Introducing the Greencrest Project: A Historic Manor, A Thoughtful Design Journey
I’m so glad you’re here. Truly.
I’ve been waiting to share this project because it’s one that feels really close to my heart. This is the beginning of the Greencrest Project, and it’s not just about wallpaper. It’s about story, history, collaboration, and doing something with care.
How I Fell in Love with Greencrest
Last spring, I visited Greencrest Manor for the first time, and I remember walking the grounds thinking, this place feels special. The kind of special you can’t quite explain, you just know it.
It feels romantic and layered, like a little piece of Europe you didn’t expect to find in the Midwest. And from the very beginning, I couldn’t stop thinking about how we could honor what’s already here while thoughtfully adding the next chapter.
Where Greencrest Manor Is and Why People Travel Here
Greencrest is tucked away in Battle Creek, yes, the home of Kellogg’s cereal, and perfectly positioned between Detroit and Chicago.
People travel from all over for weddings and luxury events here, especially during the April through October season. Greencrest is known for hosting weddings for up to 200 guests, and it truly is one of those places where every celebration feels elevated simply because of the setting.
The History Behind This 1935 Manor
Greencrest was built in 1935 on what was originally a favorite picnic spot, which I love because it already tells you something about the spirit of this land.
Over the years, the property has lived many lives. In the 1960s, it served as a Catholic seminary for nearly twenty years before eventually becoming the venue it is today.
When you walk through the manor, you can feel that history, and that’s exactly why we’re approaching this project with so much intention.
The Estate, the Grounds, and the Spaces We’re Designing For
The mansion is a 13,000 square foot French-Normandy style estate set on 15 acres. The grounds include formal gardens, a ceremony lawn deck, and a Celebration House known as Maison des Fêtes.
Inside, there are multiple suites styled for overnight stays, including the pastel VIP Suite, the Burt bridal suite, and the Trumpet suite. Every space has its own personality, and that’s what makes this project so exciting, we’re not designing for “rooms,” we’re designing for experiences.
Meet Jenn, the Heart Behind Greencrest
Greencrest is currently owned by Jenn, and you can feel her care in every detail. She took over the property in 2019, just before Covid, with a dream in her heart to create a bed-and-breakfast experience and a place where people feel welcomed, celebrated, and cared for.
Jenn has a background in florals, and it shows. She’s one of those people who can look at a space and instantly understand how it should feel.
How This Project Started and Why It Had to Be Collaborative
When Jenn first took over, she focused on caring for what was already there. She removed old wallpaper, refreshed the space with paint, worked with antiques that were part of the home, and then poured years of energy into the grounds.
Those gardens are not just beautiful, they’re part of the experience. The flowers grown on the property are often used in the weddings she hosts, which is such a meaningful detail.
And when wedding season wrapped, it created the perfect off-season window for Jenn to turn her attention inward, not because the inside isn’t already beautiful, but because there are walls and spaces where adding classic pattern and character can elevate the experience even more.
This couldn’t be an Urbanwalls project done to Greencrest. It had to be done with Jenn.
Our First Visit: Listening Before Designing
When we visited with our crew, we didn’t come in with a plan to wallpaper everything. We came in with questions.
We went room by room to learn:
- how each space is used
- what moments happen there
- what needs to stay exactly as it is
- what could be elevated with wall design
- what feels most “Greencrest”
This collection is going to be built on intention, patience, and purpose. We want to hear Jenn. We want to honor the story. We want to take our time.
The Design Vision: Timeless, Not Trend-Driven
Jenn designs luxury weddings for a living, she’s constantly working with color, pattern, florals, and composition. So it’s been really special to see her on the other side, sharing what she loves for her own space.
The design direction we’re building toward is inspired by:
- gardens and florals from the grounds
- vintage charm and collected interiors
- English cottage and old-world European details
- classic pattern play, with modern refinement
This is where old meets new. We’re modernizing thoughtfully, not chasing trends.
The Greencrest Collection Timeline
This is a multi-visit process, and each trip builds on the last.
- Visit One: Tour, listen, plan, and learn the story of the space
- Visit Two: Present samples and concepts in person, and gather Jenn’s feedback
- Visit Three: Install what’s approved, refine what’s still in progress, and continue building the collection
- Visit Four: Final installation. Collection Launch. Champagne celebration.
This work has to be done in person, in real light, with real décor, and real context. It can’t be done virtually.
Our goal is to have the Greencrest Collection ready to launch by the beginning of wedding season in May.
How You Can Follow Along and Be Part of the Journey
We’ll be sharing weekly updates, blog posts, videos, before-and-afters, and the honest behind-the-scenes of what it takes to create a collection like this.
Some designs will be instant yeses. Some will take time. Some might fall flat. That’s not failure, that’s the process, and it’s what makes the final collection stronger.
More than anything, we want to bring you along, show the care behind every decision, and eventually make these wallpapers available so guests and design lovers alike can take a piece of Greencrest home with them.
Thank you for being here at the beginning. This story is just getting started.
