H
illary Wallace’s Upper West Side brownstone on West 82nd Street has become a Halloween landmark. When a truck loaded with 4,000 pumpkins pulled up on Amsterdam Avenue in early October, neighbors didn’t gasp—Wallace has been turning her 135‑year‑old stoop into a spooky showcase every year since she bought the house eight years ago. She spent roughly $4,000 on the project, largely on seven pallets of pumpkins bought at a Pennsylvania auction. Instead of plastic props, she installed two enormous eyeballs from an Atlanta wholesaler, painted red by a friend to add menace. “I’m calling this ‘Someone is Always Watching You,’” she told The Post, adding a New Orleans‑inspired potion theme.
Each of the 12 steps to the front door is lined with gourds in exotic shapes, colors, and textures, some molded to look like faces. Wallace, who runs Simon‑Wallace Design, spent five days planning every detail—from bug placement to the look of the rats on the trees. “I’m out there in my overalls, climbing trees and making sure everything looks perfect,” she said.
Wallace’s display is part of a broader trend in the city and suburbs, where homeowners spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to outdo neighbors on Halloween. The service has even earned a name: pumpkinscaping. Katie Petruzziello of Bronxville hired Gia D’Onofrio of Platinum Porches to create a 50‑pumpkin pile in front of her century‑old house. Petruzziello paid about $450 for design, delivery, and set‑up, and praised D’Onofrio’s styling. D’Onofrio has decorated over 70 homes in Westchester, charging $325 to $1,000 for layered displays, and offers removal and composting for eco‑concerned clients.
Realtors Samantha Zoller and Emily Gonzalez run Entry Edit in Mountainside, NJ, offering cascading pumpkin set‑ups for $400 to $1,200. They handle heavy lifting and coordination, allowing busy families to enjoy a polished porch without effort. In Yonkers, Marc Evan co‑owns Maniac Pumpkin Carvers, carving intricate, museum‑quality pumpkins for clients in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Evan’s custom works can cost a few thousand dollars, and he has signed NDAs for high‑profile commissions. He sees the trend toward carved portraits as a natural evolution of the pumpkin craze.
On the Upper East Side, influencer Kristi Hemric has become a local celebrity with her multi‑theme stoops. She unveiled four themes in August, adding black‑leaf railings, tombstones, potion books, and white ceramic skulls. Hemric’s latest display, delayed by LEGO flower delivery, still features some toy creations. She keeps the displays fresh each year, even planning a Candyland‑with‑a‑Twist show before Christmas.
Wallace’s Instagram‑ready stoop not only draws attention but also fosters community spirit. She hears students at the nearby French school counting cockroaches in French (“le cafard”) and feels a sense of joy. Visitors leave notes under her door, some saying they took their child’s first Halloween photo there. Wallace is already designing her next display, promising more engagement and even more proposals for proposals on her stoop.
The trend shows that Halloween décor has become a competitive, creative market. From DIY enthusiasts to professional designers, homeowners are willing to invest in elaborate displays that blend artistry, storytelling, and community engagement. Whether it’s a pair of eyeballs, a cascade of pumpkins, or a carved masterpiece, the goal is the same: to create a memorable, Instagram‑worthy experience that turns a simple front step into a seasonal landmark.
