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Erin Napier has plenty of experience with redesigns that make spaces better. As the lead of the TV show “Home Town,” which airs on HGTV, she presents charmingly Southern yet functional approaches to interior design and renovation. Working together with her spouse, Ben, Erin’s program centers around rejuvenating the core areas of dilapidated houses, bringing back their essence so they become cozier and more habitable. Throughout her extensive career, she has encountered numerous elements needing improvement.
just doesn’t work
—and she’s here to caution you about it so you won’t repeat the same errors.
Part of her guidance can be implemented quickly. You could alter your plans immediately after reading to prevent significant design problems. Some suggestions may require waiting until later. These will apply when you start looking for a new home or plan an extensive refurbishment aimed at maximizing cost-effectiveness. Regardless, Napier’s insights remain valid. She believes certain advice shouldn’t be discarded merely due to fleeting trends or recent popularity. Rather, these guidelines will always be “no-nos” as they compromise both functionality and aesthetics. Thus, regardless of needing them soon or far into the future, her recommendations stand firm.
Read more:
12 Formerly Popular Kitchen Trends That Are Not Making a Comeback Any Time Soon
Skylights Undoubtedly Bring In More Light and Versatility
Seeking
methods to enhance daylight in your living space
This is generally excellent design guidance since it can make even the most compact areas appear more spacious and well-lit. Nonetheless, Napier advises steering clear of skylights. Although these were once prevalent, they now tend to cause more trouble than they solve when it comes to maintenance. As such, she argues against incorporating them into modern constructions. She states, “Skylights are nowhere to be seen on houses nowadays. The practice was abandoned due to their tendency to develop leaks.”
Napier said
During Season 8, Episode 1 of “Home Town,” it was highlighted that skylights can pose challenges when it comes to cleaning. Cleaning the interior glass requires a ladder, and maintaining the outside surface involves climbing onto the roof to remove dust and pollen buildup.
If you currently have skylights, Napier recommends thinking about taking them out when you decide to replace your roof during your next renovation. She mentioned how replacing a roof can make a house feel entirely refreshed, as illustrated in the episode where she opted to re-shingle her client’s roof. Roof lifespans typically range from 15 to 50 years based on the materials used; however, this period might be significantly reduced if severe weather conditions cause significant harm. Therefore, considering the optimal approach moving forward would involve
avoid this outdated ceiling
feature
Simply aim to exclude them from any renovation plans and become somewhat more cautious about purchasing older homes that already feature these elements.
Ideally Designed Spaces Should Always Aim to Be the Objective
If you’re a devoted viewer of HGTV, you may find yourself wanting to recreate the flawlessly decorated spaces showcased in those dramatic reveal moments. When your house resembles a “before” scene, you could end up investing significant effort and funds into transforming it into something akin to an “after.” However, Napier encourages you to abandon this conventional approach to interior design and instead embrace disorder. She expressed her desire to move away from the abundance of impeccably arranged and staged room images found online, aiming to create a book that honors the imperfect nature of our homes.
Instagram
“The style can serve as an external manifestation of our identity and passions—but essentially, our homes act as the settings for our life experiences, including festivities and setbacks, as well as expanding families,” she penned.
To infuse your home with this approach, begin by integrating elements that narrate your individual journey instead of merely adhering to prevailing fashions. Showcase ancestral treasures, your children’s creations, or keepsakes from cherished travel destinations. Allow books to be stacked haphazardly (no need to concern yourself with aligning their colors!), and do not fret overly much about having uniformly matched furnishings. Prioritize coziness and recollections over alignment and refinement. Napier suggests reflecting upon not only the visual appeal of a room but also its emotional resonance.
feels
To reside in. Accepting imperfection does not imply ignoring aesthetics. It simply involves crafting an environment that grows alongside you, instead of one that appears artificially perfect for others’ scrutiny.
Stenciled Furniture Boosts the General Appearance
Currently, refurbishing furniture is all the rage, yet Erin Napier isn’t entirely onboard with this trend, particularly when it comes to repainted pieces. She expressed her preference for “people moving away from painted furniture and gravitating towards the coziness of untreated or simply stained wooden items,” as she stated.
PopSugar
When discussing design trends from 2018, she exclaimed, “The organic movement in wood grain truly represents artistic expression!”
fed up with witnessing decorated furniture in houses
because it ruins the magic of the original bare finishes.
Although painting furniture offers an easy method to refresh a space or introduce new hues, Napier advocates for employing natural, timeless materials. Woods, either kept in their original state or gently stained, impart a warm ambiance and engaging textures that painted finishes frequently lack. The essence lies in appropriate maintenance and deliberate decoration.
You can highlight intriguing grain patterns or distinctive hues using an appropriate wood finish such as oil, wax, or varnish.
clear matte polyurethane
These highlight the richness and uniqueness of the wood. Furthermore, routine dusting and periodic conditioning can prevent the wood from drying out and help preserve its shine long term. Should it have been painted already, a stripper would be needed for removal.
Intelligent ‘n Simple Paint & Varnish Stripper Gel
It can effortlessly remove multiple layers of paint to uncover the valuable item beneath.
Excessively Decorative Wrought Iron Fits Every Home
Steel gates, barriers, and accents can introduce a essential touch of grandeur to your home’s exterior appearance. Nonetheless, the intricate, highly visible style may not be suitable for every setting.
types of home styles
, so it doesn’t have to be consistently included. In season five’s episode titled “Closer to Mom,”
Napier expressed frustration
With how frequently individuals opt to incorporate these gates into locations where they aren’t suitable. “I simply dislike excessively decorative forged ironwork on a property that’s meant to be all about clean lines,” she stated. The conflict between curvy designs and sharp edges fails to blend aesthetically and can effortlessly result in disarray rather than the harmony one would desire for their home’s facade.
