At-Home Imagineering: Haunted Mansion Home Office

in Disney, Disneyland Resort, Merchandise

Haunted Mansion home office

The Collins’ residence in Santa Clarita, California is the location of a spirited Haunted Mansion home office. This at-home imagineering fearsome feat was recently featured in the OC Register and is swiftly attaining viral status.

As such spooktacular home décor delights are of interest to Inside the Magic readers, we caught up with the mastermind behind this terrorific transformation. Haunted Mansion fans may recognize Donna Dark Collins from the delightful documentary “Foolish Mortals.”

A candle on a table next to a figurine

Happily Haunted Home Office

Stay-at-home mom Donna Dark Collins had a dilemma: she had a haunted host of mansion memorabilia (including a quartet of stretch room portraits that had never been hung) with nowhere suitable to display her collection. Relying on her 8 years of experience as a children’s party planner, Donna took matters to task, turning her work-at-home husband’s office into frightfully fun workspace complete with 20 years’ worth of wall-to-wall creeps. Fortunately, Mr. Collins is also a huge Disney fan. He’s also the lucky recipient of an amazing Haunted Mansion home office!

Books and a candle stick holder on a table

A living room filled with furniture

Fans should recognize the paranormal powered print pattern adorning the walls of the home office: it’s an exact copy of the same style used in the foyer of Disneyland California’s Haunted Mansion.

A mirror in a living room

Framed pictures on a wall

A painting in a frame hanging on a wall

“My favorite item in the room was a 50th birthday gift from a friend who was a Disney cast member. She went to Company D, a cast member exclusive store, and noticed that they were selling items because they were doing a refresh of the storm windows in the HM. She picked up a pair of curtain tie backs for me that match the decor perfectly.” -Donna Dark Collins

A curtain

Halloween Hijinks

“Another prized possession that only comes out on Halloween night are my hitchhiking ghost statues that I got from Disney Store online about 11 years ago . . . On Halloween night, I decorate my front yard like the HM graveyard and dress myself in 40 yards of white, shimmering tulle and stand on my front porch with a black light on me. I talk and move slowly. The teen boys usually have the best reactions because at first, they don’t know if I’m real or not and then they compliment me on my acting skills. I have trick or treaters visit me year after year and have annual photos taken with me.” -Donna Dark Collins

Green grass with lawn figures

Grass with a pile of dirt

A woman dressed up as a ghost

Spooky Soirees

Cleverly crafting a creepy cool haunted home office is a fearsomely fun feat in itself. However, to the delight of curious friends, Donna hosted a sensational swinging wake!

“I had an Open House for the room because I had so many friends that wanted to come and see the final results. I made up my dining room table to mimic the one in the HM ballroom. While researching the tableware, I noticed that the place settings consisted of blue transferware plates and cranberry glass goblets. I just happened to be collecting those items for 25 years! It seems as though the Haunted Mansion was sending me subliminal messages my whole life! Disneyland table on the left and mine on the right.”

A table topped with plates of food

ITM readers should recognize this collection of Haunted Mansion inspired tea flavors from Adagio:

A bunch of items that are on a table

Tea cups on a table

Of course, this wasn’t the only gathering geared toward ghostly retirees of the Haunted Mansion. When she was featured in the 2017 documentary “Foolish Mortals,” Donna, being the perfect ghost hostess, celebrated the occasion.

A table topped with plates of food

“I had a premiere party when the DVD was released and made themed desserts that included hitchhiking ghost sugar cookies, HM green pallor macarons, and Hat Box Ghost petit fours.

Cookies on a plate

Cookies on a plate

A close up of food on a plate

I also created a “birthday cake” photo op for my guests on the dining room table. I stacked 3 Styrofoam discs and used spackling compound to make the “frosting” and then added battery operated candles.”

A table topped with plates of food

A woman blowing out candles

Ghostly gratitude to Donna for supplying us with all of the wonderful otherworldly images and news from regions beyond for this story! For even more devilish delight, catch more of Donna’s creative passion for her paranormal pals at the Haunted Mansion.  Check out her appearance, along with other fiendish fans, in the “Foolish Mortals” documentary which now available online!

Are you a fan of themed environments at home or work?  Have you created the ultimate escape based on your passion for pop culture?  We’d LOVE to share this with our readers. Please drop Michael Gavin an email about your incredibly inspired area.

Source and images: Donna Dark Collins, “Foolish Mortals” website

in Disney, Disneyland Resort, Merchandise

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