The Story Behind Luxe Pumpkins LLC

For years, my career was defined by other people's high stakes, strategy, and storytelling. I got my start in the grit and fast-paced energy of horse racing before moving on to handling the equally gritty public relations for Olympic and professional boxers, as well as the famed Chicago Golden Gloves. To this day, I am a die-hard fight fan. That experience taught me how to be tough, focused, and relentless when it comes to finding the winning angle, cultivating deep relationships, and building a brand from the ground up.

From sports PR, I transitioned into corporate public relations, crafting stories that cut through the noise on a national scale. I guided IPO publicity, managed high-stakes crises for CEOs who made (let's just say) less-than-brilliant choices, and even created my own tongue-in-cheek brand, Cicadapalooza, which landed on the front page of the Sunday national edition of The New York Times and the Chicago Tribune.

During the pandemic, like so many others, I moved back to the Chicago suburbs. That was when I realized I was ready to tell a story of my own, one rooted in joy, the design creativity I had been missing while living downtown, with just a little bit of pumpkin geekiness.

Luxe Pumpkins is that story. It is a way of turning seasonal moments into neighborhood conversations while bringing sophistication and sass to everyday life.

What Makes Luxe Pumpkins Different

I collaborate directly with boutique pumpkin farmers across Illinois and nearby states because boutique farmers are artists in their own right. They cultivate unique, heirloom varieties with textures and colors you won't find at a local grocery chain or delivered in bulk bins on semi-trailers.

We hand-select these exceptional gourds (the farmers know my esthetic now) to create The Art of Autumn.

Curated into photo-worthy displays, your neighbors will stop in their tracks. Along the way, I've discovered how much I love the process: driving through central and southern Illinois, soaking up obscure pumpkin factoids, and hunting for the most unusually beautiful pumpkin for just the right home.

More Than Décor

At Luxe Pumpkins, every pumpkin is more than just a decoration, it is a story. I will always share those fun factoids with you so you can dazzle your guests.

For even more quirky pumpkin history you never knew you needed, my blog, Pumpkinology, is updated regularly.

When the season winds down, Luxe Pumpkins return to local farms, repurposed as treats and feed for animals. It is a full circle.

Grown by artisanal farmers. Styled for exceptional homes. Returned to the land.

Last year, I was a guest on WGN-TV. You can watch that segment below to see me in action. (I've prepared >100 people to guest on TV but I had never done it myself!)

Fresh elevated styles and unique, one-of-a-kind (iron!) displays are coming for the 2026 season!

Luxe Pumpkins. Because your home deserves more than just pumpkins. It deserves a story.

Trayce Zimmermann

Founder, Luxe Pumpkins LLC
Licensed and Insured

Watch my WGN-TV Chicago segment →