To our newest readers, welcome to the Mansion Messenger! To our Founders and longtime followers, we’re glad you’re still right here with us! We know the big question on everyone’s mind is when the Mansion will officially open. While a few recent project hurdles mean we aren’t ready to announce a date just yet, we’re making steady progress and expect to share a better update very soon!

With so many new faces joining the journey, we’re jumping straight into what you want to know: the progress!

This week at the mansion: 

*New rain gutters are being installed, and our trouble spots are staying dry!

*We reached 240K followers on our Facebook page, and climbing!

*Brand new hardwood floors are being installed in rooms that had suffered too much damage to be restored.

*The painters are adding so much color to the ceilings and walls upstairs

*Spacklers are putting finishing touches on walls throughout the house…safe to say there is sheetrock dust EVERYWHERE!

*AND…. we celebrated another huge milestone…. our fearless leader, Ariel, turned 50!!

Recently, Jonathan Scott and Zooey Deschanel shared a glimpse inside their New York home, and one detail immediately caught our attention: the stunning Hollyhocks wallpaper by House of Hackney, a partner brand of Mansion on Waverly Hill! It’s always exciting to see design choices we love appearing in homes we admire!

Moments like this remind us that while the Mansion honors its historic past, its next chapter is being shaped with timeless patterns and thoughtful details. House of Hackney's stunning patterns will be on display in many high-visibility spaces throughout the home. We can't wait to share these reveals with you!

Jonathan Scott & Zooey Deschanel's NYC foyer featuring House of Hackney Hollyhocks wallpaper

Spring is slowly making its return to Northeast Pennsylvania, and with it comes one of nature’s favorite milestones, the return of migratory birds! As an avid bird watcher myself, I’m already dusting off my bird ID book, opening the Merlin app (thank you Cornell Labs), and stocking up on birdseed in anticipation of all the familiar spring visitors.

Just a short drive from the Mansion, Lackawanna State Park is a favorite destination for birders and nature lovers alike. It’s the perfect place to explore after walking the Mansion grounds, so don’t forget your binoculars… and maybe even a sketchbook or journal. Click here to learn more about Lackawanna State Park and all it has to offer!

Last spring, we were especially fond of a sweet little Dark-eyed Junco who spent her days just outside the kitchen window. Naturally, we named her Josie.

We’re hoping she returns this season. 🐦

-Taylor

This week, Susanne marked Ariel’s birthday with small-batch peanut butter-stuffed cupcakes topped with dark chocolate whipped ganache frosting, made especially for the team working onsite. It was a simple but meaningful way to pause, celebrate, and recognize how far both Ariel and the Mansion have come.

Sometimes milestones look like progress reports and project timelines… and sometimes they look like a candle on a cupcake shared with the people helping bring the vision to life!

This week, we’re sharing Susanne’s whipped ganache frosting recipe in case you have a milestone of your own to celebrate!

This season is full of milestones, both big and small! We’re grateful to have a community that celebrates them with us. Stay tuned for what’s next from Mansion on Waverly Hill.

Warmly,

Taylor & Ariel

Caretaker and Communications Team