For as long as I can remember, Halloween has been my favorite holiday—though my obsession was cemented at age eight when I won a costume contest dressed as Frankenstein. From that moment on, there was no looking back (unless, of course, I needed to check if my cape was dragging). My loving yet fiercely competitive mother, Colleen, handcrafted all our costumes, caring little about comfort so long as they were award-worthy. One year, she dressed me as the Headless Horseman, and I promptly discovered that a lack of visibility in eye holes pairs poorly with staircases.

That same creative spirit—and fearless commitment to a theme—has made its way into every corner of the Western Ave Witch House. In fact, many of our design elements, from the embroidered towels to the dining room chair cushions, are handmade by Colleen herself. Every detail is a little spell cast from my family’s tradition of turning Halloween magic into something you can touch, see, and live in—just watch your step if you’re wearing a mask.

And, Colleen now has grandchildren that she can use as her muses for ambitious costume designs - see some adorable pics below!