Ben and Erin Napier Share the Best Gifts They've Ever Received From Each Other
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Erin and Ben Napier are keen on gift-giving, especially at Christmastime. During an HGTV special called Home Town Holidays, the design duo surprised their former clients with extremely thoughtful gifts—and the show is basically a master class in how to come up with a personalized present for anyone in your life. "I understand it's fun to get a gift at Christmas," Erin said during the one-hour special. "It's infinitely more fun to give a gift at Christmas."
To decide who to give to this year, the Napiers drew five names, out of more than 100 of their past clients, from a Santa hat. Then they set out to make those homeowners' holidays extra bright. For a co-owner of The Laurel Plant Parlor, they built a custom dirt dresser out of moisture and rot-resistant cypress wood as an upgrade from the store’s thrifted, worn-out potting table. Another client, who owns the smallest house in the history of Home Town, was given a gratitude book with photos and letters from loved ones. To delight a client who loves to give back to the community, the Napiers worked with him to create a custom basketball backboard with a new hoop for a public park court. Other considerate gifts included baby keepsake boxes and a record storage bench. Not only did the Napiers help come up with all of these meaningful gifts—and handmake many of them—but they got many of the clients’ friends and family involved to make it all happen.
When it comes to Ben and Erin's gift-giving history with each other, they've exchanged many items over the years. For Christmas, they prefer engaging in family traditions over exchanging presents. "We don't do big Christmas gifts," Ben tells House Beautiful. "We do traditions."
One tradition Ben considers a gift is when Erin, with help now from their 5-year-old daughter Helen, makes Erin's mom's chocolate peanut butter oatmeal cookie recipe. "No one eats them but Ben," Erin says. "And that's fine!"
If the Napiers were to choose some of their favorite past gifts they've received from each other, Ben's would be a World War ll watch that Erin gifted him for his 40th birthday. "It's part of the Dirty Dozen collection," he says. "It's the coolest gift she's ever given me."
For Erin, the kitchenware Ben has gifted her remains special. "He got copper pots from my friend Cat, who has a shop in France," Erin says. "Every year, I add to the collection, but I think I don't have anywhere else to put any more at this point."
She adds, "And he gets me handmade knives."
"When we got married, we got a knife block and set," Ben explains. "They got the job done, but they're pretty bad. So I've been slowly replacing them with ones that are nice."
"We enjoy cooking, so those are nice, thoughtful gifts," Erin says.
If you're eager to see the couple play Santa Claus and you missed the premiere of the Home Town Holidays special on HGTV, all hope isn't lost. While it won't be available to stream on Max, the special will air again on HGTV on December 23 at 2 p.m. ET. It's full of great gift ideas that'll certainly come in handy next year!
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