Spooky set pieces
One of the more awkward truths of adulthood is that grown-ups love Halloween as much, or possibly even more, than the kids do. Luckily, a stroll through local shops, a flip through the catalogs, and a tap or two on the keyboard make it abundantly clear that Halloween décor has taken a decidedly sophisticated, adult-worthy turn. ¶ “For many people, it’s not just a holiday, it’s a lifestyle,” Grandin Road spokesman Tyler Thompson says. “It’s the elegant party you can have where it’s not child’s play anymore.” ¶ Here are some Halloween hot spots to hit:
1 Roger’s Gardens
The nursery’s over-thetop Halloween showcase, now in its 20th year, draws up to 50,000 shoppers — for good reason. For this year’s theme, “Grimm Tales,” five rooms are full of European and American products inspired by the darker versions of Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. The vast array of items spans tabletop to collectible figures to giant set pieces created by the in-house designers under the guidance of creative director Eric Cortina and buyer Hedda Staines. How good is their display? Disney creative types stop by annually to take a look and offer their praise.
2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, Corona del Mar; www.rogersgardens.com
2 Traditions
When Debi Thomas’ family started a holiday decorations business 22 years ago, Halloween was “a small portion,” she says. “Now it is a third of our store, and sales reflect that.” Located in Canoga Park in a 15,000-square-foot warehouse that includes a retail shop, Traditions does an extensive online business as well, specializing in collectibles and vintage-look pieces. Of note: Black goose-feather trees and exquisite European hand-blownglass ornaments.
8039 Deering Ave., Can- oga Park; www.christmastraditions.com
3 Grandin Road
There isn’t any part of a home or its inhabitants that Grandin Road doesn’t cover for Halloween. This catalog and online resource teamed up in 2008 with Martha Stewart, who popularized the soigné Halloween party, to produce elaborate accessories and instructive vignettes. Martha is out of the picture, but today the company’s offerings top 250 items. The company’s approach is “a multi-channel perspective”: themed catalogs, an online “shoppable” video walk through a spooky house in which you can order as you wander, a concept shop at Macy’s New York and a robust social media presence. To die for: Skull and crossbones placecard holders, mantel
scarves, hooked wool pillows, exclusive designer pumpkins. www.grandinroad.com
4 Williams-Sonoma
The upscale cooking and entertaining chain spends a year developing its Halloween line, currently 90 items in an “assortment that straddles whimsical for children but sophisticated for a cocktail party — that’s when we’ve hit the nail on the head for our customers,” says Michelle Foss, vice president of merchandising. Haunted houses and spooky moon-themed plates head the lineup. And speaking of heads, don’t miss the black skull punch bowl and matching mugs.
Various locations; www.williamssonoma.com
5 Pottery Barn
“Any opportunity to have a party, we’re in,” says Monica Bhargava, executive vice president of product development. The San Francisco-based eight-person design team shops the world to develop wideranging offerings, including pillows, hanging décor, skeleton-hand Champagne flutes, table linens and spooky lighted cloches. Nothing quite surpasses the tongue-in-cheek “Walking Dead” line of serving pieces, which includes a skeleton-draped wine cooler.
Various locations; www.potterybarn.com