MN Governor's Mansion Holiday Install

It was such an honor to be one of five designers selected to install two rooms in the MN Governor's Mansion! I was so lucky to be given the First Lady's room as well as the foyer leading into that room. The First Lady's room is a special room spotlighting the woman behind the men, and in that room, hangs a photo of every women from the very beginning. It's a moving tribute. And I really wanted to treat this room with the respect it deserved.

The first thing I thought of while viewing the spaces was really creating a memorable experience for everyone touring the mansion. I loved the alcove ceiling over the conference table and really wanted to create something dramatic in this space. I didn't know what yet, but I knew it was going to be awesome and unexpected! The foyer was such a great space, greeting guests as they walked down the classic stairwell. I really wanted them to feel drawn into the space and greeted with warmth and tradition. (Of course, with a bit of a twist!)

Using a blow torch for the first time...learning to weld!

Inspiration is everywhere! And over the next few weeks, I conceptualized an enchanting viewpoint, in the color palette pre-determined by the organizer's of the event...White, silver and pale blue. To make the drop-down for the ceiling alcove, I learned to weld! Oh, yes! It was pretty amazing! And nothing gets in the way of a determined visual girl!

The foyer was a magical introduction into the First Lady's room. From the decorated classic stairwell cascading down to the hand flocked Christmas tree, this room reels of an updated traditional Christmas. The tree boasts over 400+ ornaments, including 50 peacock feathers from a friend's peacock farm in MN. The paper on the patterned gift wrapped packages are a vintage wallpaper, in honor of the historical viewpoint of the home.

Lunch break! We felt so lucky to be seated in the formal dining room for lunch! And the meal was amazing! (And who doesn't have a napkin with an embossed seal from the Governor's mansion?)

The photos on the wall are all the First Lady's, from the very first! I wanted to create an ode to these women...and with the white tree, with all their portraits, I think we accomplished that!

MD... A special shout out to our Governor, Mark Dayton. Oh, and vintage glass ornaments on the tree, from Dayton's Department store...Yes, still our favorite department store!

Creating and installing "Magpie", the drop down ceiling art installation...What an awesome experience! We created 20 metal snowflake sputniks, with 10 arms each and five wires on each arm. I had a handful of elves help hand attach every single wire and sparkly treasure at the end of each of these wires...a total of 1,000 treasures were added! Once at the mansion, we carefully untangled every single arm and wire and hung every metal snowflake from the ceiling. With care, love and thoughtful placement, it took us two and a half hours to hang all twenty pieces. With a two and a half foot circumference, the alcove ceiling was magically dressed. And all of this, from start to finish, consumed 120+ hours of work...A true labor of love! How did the name, "Magpie" come to fruition? Once completed, one of the people on my team said, "This looks like a nest of a Magpie. The birds that are attracted to sparkling objects." And that name suited this installation so much, we claimed it as such.

If you want to learn how I can help you install holiday into your home or business, please feel free to send me an email at: MichelleHavens@ymail.com (And you don't have to live in a mansion for me to help!)

Thank you to my sponsors who helped make this project happen! Good Carma, Carma Coffee and Dan Wright Agency with State Farm. I wouldn't have as much of the magic without all of you!