island offers countertop-height stools for dining, while shiplap walls wrap around the kitchen and extend (painted) across the backsplash, wrapping the kitchen in a charming hug.

SEE MORE: Home Town: Cabin Song

From: Erin Napier and Ben Napier

Create Impact With Floor-to-Ceiling Cabinets

Erin and Ben delivered a true chef’s kitchen with hardwood flooring, poured concrete countertops and a bold navy blue island. Black-gloss cabinets feature molding that extends all the way to the ceiling, accentuating the height of the room. The Napiers painted the custom vent hood over the range white and trimmed it with rustic wood.

SEE MORE: Home Town: The Sky's the Limit

From: Erin Napier and Ben Napier

Lengthen Your Peninsula

Opening a wall between the kitchen and living room transformed the functionality of this space. A long peninsula with a pass-through into the adjacent living room created an open, multi-purpose space where family members can cook, dine and lounge. Gloss-white cabinets keep the windowless kitchen feeling bright. New appliances, including a built-in microwave, optimize the counter space.

SEE MORE: Home Town: Inspired by the Sea

From: Erin Napier and Ben Napier

Lean Into a Style that Matches Your Home

This rustic kitchen screams historic, not remodeled. Terra cotta-colored tile floors ground the space, while hunter green upper cabinets (a cozy contrast to the stained bottom ones) take it to new heights. Erin and Ben incorporated many vintage details including a sideboard, framed mirror, vintage lighting and framed art.

SEE MORE: Home Town: A House With History

From: Erin Napier and Ben Napier

Consider Texture and Color

Here, a textured backsplash evokes images of tin ceilings, adding just as much personality as the muted blue cabinets. The former kitchen lacked storage but the new space features cabinets that extend all the way to the ceiling, as well as an expansive island. A warm wooden hood vent is the cherry on top.

SEE MORE: Home Town: A Bungalow in Blue

From: Erin Napier and Ben Napier

Pay Attention to Your Tile

It's a backsplash we could stare at for hours! Ornate, patterned tiles punctuate the vertically installed white subway tile backsplash. Erin and Ben topped the blue lower cabinets with a marbled quartz countertop. Where’s the hood vent, you ask? Integrated into the cabinet installed above the stovetop.

From: Erin Napier and Ben Napier

Expand Your Countertops

Removing a wall between this kitchen and dining room allowed for the addition of a large eat-in kitchen area featuring extended countertop space on the peninsula. The extra square footage made it possible for Erin and Ben to install an integrated gas range (less of a fire hazard) without compromising prep space.