I mentioned in my last post that I was invited by my friend, Lisa Lewis, Victoriana Lady, to help decorate the Stegmaier Mansion for Christmas along with other members of our Victorian Group.
I always dreamed of being one of the volunteer's that help to decorate the White House for Christmas but let me tell you, THIS WAS BETTER!!
The Stegmaier Mansion has been featured in 2 issues of Victorian Homes magazine this year.
It is currently undergoing construction for the addition of a front porch which will return it to it's original architecture when it was first built.
And what a magnificent porch it is......
That is owner , Joe Matteo, in the background!
Can you see the details on those grates!!
Yes, those are Lion's Heads. The Stegmaier's founded the Stegmaier Brewing Company and Lion's Head Beer was the most famous .
Lion's Brewery is still in operation here.
Look at those medalions.....
The porch will eventually be painted to match the rest of the mansion...
The inside of the porch... still what attention to detail!!
When I arrived, Joe Matteo had all the tubs of florals up from the basement and we started to decorate.
The mansion is very busy over the Holiday season , booked solid for many Christmas parties with the first one to be held on Wednesday, Dec. 1.
That is why Joe needed help...
Other years, Joe put up a huge floor to ceiling tree but with 40-60 people for a Christmas party, it took up too much space.
So this year, he is going with just this single tree.
It is a true Victorian tree which was originally just table top trees in Queen Victoria's age.
This is in the Ladies Parlor.
I tend to jump around with my pics and I wanted to post this before I have to go to work tonight so please bear with me....
This is in the Library...
Also in the Library...
Looking into the Gentlemen's Parlor....
From the foyer looking into the Gentleman's Parlor....
Can you tell that I thought this was so beautiful!!
Also in the Gentlemen's Parlor...
This is the window in one of the downstairs bathrooms....
The Dining Room....
Joe will decorate the Chandy later ...
I helped decorate this mantle!!
More of the Dining Room....
Look at this table!!
The nutcrackers are from the Dollar Store!!
I have this same ornament from Target!
We did three floors of this garland......
all the way to the top!!
In the Ladies Parlor...
Yep, here I am decorating in the Library!!
Did I tell you how much I love this scene!!
Here is Joe Matteo on a ladder with Lisa Lewis assisting and her sweetie, John, looking on!
Not high enough.... we decided to use some phone books...
Yep, much better!
This mantle in the Ladies Parlor...
Joe Matteo had some pink garland that he wasn't going to use so I asked him if I could add it to the mantle. When he said, "Deb, do what you want", my heart skipped a beat!!
Here it is with the pink garland added to the top and added to the white garland draping in front..
Amy, caught up in the decorating....
Again, did I tell you how much I love this???
Finishing the tree...
On top of the Baby Grand...
Another mantle in the Library....
Another bathroom downstairs....
In the Gentlemen's Parlor....
Looking into the Dining Room...
What a window!!
3 stories of garland....
The tree almost finished...
Santa on top....
with a Stegmaier product!
Well, I had the time of my life!! I just want to tell you that all of the greenery and florals used were bought at the Dollar Store, Michael's and A.C.Moore's!!
I think the place looks like a Million Bucks!!!
What do you think????
Joe Matteo was very grateful for the help and will be having a party over New Year's weekend and we are all invited!!
Can't wait!!
It was a thrill and a PRIVLEGE to take part in helping get the Mansion ready for Christmas!!
To see more about the Stegmaier Mansion and read the 2 issues of Victorian Homes in which it was featured, please click HERE
For more photos of the decorating of the mansion, please click HERE
to visit the Mansion Facebook page!
For me, it was a dream come true.......
I am linking this post to:
Tabletop Tuesday
Merry & Brite Blog Party
Rednesday
Deck the Halls Friday
Thanks for stopping by today and every day that you take the time to visit me!!
Hugs,
Debbie