Written by LAUREY W. GLENN; Styled by BUFFY HARGETT MILLER
The Napiers are known for their knack for taking on projects, but the greenhouse and garden that Ben constructed for his wife, Erin, and their daughters, Helen and Mae, held special significance. “We both aim for our children to cultivate a passion for gardening,” he explains. “We want them to be adept at all the traditional tasks passed down through the generations before us. Gardening played a significant role in our upbringing, and we feel it’s a tradition that has somewhat faded in recent times.”
The idea for the structure, which was unveiled as a surprise gift on the Napiers’ HGTV show Home Town last spring, came to fruition when the couple were renovating the barn on their property a few years back. “After replacing the barn doors, I found myself with spare wood pieces that I couldn’t just discard,” Ben recalls. These pieces were seamlessly integrated into the greenhouse’s exterior.
“To me, beauty is alluring and draws you in.” – Ben Napier
In keeping with the architectural style of their Laurel, Mississippi, farm, every aspect of the building was meticulously planned with sustainability in mind, down to its placement on the land for a seamless transition. “Erin has a fantastic eye for design, so I knew it had to be aesthetically pleasing, which was the challenging part for me,” jokes Ben, admitting that he might have settled for a simple shed with windows otherwise.
Inspired by his grandmother, Ben installed rain barrels to collect water for the flowers from the gutters.
Ben dedicated years to gathering materials for the project, ensuring that every detail was purposeful. Various nods to the locale are incorporated throughout the greenhouse. Repurposed windows from previous Home Town projects and original property structures are paired with stained glass from local artist John Whitt of Sweetwater Studios. The checkerboard floor is created from recycled granite and marble countertop remnants sourced from a nearby stone shop. The siding and framing showcase wood milled at Ben’s own Scotsman Manufacturing workshop. “I wanted the interior to have a rustic, shed-like feel,” he explains. “Using cypress wood was essential for that; it’s not only beautiful but durable.” To maintain a cohesive appearance with their residence, the exterior was painted in Sherwin-Williams’ Night Owl (SW 7061).
The greenhouse is not just a structure; it also tells a story. “Every element, even the raised beds, has a narrative,” Ben notes. Timber from Smith Brothers Forest Products sawmill, where Ben had his first job, is used throughout the greenhouse. The woodworker also crafted white oak tables and garden gates for the stacked-stone walls. Drawing inspiration from English and Scottish farms, Ben designed gates reminiscent of those found in the Cotswolds.
As a tribute to their honeymoon destination, Ben purchased New York City park benches from Kenneth Lynch & Sons, originally designed
The movie Titanic was a significant part of Erin’s life, as she watched it 13 times in theaters when it first came out. She and her dad even built a model Titanic together, with Erin being particularly obsessed with the music. When the movie was rereleased for its 25th anniversary, it brought back cherished memories for Erin. This sparked Ben’s curiosity about the fate of the movie’s set after its dismantling. He managed to locate some salvaged pieces for sale and purchased nine metal stanchions that resembled the original ones on the boat. Incorporating them into the fencing, Ben found it fascinating, while Erin was thrilled about it being the coolest thing. Additionally, Ben also cherished the Central Park benches that he acquired.
For their landscaping project, Ben sought the expertise of James Farmer and Emily Grohovsky to plan the layout. Emily provided valuable guidance on what fruits and vegetables would thrive in the region, including details on planting times and caring for them. The garden featured sentimental elements such as ‘Limelight’ hydrangeas from Erin’s wedding bouquet, Japanese maples as her favorite trees, and sweet olives for their delightful fragrance. Ben also planted ‘Peggy Martin’ roses along the fence as a nod to Titanic, where Rose famously climbed the rail. The girls contributed by planting blackberry bushes, pear trees, and various blooms, enjoying making bouquets for guests.
Ben reflected on the girls’ growing curiosity and involvement in gardening, recalling their first experience planting and harvesting radishes. Although the girls initially claimed to love radishes because they were pink, they quickly changed their minds after tasting them. Despite this, the girls eagerly watered plants, picked flowers, snacked on snow peas, and eagerly searched for ripe strawberries in the garden.
