Upscale Halloween decor goes beyond child’s play

With a last name that’s a little mysterious and an Oct. 31 birthday, Kay Strange has always celebrated Halloween in a big way.

When she was small, her dad called her “little spook,” and she has hosted many Halloween parties over the years. For the past five years or so, she has organized a luncheon for several dozen women dressed as witches.

Strange is well acquainted with the options for Halloween decorations. They don’t have to be ghoulish or childish – many classy, whimsical and even elegant options are available in a range of prices.

“As you get older, you’ve got more money to do these things,” Strange said. “Every year I think there is nothing out there that I don’t have.”

But she always finds a couple of new things for her collection.

Some things she gives away, but others she uses year after year, although not always in the same spot or configuration.

“Through the years, I have kept special little ornaments that friends and family have given me,” Strange said.

She puts those on an artificial black tree that becomes a Halloween tree.

One of her favorites is a 5-foot witch statue. She carries that theme throughout her home.

“There’ll be witches hanging everywhere,” Strange said.

It’s gotten so that Strange skips decorating for fall and starts with Halloween in September.

“If I’m going to go to that extent, I want it up for two months,” she said.

More and more shops are finding a market for upscale decor that can be collectible.

At Chateau Holidays in Delano, the selection is vast. Owner Jana Northcutt starts putting out her Halloween selection on July 15 to get ready for people, such as Strange, who start decorating at Labor Day.

One popular look is the lighted Halloween village. Think Christmas village October-fied.

She also sells a lot of artist-rendered Halloween pieces, such as those by Vergie Lightfoot, Greg Guedel, Allen Cunningham, Bethany Lowe and Katherine’s Collection.

The vintage look is her Halloween bestseller, consisting of old-fashioned styles and figurines. Other themes include Day of the Dead and a whimsical look using fun, bright colors.

“The newest thing this year is putting in some gold and some creepy elegance,” Northcutt said. “We don’t really do the horror and gore. Ours is more the collections and letting your imagination go wild.”

Northcutt advises that customers pick their favorite pieces and build from there. They can also transform some of what they already have. For example, Northcutt has a Victorian picture at her own home that she transforms by putting masks on all the people.

“Anything goes at Halloween,” she said. “You can haunt your whole house.”

This story was originally published September 20, 2015 at 11:07 AM with the headline "Upscale Halloween decor goes beyond child’s play."