To resolve this issue on the show, Napier’s team takes away the iron. While wrought iron itself isn’t problematic, it doesn’t suit this particular scenario. In its place, they installed a wooden lattice wall, aligning more closely with the mid-century aesthetic of the space. When deciding if wrought iron suits your home’s facade, consider the architectural style and design elements of your residence first. Houses featuring straightforward and minimalistic looks typically clash with ornate metallic embellishments, whereas homes inspired by Victorian or Mediterranean styles tend to complement such details better. Should you be uncertain about incorporating wrought iron, opt instead for cleaner options like linear bars or basic geometric shapes in finishes such as glossy black or matte bronze, providing structure without appearing overly intricate.
Compact areas should always be decorated with neutral colors.
You may have come across the idea that when dealing with small areas, the decoration should remain relatively understated. The reasoning behind this is to avoid visual clutter due to restricted square footage. However, Erin and Ben believe this rule isn’t universally applicable. They suggest that for refurbishing compact spaces such as bathrooms or hallways, using just one color scheme and keeping things minimal can often feel predictable; hence sticking strictly to these practices might not always yield the most appealing outcome.
Reader’s Digest
This can quickly get dull, though — therefore, feel free to inject plenty of character into these compact areas.
Colors and textures can make tiny areas more appealing, transforming them from forgettable spots into standout ones. As they elaborated, “Subtle methods to introduce hues in bathrooms include fitting a patterned tile splashback or choosing distinctive and surprising fittings to enliven an otherwise dull area.” Wallpapering could be your first step here. Renters included, incorporating vibrant wallpaper can inject lots of color and character at minimal cost. In fact, the Napiers offer their very own range of user-friendly self-adhesive varieties as well.
Tan and Multicolored Vintage Floral
is designed for those who adore flowers, while
Navy Blue and metallic gold star brilliance
This is intended for those who like colors to handle the bulk of the visual work.
Historic Paint Accents Elevate the Ambiance
When attempting to update your old-fashioned house, you may believe that applying a new layer of paint is the sole improvement required. Nonetheless,
Season 7, Episode 3
In “Home Town,” Napier cautioned against painting specific areas of your home’s exterior. She mentioned regarding her clients’ Victorian house, “Many homeowners desire to repaint the historical trim.” However, she believes this action is often ill-advised around 90% of the time. This recommendation stems from the fact that repainting isn’t readily reversible; removing the new coat would require significant work. As Ben pointed out, “After applying the paint, reversing it becomes impossible.”
Although many people enjoy adding character through painting, Napier prefers accentuating the inherent charm of natural wood. Rather than applying paint, consider utilizing a sealant or finish to highlight the wood’s innate attractiveness. Similar to Napier’s approach to furnishings, trim work should stand out unadorned rather than concealed. Begin by evaluating the general state of your historical trim; if the wood exhibits clear detailing and limited decay, it merits preservation. Regardless of whether you opt for a glossy or flat finish, both will preserve the elegance of the design. Since this trim is exposed externally, whichever choice you make must provide water resistance to safeguard against environmental factors, much as with Napier’s preference for enduring materials.
Seal-Once Marine Premium Wood Protector
.
All of your metals must be consistent.
When choosing finishes for your home, particularly in areas such as the kitchen and bathroom, you may worry about making sure elements like faucets, drawer pulls, or light switch plates complement each other. However, Napier believes that some inconsistency can also look appealing. She stated on her blog, “There’s no need to stress over coordinating all your metal fixtures.”
Laurel Mercantile
In my kitchen, I have incorporated brushed brass, unlacquered brass, stainless steel, copper, and oil-rubbed bronze. These various metal finishes blend seamlessly to create a welcoming atmosphere that avoids appearing monotonous and uniform.
The crucial aspect of success here involves ensuring that items appearing in pairs or sets remain well-coordinated. Of course, unless your aim is to adopt a different aesthetic approach.
chaotic maximalist decor
Firstly, ensure all your drawer pulls coordinate consistently with one another, regardless of whether they complement your door handles. This consistency applies equally to cabinet pulls and electrical outlets. It’s perfectly fine to blend matte and glossy finishes; Napier incorporates both these elements in her personal space as well. Introducing such contrasting visuals adds character, making environments more dynamic rather than monotonous for those seeking individuality in design.
When Uncertain, Decorate With a Brick Façade
White-washed homes have become very popular, whereas plain red bricks could be losing their appeal. Furthermore, dark-colored bricks on the house featured in Season 7’s episode titled “Wood, Brick and Clay” seem even more striking. Despite this, many individuals may attempt to discard darker bricks.
Napier actually loves them
People often make the error of painting this type of brickwork,” she commented. “If you want to incorporate it into your home design successfully, try emphasizing the deepest hue within the brick by using it as an accent throughout the interior.
In this instance, she chose a hunter green color for the shutters, closely resembling the
Matte Heirloom Traditions Paint,
To intensify the natural warmth of the current bricks’ hue, she added window boxes and improved the landscaping with additional vegetation to introduce more greenscape elements. When considering your residence, avoid hastily applying dark or red paint over exposed brickwork. Such modifications could prove difficult to undo and may detract from the inherent charm of the house. Rather, pinpoint the underlying tones within the brick—such as shades of brown, gray, or deeper crimson—and leverage these colors effectively, similar to what Napier accomplished. Employ wooden or metallic embellishments such as porch supports, plant containers, and entryway doors that complement the innate color scheme of the property. Unlike altering painted surfaces, changing these accent pieces is simpler without causing permanent alterations.
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