Good taste is trick to upscale Halloween
BALTIMORE — Halloween doesn't scare Melanie Brzozowski into a fit of random decorating. She treats the holiday with the approach she takes to other seasonal events.
Two weeks ago, Brzozowski switched out the blue seascape decor from the warmer summer months in favor of a little black magic perfect for October's spooky vibe.
“It's not so much about the gore. It's embracing a great holiday,” said Brzozowski, the event design consultant for Chef's Expressions. “I am like a mad scientist with my Halloween entertaining: I add a cup of funky, a spoonful of elegance and a pinch of sparkle — always have to have sparkle — to get the proper balance with my decor, events and menus.”
Even though Halloween is usually associated with over-the-top kitsch and gore, it doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice good taste. Designers and event planners say that with a little thought, a tasteful, high-end Halloween can be within reach.
Brzozowski strives for an upscale appearance without spending exorbitantly. She also goes to Pinterest for some ideas, but mostly dreams up ways to incorporate her decorations on her own.
“Entertaining is an art and should be treated as such,” she said. “Even with the 'fun' holidays, like Halloween, you should still use the proper silverware, glassware, real linens, etc. If you are going to do something, you do it right.”
Carmen Brock, owner of Trohv, a home furnishings store in Baltimore's Hampden neighborhood, prefers a subtle approach.
In past years, she's filled her home with various knickknacks and stylized figurines. Now, she fills her two stores with them. She reserves her at-home decorating to the exterior of her Baltimore rowhouse. This year, Brock scattered white pumpkins along the porch and staircase of her home.
She suggests that customers decorate spaces such as mantels in a less flashy manner, perhaps skipping the traditional orange and black in favor of texture and nature.
“Do not over clutter with a lot of pieces,” she said. “It's good to keep it simple and monochromatic. Throw in something organic from nature like driftwood colored sticks and dried leaves. Stay within that palette. Add some coziness and sophistication. And incorporate some other textures: burlap and dyed canvas.”
Philip Smith, a design consultant at The House Downtown in Baltimore, thinks that small touches using minimal materials can make a big impact during Halloween.
“Hang a single hanging light bulb from your front porch,” he said. “Give it an eerie, neglected look.”
Glamorize the typical white sheet ghost silhouette by using tulle. “If you have a little girl, use pink tulle,” he said.
Smith arranges Halloween figurines or small pumpkins along a table or mantel. He also anchors tablescapes with “really cool” topiary jars. Fill the jars with small gourds or candy corn. The more tiers and layers, the better, he said.“If you're not crafty, simplicity is very good,” he said.Smith also suggests decorating a chalkboard in seasonal designs for an additional piece of art. In his home, he decorated his chalkboard with a “spooky” picture of his home surrounded by bats.“It sounds kitschy, but it's really nice,” he said.And for those ambitious do-it-yourselfers, Smith suggests creating a wall piece by alternating luxurious fabrics in black and orange.At Brzozowski's 2,000-square-foot Middle River, Md., apartment, the magic starts at the front door. Her entrance is adorned with a black-and-orange wreath and “Happy Halloween” sign. The patio is filled with goldenrod and mums in colors of eggplant and burnt orange.“I set the tone as soon as you get to the door,” Brzozowski said, adding that she strives to give each room a distinct feel.Brzozowski has loaded her living room with sparkly pumpkins. She's also filled vases with items such as plastic skulls and glass ghosts to give them a different look. She crowns each vase with pillar candles.The dining room has a “black widow” theme. The table is adorned with a black spider web tablecloth, silver-and-black runner with spider web lacing, and black roses centerpiece.“There's lots of sparkle,” she said. “Everything goes together.”In the bathroom, Brzozowski uses a black shower curtain and hand-tied cloth banner.She uses black cheesecloth in the dining room instead of curtains. “It looks much better than it sounds,” she said with a laugh. “I place little purple spiders on it. It looks nice.”Even the kitchen's dishwasher is adorned with festive window clings.“I make sure each room is different, but the overall house goes together. It's the transition from room to room that builds excitement,” Brzozowski said. “I love to have items that complement each other, not that match. It is more appealing to the eye to look at a room of things that go together, in different ways, than a room that has all things matching.”Most importantly, you should keep yourself in mind when decorating your home, Brzozowski said.“Remember that you will be the one looking at it the most, so surround yourself with things that make you smile or that remind you of your childhood,” she said.
