When Ben Napier decided to surprise Erin with a backyard structure, he didn't just head to a big-box store and buy a plastic kit. That isn't his style. Instead, Ben Napier builds greenhouse family garden spaces that feel like they’ve been sitting on a Mississippi farm for a century. It’s a project that aired on Home Town during a particularly emotional Mother’s Day episode, but the story behind the build is much deeper than what fits in a 42-minute TV slot.
He spent nearly two years hoarding materials. Two years.
Honestly, most of us can't keep a secret for two weeks, let alone two years of stacking old windows in a shop. But Ben had a vision. He wanted a place where his daughters, Helen and Mae, could learn that food comes from the dirt, not just a grocery store shelf. He wanted a "chapel of glass" that looked like it belonged in the English countryside but was built with the soul of Laurel, Mississippi.
The Secret Architecture of a Mother’s Day Surprise
Ben is a big guy with a massive heart, but he’s also a stickler for "intentional" building. He didn’t want a shed. He told Southern Living that if he hadn’t been trying to impress Erin’s designer eye, he might have just "thrown up a shed with windows and called it a day."
Thank goodness he didn't.
The structure is a masterclass in reclaimed engineering. For starters, the siding isn't new. He used old wood from his own Scotsman Manufacturing workshop and combined it with salvaged doors from a barn renovation they did years ago. Ben even tapped into his history, using timber from Smith Brothers Forest Products, the very sawmill where he had his first job.
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Reclaimed Details You Probably Missed
- The Windows: A mix of reclaimed glass from past Home Town projects and original panes from their property.
- The Floors: A checkerboard pattern made from repurposed granite and marble remnants. It looks high-end, but it’s basically stone "trash" given a second life.
- The Stained Glass: Their friend John Whitt of Sweetwater Studios added custom stained glass to give the interior that "little chapel" vibe Erin loves.
- The Titanic Connection: This is the wildest part. Erin is a Titanic superfan (she saw it 13 times in theaters). Ben found cast-iron railing pieces that were built exactly like the ones on the ship and worked them into the garden fencing.
Why Cypress Was the Only Choice
If you're building a greenhouse in the humid, termite-heavy South, you don't use pine. Ben used Cypress.
He wanted the interior to feel "deconstructed." No drywall, no fluff. Just raw, beautiful wood. Cypress is naturally rot-resistant and holds up to the moisture levels you get when you're misting ferns and starting seeds.
He painted the exterior in Sherwin-Williams Night Owl (SW 7061). It’s a deep, moody green-gray that helps the building disappear into the trees of their country home. It’s a trick designers use to make a new structure feel established. If you paint a greenhouse bright white, it screams for attention. If you paint it Night Owl, it looks like it grew out of the moss.
Sentimentality in the Soil
A greenhouse is just a box of glass without the plants. Ben didn't just grab whatever was on sale at the nursery. He worked with James Farmer and Emily Grohovsky of Cedar Hill Gardens to create a planting schedule that actually made sense for their zone.
They planted 'Limelight' hydrangeas because that’s what was in Erin’s wedding bouquet. They put in 'Peggy Martin' roses along the fence—a nod to the Titanic theme because, as Ben joked, "Rose climbed up on the rail, so you’ve got to have roses on the railing."
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For the girls, it’s all about the snacks. They added blackberry bushes, pear trees, and plenty of herbs. It’s a "living" classroom.
Expert Tips for Your Own Family Garden
You might not have a Scotsman Manufacturing workshop or a TV crew, but you can steal Ben's logic. He didn't build for the "now"; he built for the next thirty years.
Don't buy new if you can find old. Old windows are often sturdier than the cheap replacements you find today. Just watch out for lead paint.
Think about the water. Ben added rain barrels to catch runoff from the gutters. It’s a nod to his grandmother’s gardening style and saves him from dragging a hose across the yard every evening.
Make it a destination. He built a white oak table inside the greenhouse. Why? For romantic dinners. He knew that with two small kids, a "night out" is hard to come by. But a baby monitor reaches the backyard. A greenhouse can be a sanctuary for adults just as much as a playroom for kids.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Greenhouses
Most people think a greenhouse is for the summer. It's actually the opposite. In a place like Mississippi, a greenhouse in July is an oven. You use it to extend the shoulder seasons.
Ben’s build focuses on that "English Countryside" aesthetic which prioritizes light and airflow. By using stacked-stone walls and heavy timber gates (inspired by the Cotswolds), he created a microclimate. The stone holds heat in the winter, and the high ceilings allow heat to rise and escape through the vents in the summer.
It’s a functional piece of art.
If you're looking to start your own project, start by gathering your "story" pieces. Find a door from your childhood home or a set of old pots from a garage sale. Ben proves that the best gardens aren't the most expensive ones—they're the ones that tell you who the family is before you even step inside.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Garden
- Audit your "junk": Look for old windows or countertop scraps that can be used for flooring or cold frames.
- Choose a "Forever Wood": If you're building outside, invest in Cypress or Cedar. It's more expensive upfront but won't rot in five years.
- Plan for the Senses: Don't just plant for looks. Ben included sweet olives for the scent, which is a staple of Southern memory.
- Incorporate a Seating Area: Even a small bench makes the garden a place to be, not just a place to work.