Erin and Ben Napier are known for bringing their charm and Southern hospitality to every home they renovate on HGTV's Home Town. But in the latest episode, some fans were less focused on the incredible transformation and more concerned with ... the bookshelves.
The episode follows a woman who relocated from California to Laurel, Mississippi, chasing the dream of small-town living. Unfortunately, her dream quickly turned into a nightmare when a shady contractor took her money and abandoned the project without doing any work. Fast-forward a few years later and the Napiers stepped in to turn the unfinished house into a cozy cottage that gave the same colorful, eclectic vibes as the owner.
Erin shared the final reveal on Instagram, writing, "That’s a wrap, and the vinyl wrapped appliances are my favorite idea I’ve ever had. I love the way Rose is unafraid of color and living out loud, and I wish it for us all. See y’all with more episodes in the winter!"
We can't remember a single time the Napiers haven't absolutely nailed a renovation and this colorful home is easily one of our favorites from the season, but one design choice sparked unexpected controversy. Eagle-eyed Home Town fans noticed the books on the shelves were turned around with their spines facing the wall.
Some viewers were baffled (and even a little mad) at the thought of having books turned around on the shelves and turned to the comment section to say, "Erin, Erin, Erin...I have always loved everything you do, but shelving books spine-in is a crime against humanity...or at least against bookanity. 😉"
Another person wrote, "beautiful kitchen, love the color choices throughout. But could we normalize placing books with their bindings forward? I don't know when it became cool to put them in 'backwards' but it bugs me. just my 2cents." Erin took to the comments section to explain, "It’s not cool, it’s a legal requirement for tv. i hate it, but we have to do it this way."
This isn't the first time the Napiers have faced this specific critique. In a previous renovation, Erin addressed the issue in the comments of another Instagram post revealing that in order to show book titles, the show has to get legal permission first. Another fan chimed in to explain, "It's a copyright issue. Normally, you'd have to pay royalties to use a book, but libraries have some exceptions to the law."
That's right—unless special permission is granted, showing book spines on television can create some legal issues. So, while it may seem like a weird design choice, it's often a necessary one.
Shop the Meyer House
Chaise Sanders is a NYC-based writer with a knack for all things lifestyle, beauty, entertainment, and style. Her work has graced the pages of Cosmopolitan, Country Living, InStyle, and more. When she's not busy crafting words, you can find her on Instagram roaming the streets of New York City, hunting down the best food spots, hidden gems, and deals.
