Let’s be honest: Design trends might come and go faster than you can watch an episode of HGTV’s Home Town Takeover. But if you ask the show’s stars, Erin and Ben Napier, they don’t fuss with staying up to date on the latest fads. “We do so much personalized design that it’s not really our thing,” Erin says.
Instead, Ben reveals that the dynamic design duo find inspiration by tuning into the silver screen. “Erin bases all of her designs off old movies that she grew up watching,” he tells House Beautiful in an exclusive interview. “If she sees something that reminds her of an old movie, she’ll go back, watch it, and see what pulls at her heartstrings.”
Her latest fascination? “Butcher blocks are having a huge comeback,” Erin says. “We’ve been having to hire more people in our factory, where we manufacture butcher block countertops.” She and Ben put oak countertops in a home they transformed in a recent episode of Home Town, along with hand-painted tile by illustrator Mary Engelbreit:
Sure, butcher block does come with a controversial reputation. Wood is prone to scratches and stains, so it requires maintenance. Still, it has a rustic-meets-refined charm that gives some serious main character energy. It’s no wonder why the kitchens in designer-favorite films like Baby Boom and Father of the Bride featured it. Butcher block counters even had their own subplot in the Netflix limited series The Watcher.
But while Erin believes there’s a butcher block resurgence, she says these surfaces look a lot different than they used to. “People love walnut and oak countertops,” she says. “Maple was very big in the ’70s and ’80s.”
Whether you’re making a small tweak to your space or undergoing a full-blown renovation, the best trends are the ones that reflect your personality. For more renovating tips, watch Home Town Takeover on Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on HGTV.

Kelsey Mulvey is a freelance lifestyle journalist, who covers shopping and deals for Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, and ELLE Decor, among others. Her hobbies include themed spinning classes, Netflix, and nachos.