Home Town

On the small screen realm of inventive, aspiration-igniting, and liveable home and garden programming, HGTV holds a prominent space with shows that revolve around property buying, home renovations, and interior designing. One of them is a unique show named Home Town. Debuting on the network in March 2016, Home Town explores the concept of revitalizing homes while contributing to the resurgence of small-town America, with season upon season of heartwarming tales of transformation and community spirit.

Each episode of Home Town rides on the creative and technical skills of Erin and Ben Napier, a jovial and vastly talented husband-wife duo, who breathe new life into old and decaying homes in Laurel, Mississippi. The quality and charm that sets Home Town apart within the genre's bustling gamut is this very location - it's their own home town. Speaking volumes of community spirit and social connection, the Napiers not only work on upgrading dilapidated homes but also contribute vastly towards the cultural and economic revitalization of their community in the Deep South.

Ben Napier, with his 6'6" frame, emanates congeniality and immense knowledge of woodworking and craftsmanship. As a professional woodworker, Ben brings his expertise to the fore in each episode, emphasizing the potential and undeniable charm hidden within old homes. From addressing foundational issues to crafting custom-built furniture that complements each home’s new design, Ben plays a fundamental role in the show’s physical transformations.

On the other hand, Erin Napier, an artist, and designer, brings the warmth of color, textures, and personal stories to each home. Her design preference leans on the vintage side, combining it with a homely, inviting American aesthetic. Erin uses her keen artistic eye to envision and execute a home design that speaks to the residents' personalities and cherished memories, from color schemes to unique décor elements.

Home Town is not just about domicile renovation. It's about love—the love for the town they grew up in, the blacksmith's love for his carpentry, and the artist's love for her palette of colors. It's about breathing a new lease of life into long-forgotten houses while preserving their historical heritage, utilizing locally sourced materials, pieces, and telling vivid stories of the town's rich past. Each project taken on by the Napiers strikes balance in honoring the property's history while orchestrating modern functionality—a bridging of worlds that caters to the contemporary household’s needs.

Moreover, the show also focuses on the stories of the folks moving into the town and the homes they choose to adopt. These are not profit-driven property flips but, instead, are people investing in a community to call it home. Whether it is a family house that’s seen better days or neglected cottages yearning for love, the Napiers work closely with these homeowners, and their dedication is testamentary from the moment they take the project under their wings till their revelatory home tours.

This admiration for their hometown and the personalized touch they bring to their renovations gives the show a profoundly intimate feel. Subsequently, this warmth and sincerity further extend into the relationships they form with the people and the houses they work on. More than the renovations, it's the humanizing aspect that tugs at the heartstrings of the audience. Their charisma and humble demeanor, encapsulated within, make Home Town a refreshing, feel-good watch in the urban jungle.

Brimming with Southern charm, Home Town unravels the magic that each old house holds within. It projects the unspoken poetry of the ageing architecture, breathing a new lease of life into it, while narrating a tale of determination and hard work. Furthermore, the Napiers dedication towards preserving Laurel's cultural and architectural heritage is beautiful to behold. As they continue to share their immense talent and homegrown ethos of community revitalization, the reputation of Home Town as a genuinely charming home improvement show continues to grow.