From the moment you reach the driveway of this Mentor home, you get a hint that driftwood culled from neighboring Lake Erie beaches will be an important design element for homeowners, Tara and Doug.  And that their shared fondness for all things vintage, worn and loved, will be another.  Doug purchased the home five years ago and his penchant for wood-working and building combined with Tara’s prowess in decorating and crafting have combined to create a cozy space honoring and cherishing their finds from markets, estate sales, etc.

The house is decorated for fall, and we are greeted by an old milk can Doug collected.  Tara surrounds it with pumpkins and fall foliage, and a handcrafted wreath on the front door.



In the kitchen, Tara has a beautiful candle display she created by layering dried beans in a trifle bowl.

A well-worn chair anchors a corner, maybe enjoying its time alone or maybe waiting for a stack of books or a plant to take advantage of the seat.

A bar cart Tara repurposed in a cheerful yellow and blue anchors the other corner presenting stylish options for drinks and snacks.

The sun room displays many of Tara and Doug’s treasured finds, including lamp making parts from an abandoned factory nearby and accompanying free(!) coffee table and chest.  The room also includes many finds from nearby City Salvage in Grand River.

But the highlight of the room is the sculpture artwork the duo crafted out of driftwood from Mentor beaches into a magnificent work of art!

In the bedrooms, vintage windows and salvaged ladders are displayed artfully along with a special piece Tara made Doug from scrap fencing.  I love the use of the old turquoise school desks as nightstands!

The basement houses a room devoted to the couple’s office and craft space or “croffice” as Tara refers to it.  🙂  Tara’s corner contains all of her supplies organized and grouped on a desk and pegboard Doug made for her.

Doug’s corner showcases his collection of antique fans, bottles, and a few Shur-Stop Fire Grenades he scored on a recent trip to the East coast!

The basement media area houses a gallery wall showcasing Doug and Tara’s travels to the East and West coasts.  With room for many more adventures, I’m certain the wall will be filled, as the couple recently got engaged!

A chapel sign find from the local abandoned lamp factory awaits its permanent home as we end our tour of this lovely vintage-inspired home.

Thank you for joining me on the tour!  🙂