Anyone who watches Home Town on HGTV knows Ben Napier has a way with wood. And he even has his own show, Ben's Workshop, which returns for a second season on December 26, which is all about DIY wood projects. So, it makes sense that many viewers assume that Ben is the head carpenter on the two shows, but he's actually not!
Ben, along with his wife and Home Town co-host, Erin, revealed in a July 2021 interview on the “Biscuits & Jam” podcast, that Ben is not a contractor. Instead, he largely spends his time honing his furniture-making skills and is considered a woodworker — which is evident in just about every episode of Home Town. A contractor and woodworker have similar jobs, but, did you know that carpenters actually require a general contractors license or a subcontractors license to work on substantial projects — such as a full-blown home or partial renovation?
In Ben's case, it’s clear that he has a mastery of woodworking (and passion for it), but he admits that it’s not the path he imagined his career would take.
“It’s something that I never in a million years would have thought like this is what I am going to end up doing,” Ben revealed on the podcast. “I think a lot of it is the way that I came to woodworking. Like most people, especially in this part of the country, South Mississippi, it’s not a big furniture world. It’s not a refined woodworking world. And so most people who get into carpentry, they start on the framing side of — they start framing houses or building decks or porches for people.”
And that’s precisely why Ben handles most of the furniture while they contract out the larger carpentry tasks.
Makes sense to us!
Rebecca Norris
Freelance Writer
Rebecca Ravee Norris is a full-time freelance writer with a decade's worth of lifestyle media experience. Based out of the Washington metropolitan area, she writes for a variety of publications, covering everything from beauty and wellness to style and celebrity news. She is a graduate of George Mason University. There, she earned her B.A. in Media: Production, Consumption, and Critique, along with a minor in Electronic Journalism. When she's not working, she can be found with her beloved Jack-Chi, Cash, adventuring with family and friends, working through reps at the gym, dreaming up her next home decor project, testing a new recipe, getting lost in the pages of a book, or catching up on her favorite shows.
FAQs
Ben Napier, one of the hosts of "Home Town" on HGTV, is not a contractor or a carpenter as some might assume due to his involvement with wood-related work on the show. However, Country Living reports that Napier is actually a woodworker who makes furniture.
Are Ben and Erin Napier still married? ›
She's previously worked at iHeartMedia, IndieWire, and REVOLT. Erin Napier has always had a thing for her husband Ben Napier! As the Home Town television host, 38, and her beau, 40, celebrate their 19th wedding anniversary, Erin let fans in on just how into her spouse she was long before the pair ever became an item.
How do Erin and Ben get paid? ›
Ben and Erin Napier run several stores in Laurel, Miss., which also contributes to their income. As one anecdote has it, Ben took up a more active interest in woodworking once he and Erin purchased their first home — and he got hooked immediately.
What happened to Ben Napier? ›
The injury was caused by a bone spur, and he eventually decided to have surgery to correct the issue. “You carried your weight fine,” Erin added. “It was different than it had been.” Ben said the injury was “something that had bothered me for years, but then it was getting worse and then no improving at all.
What did Ben Napier do for a living? ›
Ben, a woodworker, author and entrepreneur with a degree in history, embraces a passion for preserving and renovating historic homes.
Are Ben and Erin expecting a third child? ›
“Not expecting a baby. Medically not capable, so please give that a rest?” Erin, 38, shared in a message on her Instagram story, according to People.com. “We don't need a son to be complete as a family and I just like loose clothes. let it beeeeee, you sweet people.”
Do Ben and Erin actually do the work? ›
While the homeowner pays for the house and renovations on "Home Town," Phillips said the Napiers stayed within their budget and made the renovation affordable by doing much of the work themselves. Filming for TV, they enjoyed the perk of completing renovations on an accelerated timeline.
How did Brandon from Home Town pass away? ›
According to his obituary, he died of natural causes. “A world shattered in a matter of minutes,” the photographer wrote.
Do Ben and Erin still live in Laurel Mississippi? ›
Erin and Ben currently live in Laurel with their two daughters, Helen and Mae. In addition to their 1920s cottage, they also own a second country home in Mississippi. After helping restore Laurel on Home Town, Erin and Ben can't imagine a better place to live with their girls.
Do Erin and Ben Napier still live in Laurel Mississippi? ›
In the fall of 2022, Erin and Ben announced to their fans that they had purchased and restored a second home in Mississippi. While they completely renovated the space and turned it into their own personal oasis, the pair still plan to spend the majority of their time in their historic Laurel home.
Ben and Erin moved back to Erin's hometown, Laurel, after their wedding in 2008. “We had talked about living in Memphis or Birmingham, maybe going to Nashville,” Erin admitted in 2022. “We even discussed how magical it would be to go to New York City and live and work for a little while.
