Summer Thornton is a designer who has style to spare - her house tour is one of our all time most popular year after year. So, it comes as no surprise that when she decorates a room (in this case her design studio office in Chicago) for a party, she does it up right. She threw a Halloween party this weekend with a traveling carnival theme — the decor was both festive and just a touch quirkily creepy. The real takeaway lesson from her party room?

Attention to detail! The amazing touches that exist throughout the party room is what makes the experience rich and so enjoyable for guests. It's the details that truly transform the space and turn a regular gathering into "one to remember".

The details that went into Summer's party style mix:
Black & white striped "tent" curtains, a slight askew gallery of vintage art, a "carnival" typography wall decoration, real life carnival food (cotton candy and cracker jacks), games, prizes and balloons and last but not least, the slightly spooky picks that gave it the halloween feel — skulls, owls, old dolls and heads under glass!

• Visit Summer's website

MORE SUMMER THORNTON ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
• Summer and Josh's Pumped Up Traditional
• Summer Thornton - Apartment Therapy's Summer Style Survey

Images: Josh Thornton