24 Oct 2016 A home in the sky

by Donna Benton
Rita Treece photos

For years, Tracey and Laura Brown were imagining and designing every detail in their future dream home, and when they first stepped foot on their lot in Wooster and took a look at the view, they knew that they had finally found the place that it should be. 

The Browns are not afraid to take on a project, and they had a hand in much of the construction of their house.

“We were the general contractor for our home,” Laura said. “It was hard work, but we did a lot of the work ourselves, including all the trim and woodwork. We wanted to put our touch on the house. That gave us an opportunity to incorporate the pieces that we had been collecting and the elements that we had been dreaming about for a long time.

“We have an eclectic style, and if a piece jumps out at us, we will find a way to incorporate it. We are really drawn to great old architectural pieces like old slider doors, corbels, posts and reclaimed wood.” 

The Browns wanted their home to be a reflection of their casual and informal style, and it is filled with custom furnishings and pieces that they have collected on antiquing trips or built themselves. The bathroom vanities are made from recycled dressers. A local craftsman constructed the dining table for the couple. Laura made the curtains, and Tracey built the curtain rods from industrial pipe. 

A bedroom is filled with furniture passed down from Tracey’s family and custom painted to match the style of the home. The Browns collaborated together to build the headboard for their master bedroom. “That is probably my favorite project that we built together,” Laura said. “It really is a mix of our two design styles. I was after the sharpness of the tufted leather, and he wanted a mix of natural wood. After a lot of discussion and many hours of thinking and re-thinking, we finally came up with a piece that we believe is a reflection of each of us and the focal point of the room.” 

The home’s open, airy design takes advantage of the spectacular view, and the wispy blues and grays in the home perfectly reflect the sky. “We love to sit out on the back porch and enjoy the constant breeze,” Laura said. “You really feel like you are miles above everything.”

Donna Benton is a maker of customr home furnishings and specializes in classic painted finishes for antique and vintage furniture. You can see her work at WaterHouseMarket.com.