Dec 11, 2018 4 min read

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For more than a decade, a distinctive Pike Street Victorian home and lawn have been a town focus – more so when they are elaborately decorated for the holidays. Now meet the woman who plans and executes these impressive displays.

1. When did you decide to have such an elaborate holiday display? And did you have such a display at your previous address?

I think it all started when I purchased the house. It is a big, old Victorian right in the heart of Canonsburg, and it deserves to be decorated in an elaborate manner. When I put the fence up, the decorating really began to shape up. I love decorating the fence. I have always decorated, even at my previous address, even though the displays were not as large.

2. For what holidays do you decorate?

I used to decorate for every holiday; now it’s just the Fourth of July, Halloween and Christmas.

3. How much planning goes into each display? And do you change it every year?

Not much planning. If I see something I like, I buy it and then just incorporate it into the display. I try to use each theme for at least two years.

4. Where do you find the items?

I do a lot of online shopping and also find items in catalogs that come to my house.

5. How much would you estimate it costs for the displays each year?

If I had to guess, I would say each year I spend at least $500 to $800 – including the electric bill.

6. How much time does it take to build the display, and do family members pitch in? Did you ever put up a display, decide it wasn’t what you wanted, and then start over?

The majority of the displays take my husband about a day and a half to put up. My Christmas displays could take a week because I keep adding things. Are you kidding about starting over? Once my husband puts something up, it is there to stay whether I like it or not. LOL.

7. Where do you store the items during the off-season?

I have a huge attic, a basement and a couple of garages for storage.

8. Yours is probably the best-known holiday display in Canonsburg? What kind of comments do you get?

I actually have had people stop their cars on Pike Street to shout out, “Great job,” “We always look forward for your decorations,” “Can’t wait to see what is next” or “Can we take pictures with the grandkids?”

9. With all of the effort put into the outdoor displays, do you have time (and energy) to decorate the inside of your home as well?

I do decorate the inside of my house. I put up five Christmas trees. I decorate my staircase, mantels and doorways. But as I am getting older, I am starting to cut down.

10. Is (elaborate) decorating for the holidays a family tradition, or are you a first-generation holiday designer?

My mother used to decorate every corner of the house for Christmas, so I guess you could say it is a family tradition.

BONUS QUESTION: What has been your favorite display so far?

My favorite display was the one that was on the cover of one of the very first Canonsburg Magazines. It was a huge candy cane arch with lights, and my theme was candy land.