The O'Neil House

Just a little while ago I had the pleasure of staying at a local Ohioan B&B in Akron.

The O’Neil House.

This house is a 19-room Tudor mansion that sits in the middle of Akron, but feels like you are sitting somewhere in the countryside. 

There are four rooms that are available to stay in. The Master Suite, The Sleigh Bed Suite, Grace’s Room, and then the Family Suite.  I had the privilege of being able to see each of these rooms other than the Family Suite which was being occupied at the time.

The Master Suite is the biggest of the rooms in the house.  When you open the door, you walk right into a large private living room that is complete with a working wood burning fireplace, blue-grey walls with gold accents, and beautiful furniture to fit.  Walk a little bit further into the spacious dressing room where you can get your coffee in the morning.  While in the dressing room you can take that time to go to the wash room.  This is by far one of the most unique bathrooms that I have ever seen.  The bathroom is something that I have only seen in Japan.  The color scheme is green and black and all glass and tile.  To get your overwhelmed senses calmed down, you can go into the bedroom to relax.  The elegant room comes with a twenty-foot leaded glass bay window with a quiet view of the woods and a king size four poster bed.  After seeing this room, I can picture a bridal party getting ready and the bride sitting on the couch is the beautiful sunlight that comes into the bedroom. 

Grace’s Room is the smallest of the rooms that I saw that day, but very cozy.  This room was once used for a nursery hence the name, Grace.  The family decided that this would be and stay her room her whole life in the house.  While the room looks small with a queen size four poster bed in it and a couch, the size for the nursery would be rather large.  What makes this room so different than the other rooms, is that this room is the only room that does not have a separate living room; it does have a full bathroom that is in the room.

The Family Suite from what I hear goes all over one side of the home.  There is a shared living room that joins not only one bedroom, but three.  Each room has a queen size bed and there is a one and a half baths that they all share.  The room is decorated in a French country and white.

The Sleigh Bed Suite is the room that I had the pleasure to stay in.  

This room is one of two that has a working wood burning fireplace, and has a queen size sleigh bed.  The all wood room has old photos about the family, suite cases from centuries past, a shave kit with a straight razor for decoration on the dresser, and two chairs to sit in other than laying on the bed.  This room like all others has a separate living room that overlooks the beautiful garden and pond.  This room would be another beautiful spot to take pictures of a wedding party.  The couch was an excellent escape after a long drive and there was a spot to get your coffee there too.  The bathroom is where I find that most relaxing after a long and exhausting day, so if the bathroom is not clean, I don’t feel rested.  This was not the case with this bathroom.  Done in all white and spotless.  The shower was rather spacious for the time the home was built, the tub was inviting, and you didn’t get that hit of cold when you stepped out. 

The house also had many rooms that you could explore.  The Foyer where you came in at had hand carved panels and each were different from the other, which I later found out that it took seven years to complete.  

The details can be see closer in the picture above.

The Library

 The full library had a desk, couch, television, and of course books! 

This is where we found the Inn Keeper and where she spends a lot of her time.

The room is located in the front of the house and has old charm with  very few new additives to it.



There was a formal dining room that was painted in a royal blue, however was far from feeling dark due to the large window that had a bench seat along the whole thing.  

There was a living room that had quite a few different sitting areas set up, a fireplace, and a grand piano.  In the same space of that living room, but tucked in the back was the Garden Room.  This room is used mostly for special events, lunches, and dinner parties.





 The picture of the right is of the living room from outside.



I have always wondered what it would be like on the outside looking in on some of the fancy gatherings that were held here or the family get-together's that happened.

Since it is a Bed & Breakfast you get to have breakfast in none other than the Breakfast Room.  Breathtaking is what this small room is.  Right off the kitchen are swinging doors with mirrors that make the room seem bigger and brighter than what it most likely is. Done in gold, white, and a light pink the room is inviting.  



I love the fact that it overlooks the garden and pond and has access to the brick patio outback.  

Breakfast is served whenever you get downstairs and made at that moment, so it isn’t out getting cold.  The meal consisted of fresh fruit, blueberry waffles, bacon, and eggs.  If any of you don’t like any of these things let them know and they won’t make it for you.  There is juice, coffee, and water served with your meal.  These types of meals always hit the spot unlike a hotel breakfast bar.  Having that home cooked meal and fresh food really makes a difference starting your day.

I want to say thank you to Gayle Johnson for letting me look around this elegant manor that still has that old charm, but new feel to it.  The hospitality that I received beginning to end means a great deal.  If you are in the Akron area I would tell you to find this beautiful Tudor mansion and spend a few nights. 










The pictures below are from around the outside of the house and as you can see the beautiful landscape that makes you feel that you are no longer in town, but in the slow paced country setting.