Laurel sisters restore historic home with sentimental flair

Three siblings traded city life for a nostalgic homecoming, purchasing a dilapidated 1900 Victorian in Laurel, Mississippi, for a mere $14,000 – a project that’s more than just renovation; it’s a family resurrection.

Siblings revive historic home, honoring family roots

Pam Paulsen Danielson, Tom Paulsen, and Jennifer Paulsen Thornton, ranging from their late 40s to early 50s, sought to create a space where their children could connect with the community that shaped them. The siblings envisioned a restoration that respected the home’s history while modernizing it for contemporary family life. Their budget for the extensive overhaul? $178,000.

HGTV’s Ben and Erin Napier, renowned for their work on Home Town, lent their expertise, tackling a complex project with the unique challenge of satisfying three homeowners with distinct visions. The result is a blend of preservation and thoughtful updates that celebrate the past without sacrificing modern comfort.

The pair unearthed a property riddled with problems: rotted foundations, siding, and flooring were just the beginning. Peeling wallpaper and a neglected kitchen completed the list of challenges. “We honestly were thinking that someone would, one day, buy and tear it down,” Ben Napier admitted. “It would have been a shame because Laurel doesn’t have a big collection of Victorians.”

A key design element is the home's wraparound porch, featuring a gingerbread railing and decorative brackets, a testament to the Victorian era. The Napiers opted for Sherwin-Williams’ Rookwood Jade for the siding and Renwick Olive for the porch flooring, reflecting the surrounding landscape. Original pine trim, stained a dark chocolate brown by previous owners, was refinished to showcase its natural grain.

The heart of the home, the dining room, boasts a custom maple table, crafted by Ben Napier and the team at Scotsman General Store & Woodshop. A salvaged star design, made from wood from the University of Mississippi basketball court, adds a personal touch. The dining room's original millwork was preserved with a glass varnish instead of being stripped, a decision that prevented the wood from crumbling.

The kitchen received a fresh palette with soft mauve and putty-colored cabinetry, contrasted with Restoration by Sherwin-Williams on the upper cabinets. A granite countertop and a nod to historic enameled appliances with a Viking range complete the space. A framed piece of the home’s original cheesecloth wallcovering and a painting of the street where the siblings grew up add layers of personal history.

The living room features Fernwater Cranes wallpaper from York Wallcoverings, providing a textural backdrop for classic furniture. The breakfast nook, tucked into a corner, offers a cozy spot for meals, enhanced by a repurposed chandelier and gauzy cafe curtains. The Napiers emphasized the porch as the home’s defining feature, elevating what was once