When Heather Zwain steps onto a client’s porch, she sees more than a front door, she sees a story waiting to be told through color, texture and the simple beauty of nature.
As the founder of PUMPKIN & KALE CO., Zwain has turned her lifelong love for design into a business that transforms porches, tablescapes, restaurants, businesses and events, into festive havens filled with charm and nostalgia.
Before launching her seasonal styling concierge business, Zwain built over a decade-long career as the fashion editor and stylist for an upscale lifestyle magazine in Bergen County. Known for her thoughtful eye, unique style, and attention to detail, her work included conceptualizing and producing photo shoots, fashion shows and covers, interviewing and styling celebrities and athletes, and curating monthly editorial features.
Zwain later launched her online lifestyle brand, The Bergen County Bible, celebrating the people, places and businesses that make the county she grew up in, lives in, and loves, so special. After a couple of years, her success and reputation for professionalism and networking presented her with an opportunity to pivot towards a career in private aviation, where she has spent more than five years building relationships with high-net-worth clients and creating personalized experiences on private jet charters and unique sponsorships.
Growing up, Zwain was surrounded by creativity and care. Her mother owned a children’s birthday party business, turning every celebration into something heartfelt and memorable. Holidays and special occasions were never just events, they were experiences. “Nothing was ever for show,” Zwain said. “My birthday parties were so special and creative - they shaped so much of who I am today,” she adds. Watching her parent’s host with such thoughtfulness left a lasting impression. “It’s how I was raised, and I carry that with me in everything I do.”
For Zwain, autumn has always been her favorite time of year. “It’s when I feel most alive; when the air gets crisp and the leaves change, it feels like a rebirth for me.” Her love for the season runs deep, shaped by childhood memories of her mother and grandmother handmaking every Halloween costume. “It was such an exciting time. Everything felt so magical.”
That love of family and creativity continued into adulthood. Each year, Zwain and her father visit local farms and pick pumpkins, kale and mums for their seasonal displays. “We have so much fun,” she said. “We decide what will look good on my parents’ porch and dining room table, and what will work for mine.” Last year, before Thanksgiving, she started collecting pumpkins that otherwise would’ve been thrown away from surrounding towns and neighbors, and donated them to an animal sanctuary. “It was such a full circle moment. I love animals and nature, and while feeding pumpkins to cows, I realized this is what lights me up inside – a blend of creativity and giving back. That’s when I knew it was time to start a business that combined my favorite things.”
In July 2025, she officially launched PUMPKIN & KALE CO., rooted in her love for nature, style, family and tradition. Zwain brings intention and care to each arrangement. “Every design for the fall was different. The client sends me a picture of their space, then I sketch out my concept on paper before bringing the vignette to life. I put a lot of thought and energy into every project to make it feel personal and inviting by pairing pumpkins, mums, kale and other natural elements.” Her parents and husband often help with installations, adding to the sense of connection that defines her work.
Following a successful season and client requests, Zwain is expanding into winter styling, channeling the same thoughtfulness into cozy, nostalgic scenes. Her curated vignettes feature natural touches – evergreens, pinecones and branches, layered with soft blankets and pillows to create magazine-worthy displays. “Something that feels like magic – warm and inviting, not competing with the space and never typical.”
Her instinct for noticing the smallest details, a skill that can’t be taught, continues to shape her work. Early in her career, while waiting in the green room just before going on air for a television interview, she spotted a single strand of hair on the host’s jacket. She noticed it throughout multiple segments and, when it was her turn to go on set, she brushed it away. The host thanked her saying, ”I have an entire production crew and no one mentioned it. You see things other people don’t.” That comment stuck with her. “No one else noticed it, but I couldn’t stop seeing it,” Zwain recalled. “It reminded me that the little things always matter.”
For Zwain, every installation is more than just decorations. It is a reflection of heart and heritage, of the creativity passed down through generations and expressed through artful simplicity. Her work celebrates the beauty of nature, the bonds of family and the comfort of home.
PUMPKIN & KALE CO. is a full-service experience. Through her concierge offering, Zwain oversees everything from design and sourcing to setup and removal. “We live in such an overstimulated world,” she said. “Most people want to do all the things, but sometimes it’s nice to let someone else handle it for you. Your entrance is the first thing you see when you come home. It should make you and your family smile before you even walk inside.”
To bring a touch of Heather’s holiday magic to your home, visit @pumpkinandkaleco on Instagram. Please email PumpkinandKaleCo@gmail.com for inquiries and to reserve your spot.
For Heather Zwain, every vignette tells a story of family, creativity and connection. Through PUMPKIN & KALE CO., she channels her fashion background and love of nature into cozy, custom designs that make coming home during the holidays feel like the best gift of all.