Mary Jo Miller of Point Breeze wanted to brighten up her three-story home for the holidays, but knew it wasn't safe to climb a ladder to reach the top – which has a sloping roof – and put up Christmas lights.
She found Pittsburgh-based Three Rivers Lights through a Google search. The company installed lights on the front and side walls of their home, on the garage roof and along a fence line.
“It’s a monumental task to think about all of this,” Miller said. “(Three Rivers Lights) is doing a great job and it’s beautiful to see everything when it’s finished.”
She's not the only one who outsources her Christmas decorations – Google “Pittsburgh Christmas Light Companies” and several pages of results offer a variety of options. According to Anji.com, 42% of decorating homeowners are considering hiring help this year, with many looking for professionals who can create both elaborate front yard decorations and smaller indoor arrangements.
Miller said Three Rivers Lights also reminds customers ahead of time to stick to the schedule and turn off the lights ahead of the holidays. She said it's wonderful that the lights have a timer so she doesn't have to worry about turning them on and off.
“I just love lights,” said Graham Sowa, general manager of Three Rigers Lights. “People still enjoy driving around the neighborhood to see the Christmas lights. Christmas lights bring so much joy.”
Sowa said they started at the end of October and will decorate more than 100 houses this season. You can complete standard home lighting in four hours starting at $1,500.
Steve Starck of Bradford Woods hired Sowa – who also does contract work – for other home maintenance work. When Sowa told Starck about the Christmas decorations, Starck said he was all for it. He said Sowa and his team completed the installation in a few days.
“It looks incredible,” Starck said. “I could never come close to doing what they do.”
Sowa and his team meticulously string up Christmas lights on the houses. You can light up all the trees in the garden or the space along the driveway or attach wreaths to houses. Since the company is in the contracting business, it has the appropriate equipment and pays attention to power lines and the required electricity. Homes with multiple peaks and taller roofs can be difficult to reach without the proper elevators and ladders, and some of the large wreaths can weigh 100 pounds, Sowa said.
They cover a 30-mile radius and can operate with permanent lighting, which is more expensive but does not require disassembly and lasts longer. The permanent lights can be operated via an app.
“Everyone works harder these days and doesn’t have time to put up the lights,” said Sowa, who is in his sixth year installing lights. “It’s also not easy to reach some of the upper floors of a house.”
While there are other companies that install outdoor lights, Miranda Bauer of Scott Township said she doesn't know of any companies that decorate interiors of homes.
She and her sister-in-law Jess Bauer of Pennsbury Village decided to start a business: The Create House.
“It's so hard to get everything done for the holidays,” says Miranda Bauer, who has a passion for interior design. “Nowadays people are so busy that there isn't always time to devote to decorating. We wanted to provide this opportunity to help people continue their strong holiday traditions.”
The Create House will bring the decorations including wreaths, garlands, lights, pillows, throws and table runners, small trees, decorative figurines, ornaments, stockings, floor decorations, wall art, centerpieces, dinner plates, table decorations and chair covers, but we are happy to have any special ones Items that a homeowner would like to include in the display.
They find items through antique and thrift stores, and they also source items after the holiday to use the following year.
“They come back and tear everything down,” Miranda Bauer said.
“The holidays are a special time and we can create a facility that is happy, warm and friendly,” said Miranda Bauer. “It gives me the opportunity to express my creativity, and my sister-in-law and I have similar interests.”
The cost is based on the square footage of each room decorated and is $1 per square foot. For example, a 12-by-16-foot living room would cost about $192. The cost includes decoration and dismantling after the holiday.
They only focus on the main living areas, including the living room, dining room, entryway and kitchen. They could discuss customizing additional rooms, Miranda Bauer said.
“We want to take the stress out of decorating,” said Miranda Bauer. “We put it up and take it down and they can enjoy it.”
This was the second year The Create House decorated Karly and Ryan Dukich's home in Upper St. Clair.
They had moved to a larger home, and last year Karly said she researched everywhere to see if there was a company that did interior decorating. She said she saw something about The Create House on Facebook.
“I needed help and they came in and integrated what I had and I immediately said, 'Can I book you next year?' ” she said.
She ordered Starbucks for them and gave them snacks. She said she wanted to spend money on interior decorations that she could see all the time.
This season they added the basement and created a wintery white scene. When her six-year-old daughter Ruby saw it, she said, “I’m moving here.”
“They really bring Christmas spirit to the decorating process,” Ryan Dukich said.
Tree and tree decorations can be added for $300 per 6- to 8-foot tree. You can decorate an existing tree for $200.
“We continually source holiday decorations throughout the year, resulting in a curated collection that we use in our customers’ homes,” said Miranda Bauer. “Our services are best suited to homeowners who are ready to leave all the decorating work to someone else and who feel confident and comfortable that they can sit back and enjoy their decorated home this holiday season.”
It usually takes one to three hours to decorate a room.
“The holidays can be stressful,” Miranda Bauer said. “Ultimately, they should also be an opportunity for people to slow down, get together with their loved ones and enjoy the things that really matter most in life – each other.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes reports about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the tribe for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter's Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.