Local Gem: Tiny House Vintage and Art in Delaware, OH

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From its modest start in antique booths to a flourishing storefront and online destination, Tiny House Vintage and Art has made bold, strategic pivots to stay agile and thriving through a pandemic, a move and an ever-changing economy.

Located just 25 minutes north of Columbus, in the charming college town of Delaware, Ohio, you’ll discover more than tree-lined streets and vintage brick buildings. The vibrant downtown area is packed with personality, and at its heart is Tiny House Vintage and Art—a must-visit shop where past meets present in the most creative ways.

Tiny House Vintage & Art is located at 27 W. Winter Street, Delaware, OH 43015 

Stocked with one-of-a-kind holiday ornaments, woodcut signs, home décor, florals, bath and body products, and engravable and permanent jewelry, there is something for everyone housed inside. And while the physical location does a booming business, the online storefront does too, specializing in their unique woodcut signs (available for custom order) and holiday ornaments – available year-round. Ready to learn more about what Tiny House Vintage and Art offers? Take a tour with us. 

The Story Behind Tiny House Vintage & Art

Meet Jennifer Kerr, Owner of Tiny House Vintage and Art. Kerr wears many hats, including the sole creator of Tiny House Vintage and Art’s unique offerings. That’s right, everything in the store is either sourced or made by Kerr herself, and she fulfills all the online custom orders too. That’s a lot to take on, but not when you have the passion that Kerr has. 

“I think a lot of artists dream of having their own space to show their work. I always wanted a space like this that I could make and sell from,” Kerr told us. But having her own space wasn’t always the case. Kerr has a degree in art therapy, and art has always been a central part of her life and aspirations, but having a physical space seemed out of reach. So, she started by operating out of her home studio, making hand-painted signs for various pop-up markets and collecting pieces for antique booths. She started out selling a lot of vintage pieces and using her signs to show off the pieces, but interest soon started pouring in about her signs, and Tiny House Vintage and Art was born. 

But her journey doesn’t end there. Realizing the popularity of handmade signs, she got serious about making them. In 2017, she bought her first laser cutter, and in 2018 opened her first storefront. “To say I was fearful is an understatement, but I was all in and determined to make it work,” Kerr says. 

Tiny House Vintage and Art stayed in that first location for four years until moving to its current location (around the corner). Now, three years into her prime location in downtown Delaware, Kerr has seen the store thrive and morph into what it is today. Based on customer needs and requests, she now owns several lasers – one that engraves metal and jewelry, a UV printer to make her framed art, a hat press and her newly unveiled addition—a jewelry welding machine to offer permanent jewelry.

“If there’s one thing that small business owners are good at, it’s the PIVOT! That’s all we’ve done for the past five years—since Covid, and now that the cost of goods are increasing exponentially, my goal is to offer even more personalized goods,” says Kerr. So, just recently, she bought and learned to operate a jewelry welding machine and is offering permanent jewelry for the first time this spring. And it’s already a hit. The service requires an appointment, which book up fast. 

While being a small business owner has definitely kept her on her toes, when asked if it’s worth it, Kerr says she’s never regretted a minute of any of it. “If one day I don’t get to have this shop anymore, I will have lived my life knowing what it is to pursue a dream. I highly recommend that at some point in your life, you allow yourself the freedom to take a risk, stare potential failure in the face, feel the fear and do it anyway,” Kerr said.  

What You’ll Find Inside 

Tiny House Vintage and Art is a vibe all on its own. It’s a mix of vintage and whimsical—and it works. As Kerr likes to say, the fluffy, pretty stuff gives her art “street cred.” 

Products in the shop range from in-the-moment offerings like glitter mimosa mixes, tumblers that can be engraved, candles and skincare to engravable jewelry, hand towels with sayings, and even engravable pocketknives. And, of course, Kerr’s custom laser cut signs, holiday ornaments, printed and framed UV laser art, and vintage floral arrangements are sprinkled throughout.

The day we visited the shop was a Collection Release day featuring the new Botanical Collection. A skilled artist, you can tell Kerr loves to create and went all out on this collection. From framed printed floral art (our favorite was Frenchie) to hand-crafted floral arrangements, the window was even adorned with strands of delicate hand-cut paper leaves. 

In addition to the newest collection, a special display holds DIY kits—something Kerr says kept her business afloat during Covid. Having to close to the public for six months, she made ends meet with online sales and her now popular DIY kits. Her most recent was a DIY Dried Floral Bunny Wreath that included different dried florals and the framework to create a dried bunny wreath. 

Finally, Tiny House Vintage and Art wouldn’t be complete without her biggest seller: laser, woodcut ornaments. A prime spot houses the extensive collection. We’re told over 160 adorn the walls and displays during the holidays. These unique ornaments are also available online year-round, and combined with her online sales of custom signs, they contribute to a large part of the shop’s revenue. 

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A Peek Into Tiny House Vintage and Art’s Community

While we knew that Tiny House Vintage and Art had a large online presence—over 15k followers on Instagram alone, we didn’t realize how much those loyal customers supported Kerr in person, too. Visiting the shop on a random Thursday morning, we were surprised to see it was busy with customers stopping in. Even more notable is that Kerr knows most customers personally by name and can even recite their previous orders. It’s truly remarkable how Kerr has blended her online following with her storefront success. And with the comfortable, welcoming feeling the shop gives off, we understand why customers stop in regularly. 

Tiny House Vintage and Art has modified hours—open five days a week so that Kerr has two full days in her studio to create weekly. But that seems to only enhance her storefront foot traffic. Tiny House Vintage and Art also plays a big part in the Delaware community and is a regular staple in most Delaware events, especially First Fridays, a community event on the first Friday of every month. 

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How to Shop Tiny House Vintage and Art if You Don’t Live in Delaware, Ohio

If you’re not located in Central Ohio or near Delaware, don’t worry—Tiny House Vintage and Art has a vibrant online presence. Many of Kerr’s curated collections are available on the website, but the main attraction online is the custom signs, which can be ordered and shipped nationwide.

If you’re in Central Ohio, it’s definitely worth the drive to check out Tiny House Vintage and Art and Kerr’s custom creations that blend art, vintage and innovation. Bonus: you can even make it an afternoon with a stroll through small-town Delaware and a stop in Choffey’s Coffee and Confections or Staas Brewing Company for some local tastes, too. 

At the very least, follow Tiny House Vintage and Art on Instagram @tinyhousevintageandart. And do check out the website tinyhousevintageandart.com the next time you need a custom sign or personalized, unique gift. We promise you won’t be sorry.  

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