A Spooky, Kooky Halloween-Ready Home
Name: Jennifer Perkins and husband Chris Boehk along with daughter Tallulah (five years old) and Baxter (three years old).
Location: Shady Hollow Neighborhood — Austin, Texas
Size: 2,900 square feet
Years lived in: Owned 1 year
We shared some of the great Halloween decor ideas we spotted in the home of Jennifer Perkins (crafter, business lady and really rad mom) earlier this month. As promised, we’re back with a bigger tour so you can see how all those great decor ideas fit in with Jennifer’s colorful everyday style. And though having a dynamically decorated home is a year-round affair for this fun family, Halloween is a special time of year because Jennifer is known for her huge family-friendly annual Halloween party.
Jennifer shares some of the history behind her annual spooky bash:
This will be our sixth year for our annual Halloween party. What started out as a very small and modest affair has grown quite a bit through the years (Last year we had almost 100 people and this year we topped that). Many of the same families have been coming since the very beginning. This is why the Halloween party posters I hang in the dining room are one of my favorite party decorations. It is great to see how the kids have grown over the six years. The party is all about the kids with cookies galore (my deep freeze is almost completely full), pinatas, crafts, rice-filled sensory bins and this year a haunted train ride. Yup, I rented a small train that took the kids on a ride through our neighborhood.
I try to make every year slightly different. No table or mantel is ever the same. There is always a new witch finger shaped cookie or donut made to look like a spider. I start baking over a month out since Baxter has a peanut allergy and I have to hand make almost everything. Most store bought cookies and cupcakes are a no-no for him and every party we attend I have to BYO-cupcake. This is the one party a year where he can go crazy and eat whatever he wants. Cupcakes, cookies, chocolate covered Oreo brains. God bless our deep freeze. I’m already thinking about what I can do in 2015 to top this year’s party! Be sure to check out Jennifer’s website where can find a lot more of her ideas.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: I like my Halloween kitschy and not too scary. I have small children and don’t really like zombies anyway. Year round my decorating sense is very eclectic and has a sense of humor. Halloween is not any different.
Inspiration: I love me the Pinterest like everyone else. Stephen Brown of Glitterville has amazing Halloween crafts. I live for the Halloween editions of Matthew Mead’s magazine. Country Living always has adorable ideas. On the rare occasion that I find vintage magazines from October I gobble them up.
Favorite Element: In my everyday home the natural light is what initially drew me in to this house. When it comes to Halloween it is hard to pick a favorite room. I love my mirror covered in bright colorful masks. I want to keep them up all year long.
What Friends Say: My friends look forward to my Halloween party not just for all the sweets I bake, but to see all the decorations. If you are going to throw a theme party THROW A PARTY, don’t phone it in. My friends might say I am Halloween obsessed, but then they know I go overkill decorating for every holiday. Did I mention I had over 80 Christmas trees last year?
Biggest Embarrassment: It is a tie between the dirty carpet that I have yet to replace and my black leather couches that look like they came from Andrew Dice Clay’s house.
Proudest DIY:I am very smitten with the fabric swag curtains my mother made for my front door. This year for our annual Halloween party we had a train that took kids up and down our street. I knew people would be spending a lot of time in our front yard so I wanted the house to look as cute outside as it did in.
Biggest Indulgence: In my everyday home my navy Jonathan Adler couch was my biggest indulgence. When it comes to Halloween I’ve been pretty lucky. The most expensive things I own I didn’t pay for. I have three vintage paper mache’ pumpkins that were my parents (one is almost 75 years old). After that I didn’t pay tons, but my blow molds and vintage masks would probably fetch the most money on Ebay.
Best Advice: This is a collection I have amassed over years like everything else in my home. If you want to collect vintage Halloween goodies think about buying things in the ‘off season’. If I go to a flea market in September the prices on vintage Halloween will be a lot higher than they will be in April.
Dream Sources: If someone told me there was an abandoned warehouse of vintage dead stock Ben Cooper or Collegeville Halloween costumes with a closet full of old blow molds I would probably pass out. I love my collection of vintage Halloween masks most of all, but since they are so fragile not that many made it from the 70s.
Resources of Note:
LIVING ROOM
- Navy Couch – Jonathan Adler JC Penny
- Vintage Theatre Seats – original Alamo Drafthouse
- Mirrored Ello credenza – Warrington Flea Market
- Bar stools painted by Hope and Jennifer Perkins from Salvation Army
- Kilim rug – Tuesday Morning
- Low faux burl coffee table – Craigslist
- Brass etagere – thrift store
- Vintage large glass vases – family heirlooms
- Vladimir Tretchikoff print above mantle called Balinese Girl was found at an estate sale in Peoria, IL.
- Gallery wall comprised of my mom’s textile arts from the 70s, husband’s band photos, prints from favorite artists, and signed Peter Max print
- Vintage Fisher-Price toys (low for the kids to play with)
BREAKFAST NOOK
- Dining table and China hutch Warrington flea market
- Antique papier mache pumpkins in cabinet were my parents when they were children
- Ceramic pumpkin cookie jar was made by my grandmother
- Large cat and owl planter from Pottery Barn Kids
FRONT LIVING ROOM
- Green couch Craig’s List,
- Vintage Thayer Coggin chrome chairs were my parents that I had recovered
- Chrome etagere – Room Service Vintage
- Mid-century bar I have had since college
- JH Lynch prints of 2 women are my prize possessions
- Large mirror – Home Goods
- Vintage pinball art – Warrington flea market
- Coffee table – Salvation Army
- Columbia Records display for magazines – garage sale
- I adore my collection of vintage Halloween masks – the neon colors make me happy.
DINING ROOM
- Brass and glass dining table Craigslist
- Lightolier Craigslist
GAME ROOM
- Colorful jute rug – Home Goods
- Zebra painting – by me
- Giant Halloween pillows – My Paper Crane
- The gallery wall is a collection of custom family portraits that I have commissioned by different artists each year
- Table – Goodwill
- Tipi light – Warrington flea market
OUTDOOR FRONT
- Skeleton flamingos – JoAnn’s.
- My mother Fredda Perkins sewed the curtains leading to the front door
OUTDOOR BACK
- Vintage rattan furniture
- Heywood Wakefield coffee table
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