16,000 Square Feet of Endless Potential

Notably, this emblem, repeated throughout the space, symbolizes avarice.

Not for those with a fear of heights. Awesome(!) for those without.

This will remain and be turned into a rockin' mural. Each of these thousands of pieces needs to be tediously flipped by hand.

Yesterday we had the privilege of walking through CoCo's newest project in the Minneapolis Grain Exchange. Still smelling of stress, sawdust and type-A men, this historic space is being transformed into a non-traditional (and entirely brilliant) work environment for freelance professionals, small businesses and corporate workgroups. We're so thrilled to be involved with such a talented team in the creation of a lush new home, ripe for creation and collaboration. For more information about this project, check out CoCo's blog post here.

We've Done It Now.

A pat on the back and a raise of our glass to everyone who helped make our new ad happen (at the thirteenth hour.) We can't say enough good things about our partners in crime -- Kern Nickerson, Aaron Hansen, and Emily Snyder of Queen Quills Calligraphy. There's nothing hotter and more exhilarating than the freshness, urgency and synergy of seat of your pants design, and we certainly don't deserve the luxury of such great collaborators who share our vision and make things happen so effortlessly.

Here's a tease of our new ad. Because we're like that. You'll find it on page one of Minnesota Bride Magazine's Fall/Winter issue on newsstands at the beginning of July.

Our Favorite Things: Nurseries (or A Day of Running Around with Liz and Heidi)

Some days we do nothing but run around. Yesterday was hopelessly devoted to our foodie clients, Aster Cafe and Republic, for whom we are planting outdoor containers. After a quick trip to the Aster to size up the situation, we checked in on progress at Republic, where we found Billy O'Reilly pitching in on the painting. We heartily approve of how things are shaping up (and we daresay our paint selections are stellar in the space). After a quick stop at the Seven Corners geyser, we headed on to shop plants, including a stop at the lovely Tangletown Gardens for inspiration. 


As usual, we got gawked at at the nursery for our non-garish carts full of foliage plants. It's okay. We're cool with that. If you need smart and sexy container gardens, you know where to find us. We'd love to set you up.

Black and White and Soft All Over

Misha and Nick's wedding was an event loaded with interesting details. Starting with black and white toile linens, we kept the floral and decor soft and antique feeling with some modern elements mixed in. The result was a lush, eclectic and and very elegant event. 


We designed the personal flowers with a very light hand. Pristine roses and orchids in pale shades and little bits of texture from white nerine lilies, freesia, dusty miller, bunnytail grass, and andromeda heather resulted in restful, but highly intricate bouquets.


Having the ceremony and reception in the same room is always a challenge for event designers. Trying to create a striking and sacred space against a backlit wall of glass also requires considerable creativity. For the ceremony we envisioned a light and twinkly backdrop incorporating lucite, glass, candlelight, succulents, gardenias, orchids, terrariums, raw silk ribbon and glass bubble garland. The results were stunning.


The space was quickly turned during cocktail hour. The neutral palette was warmed up with lighting and luscious florals in soft, antique fall shades. Elevated centerpieces of peegee hydrangea, magnolia and dendrobium orchids were designed in birdfeeders. Low arrangements of roses, andromeda heather, peegee hydrangea, scabiosa pods and echeveria were held by cast iron urns.


Kudos to some of our favorite peeps who worked on this event with us: Bungalow 6 Design, Linen Effects,  Minneapolis Golf Club and photography by Red Ribbon Studio.

Labor Days

Black eyes, bruises, cardboard cuts, blisters from lighters, embedded thorns, spray painted fingers, flooded cars and laps...our devoted peeps take one for the team everyday in a job that is deceptively physical. Now that we finally have a moment to take a breath, we wanted to again proclaim our eternal devotion to the people who never quit on us and make us look SO good, even when it's 10pm, when working conditions are 40 degrees and full of fumes, when lunch is pretzel m&ms and dinner is whisky and animal crackers. We couldn't possibly deserve you, but we're so glad you're here!

Frocktails Featured on Secrets of the City

 

Summer of Dresses, which I helped to start last year is back for it's second season of prettiness. The kick off Frocktail party is tonight from 5-8 at everyone's favorite, Aster Cafe. If you're someone who prefers 'dapper' to dresses (or just wants to surround yourself with scads of pretty ladies), you are cordially invited to join us! Follow Summer of Dresses on twitter to get your fix of eyecandy. More info can be found in Secrets of the City's feature, too.

Midway Contemporary Art Benefit Art Auction Sneak Peek

Today we are beginning to set up for the magic that is Midway Contemporary Art's Annual Art Auction Benefit event. Titled The Judgement of Paris, this 7th Annual event for them will be held on Friday, April 29th, 2011 at the totally cool and slightly creepy Theatre de la Jeune Lune. We scoped out the cavernous space weeks ago, and immediately climbed for the rafters (into which we are now no longer allowed to go). We can't wait to suspend "cool shit" and help to transform this amazing and underused space in the Warehouse District. Here are a few pics from our first mission:

Ours is the Orange One. 'Nuff Said.

 

Here's a sneak peek of our installation for Minneapolis Institute of Arts ART IN BLOOM. Suffice it to say, ours is the orange one. The event starts Thursday, April 28th and runs through Sunday, May 1st.

Up Early for Mpls/St. Paul Magazine Weddings

We started the day early this morning, preparing bouquets for a photo shoot for Weddings | Mpls/St. Paul Magazine. They asked for hot and bright, and we gave them just that -- a vibrant yellow and a shocking fuchsia bridal bouquet. Were mohair and wax dipped succulents involved? Well, you'll just have to wait and see.

Blizzard Wedding: Nothing Short of Epic.

Hooray! Finally on this beautiful spring day we have jolly images for you from a technicolor winter wedding during the biggest snowstorm of the year (18 inches in one day!) A testament to the toughness, flexibility and devotion of their friends, families (and vendors!), Debra and Alex literally had wedding guests shovel their driveways with cookie sheets (!!!) to make it to their wedding. The one thing Debra kept repeating during our meetings was that they wanted it to be "fun". And it was. When we came back to tear down after their event, they were still dancing up a storm to an amazeballs band. We ran into old clients and friends, met new clients, and were SO warmly received by everyone involved. It was one of those nights we felt so lucky to get to do what we do.

A brilliant team of people worked on this event including Amy Zaroff Events + Design, the staff at The Depot, and of course Red Ribbon Studio, who captured the vibrant and joyful images you've seen here. For even more of their images of this event, click here.