Ben Napier's Surprise Greenhouse Is Ripe With Ideas For Your Backyard Patio Makeover

If you're not following the stars of HGTV's "Home Town" on Instagram, you're missing out on a plethora of awesome home and garden inspiration. In a recent episode of "Home Town," Ben Napier nailed it when he designed and built a greenhouse as a surprise Mother's Day gift for his wife, Erin Napier. "Erin loves English gardens, English countryside. She likes the idea of those old Victorian greenhouses," said Ben in the episode (via discovery+). Of course, hiding a gift as big as a greenhouse is no easy feat. Erin may have uncovered the surprise earlier than Ben had planned (moms know everything, after all), but there were still plenty of unexpected details. Ben has been sharing photos of the couple's gorgeous garden and greenhouse build, from the Ozark mountain stones that surround the gravel area to the NYC-inspired park bench. In a recent Instagram post, Ben shared beautiful photos of the greenhouse's stunning marble checkerboard floors, wood tables, and cottage chairs that conjured the feeling of a European countryside.

Fans have flocked to the comments under Ben's posts to learn more about their greenhouse designing process, but the Napiers rely on some surprisingly simple design techniques to create that traditional cottage garden charm. By adopting some traditional patterns, furniture, and foliage, you can transform your own backyard into an Italian-style garden. Here are the zoomed-in details of the Napiers' project and how you can replicate the gorgeous look in your own outdoor space.  

From its dark green exterior to the stained glass window panels, there are plenty of things to love about the Napiers' new gardening space, but the greenhouse's checkerboard floors are one of the most eye-catching details — and one that some viewers were surprised to see after the episode. "These floors were not finished in time for the Mother's Day special on HGTV," explained Ben Napier in his Instagram caption, "These are remnants of granite and marble, all cut to 1 foot by 1 foot squares. Erin Napier loves a checkerboard or diamond pattern floor. Plus it works with our Tudor home." Checkered floors are a pattern that has been around for thousands of years, frequently appearing in palaces, ballrooms, and royal gardens. This makes the checkered floors feel timeless despite their boldness.

If you can bring your eyes up from the stunning greenhouse floor, you'll notice that Ben also incorporates some rustic and warm wood features in the space to balance out the timeless stones.  A wood tabletop bench wraps around the perimeter of the room, surrounding a cozy seating area built for two. "Everything in the interior of the greenhouse is unfinished, and I wanted it that way," said Ben, "All of the framing is exposed, it's rough, and then in the center you have this beautiful finished, handmade white oak table. So it's that balance of rough and refined."

You don't have to spend a fortune to get the Napiers' look. You can DIY a greenhouse out of old windows to replicate the European country-style seen in the Home Town episode. Or, you can work with what you've got. Staining a pattern on concrete is a smart way to refresh an existing slab, but you can also grab a few 12 inch by 12 inch concrete pavers from Lowe's, available in multiple colors for under $2 each. These pavers are perfect for covering a muddy area in your yard, extending a patio surface, or enhancing an existing outdoor seating area. Simply alternate two different paver colors to create an effortlessly chic checkerboard. If you don't want to commit to a totally checkered look, alternating paver squares with flowers, lawn turf, or fake grass can also make your lawn feel like a refined European garden.

When learning how to decorate your home like an Italian villa, it all comes down to balancing your rustic and classy elements, as Ben Napier explained. Set up an intimate seating area on top of your checkered pavers with a round table and chairs. The Napiers opted for wood furniture in their greenhouse, but wrought iron furniture is another beautiful option with a rich history in Europe. Lastly, don't forget the foliage and fine details. Concrete statues, flower pots, and wine barrels will add some fun interest between plants like ivy, rosemary, and other evergreens, which are perfect for making your garden feel like a lush villa.