This last month has been jam-packed with fall events kicking off the holiday seasons. Some of the best ones were the Dress For Success “One Night, One Mission”, NKBA 2015 Awards Ceremony and the MSP Magazine/ASID Showcase Home opening night reveal. Each full of great people, entertainment and of course food & drinks!

The first event was held at Nicollet Island Pavilion. The yearly NKBA Gala and awards ceremony, put on by the Mn division of the NKBA, is an honorary event that showcases and reveals the winners of this years best kitchen and bath designs. It is always a motivational event for me as the room is filled with the top design industry professionals in Minnesota! I missed the entry deadline for this years competition but I have 2 great projects for entry in next years competition!

A new organizations I recently joined brought on an opportunity to design their fall gala. Each year, Dress For Success hosts their big fall event, the One Night One Mission gala, which is held to raise money and awareness for the organization. It was held at Muse Event Center this year. As in my previous post I was asked to do the decor for the event which was a big fete to decorate such a large space on a budget! The biggest goal was to create focal points that moved your eye around the room. I choose to use gold leaves strung from clear fishing line hung on the exterior walls of the room. They were hung behind each area of importance; the silent auction, VIP seating areas, beer/wine pull. Constructing the gold leaves entailed painting and stringing 3800 fabric leaves by hand! There were a lot of helpers which made this all possible and the back drop they created was gorgeous!

The night featured a live band, fashion show and an emotional video showcasing the stories of real women who were helped by the Dress For Success organization. The fashion show included women from the Twin Cities chapter who had gone through the program and succeeded in new careers. Organizations like this one are so important, they shows people how to succeed and support themselves rather than giving items that will need to be continually replenished. A win-win all the way around!

Each year, Mpls St. Paul Magazine teams up with the ASID Mn to produce an amazing interior design event. I had the opportunity to score tickets at the last minute to this sold out event and couldn’t say YES fast enough! For their 17th year they featured a Minneapolis home that was completely remodeled from top to bottom. Each room is designed by a different local designer/designers. No expense spared, these homes are always AMAZING! The owners of this years showcase home, Mark and Susan Lacek, are the founders of Faiths Lodge. “…a place where parents and families facing the life-limiting illness or death of a child can retreat to reflect on the past, renew strength for the present, and build hope for the future. In its North Woods setting, Faith’s Lodge provides a peaceful escape for families to refresh their minds and spirits while spending time with others who understand what they are experiencing.” ~mspmag.com on Faiths Lodge.

Entrepreneurs and lovers of warm travel destinations, they wanted a home that reflected their coastal lifestyle. This home hits every mark! The event allows the public a peak into the lives of this family and the freedom to walk through the home at your leisure. A view of each room along with an all access party full of food, drinks and entertainment. It sells out fast even with the $100 ticket fee for general admission but it is well worth it if you ever have the chance to go! Check out these photos of the home at mspmag.com/ASID-MN-Showcase-Home-Tour/ . See you next year!