There are certainly HGTV fans who rely on the comfort of consistency in their programming. While every renovation is different, the television product tends to be the same in the end. Your favorite hosts meet their clients, learn their budget and goals, execute the renovation, and deliver a reveal that elicits an emotional result. On Home Town, the magic of the program lies in watching Ben and Erin Napier renovate homes in Laurel, Mississippi, one at a time. But one project defied those norms, forcing Erin to push to make it a reality.
Pausing from their home renovations, the couple helped a place that meant something special to them: the maternity wing of the South Central Regional Medical Center in Laurel. Describing it as a ‘small town within a small town,’ the couple noted that they know someone who has worked in nearly every department, including Erin’s dad, who worked there for 44 years. With a million reasons to make this project a reality, it rarely happened as HGTV was nervous about approving a project that broke the usual format. Even though, for Erin, it was personal enough to be “sacred ground.”
The Hospital Renovation Was More Personal Than Ever for the Napiers
Ahead of the new season, the celebrity designers spoke to Fox News Digital about the show, as well as the project they considered the most meaningful. Call it serendipity: one postpartum room at the medical center became a deeply meaningful space for the family, as birth after birth took place there. “I was born there. My babies were born there. All my friends’ babies were born there. Nieces and nephews were born there,” Erin revealed. “So we have a million special and important, huge moments in this maternity ward, especially when a new person joins your family in your world. And it always happened in this one room.”
The renovation mattered to Erin so deeply because of a personal connection that many of their other projects lacked. Sure, renovating Laurel and sharing the town’s history is personal, but it’s not quite the same connection as the room where you were placed after surgery or where you gave birth. “This was sacred ground for me. Imagine how scared you are of having your first baby ever. And this is the place where it happens,” the HGTV star revealed. “And I felt so loved, so comforted. These nurses, these doctors are so incredible that I wanted to honor them in what we did.” During the interview, Erin shared a photo of her grandmother during one of her last times she was lucid, holding her baby niece in that room. Erin’s memories extend beyond babies to the entire family. This was not just going to be a job; it was going to be a gift and a means to give back to a special place. “This was as important as a grandmother’s house,” she said.
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HGTV’s Hesitation Almost Made It Impossible to Happen
When preparing for the project, Erin revealed what the client wanted; the CEO wanted the facility to feel like a five-star experience. Having discussed how the spaces are where large families gather, it wasn’t just about the mother and child; it was about making friends and family feel at home as well. The reality, though, was that it was almost not going to happen. Erin said, “I was just hugely honored and also had to, like, beg HGTV to let us do it because it’s not a house, it’s not a garden, but it was so important.” Erin revealed that she cried twice during the episode. She said it was “ridiculous,” but it makes sense due to the nature of the project. Ben backed her up, reminding her how emotional it is to welcome a child into the world and into a family.
“We talked to all of our friends about like, ‘What was it like when you had your first child or when you had a baby here?’ And then we worked really closely with the nursing staff and the doctors there. And you’ll see a lot of that.” The renovation included very specific lighting requests, including sconces that “feel residential” and lighting in the restroom that made mothers “feel beautiful.”
This project matters because while it is a departure from the normal format, it’s not a departure from the series itself. Home Town is about the Napiers and the place they call home. The maternity wing is part of their story, just like many of the properties they revitalize. Although the hospital is a different space, it still reflects the series’ mission. If you zoom out and look at Home Town Takeover, there could be a universe in which they tackle an “unconventional” space, so why not do it on the flagship program? HGTV may have been hesitant about something that felt different, but the project ultimately stayed true to the heart of the series. It still delivers the warmth and comfort HGTV fans expect from the Napiers. Now with an even more personal touch.
Home Town airs Sundays at 8:00 pm on HGTV. All episodes are available to stream on HBO Max.
- Release Date
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January 24, 2016
- Network
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HGTV
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