Deck the House Winner Comes From California

The Powell family from Davis, Calif. won the Deck the House contest. But since the prize is $100,000 to Davis schools, Kristy Powell doesn't quite see it that way.

"We all won," she said. "There are a lot of needs at the schools. This is not going to fix it all, but it will help. This is a blessing."

Powell entered her home in Patch's national Deck the House contest during the holidays and was selected as one of the top 24 finalists in late December. Davis jumped out to a massive lead the moment voting opened up, thanks to support from the and constant effort by the community, both online and on the streets.

The excitement has brought visitors to her home on 'Candy Cane Court,' a nickname for the street, given how many homes decorate for the holidays.

"Neighbors came over with a bottle of champagne," Kristy Powell said. "And another family from Wildhorse just came over and said 'Surprise!' We had never met them."

Jim and Kristy Powell even made friends with the family who came in second in the Deck the House contest. 

"Joey Felix and his wife are wonderful and we are excited to get to know them better and exchange decorating advice with them," Powell wrote in a recent e-mail. "Their display was breathtaking."