Wreck the halls? Christmas tree grows through the roof

Courtesy of Patrick Kruger

Patrick Kruger was determined to fit his Christmas tree into his house — even if he had to break the roof to squeeze it in.

"I found a tree I really liked, however, as you can see from the pictures, it was hardly the right size for our home," the Seattle architect told TODAY.com.

So he came up with a creative solution: he cut off the top 6 feet and turned it into a prop he then attached to the roof, creating an optical illusion that the Christmas tree had literally burst through the building.

Kruger, whose house has since become something of a local attraction, admitted he always intended to create a playful holiday decoration, hoping to entertain the neighborhood.

"The truth, of course, is I set out to do this," he said. "I wanted to do something simple yet impactful. Something that people of all ages could enjoy."

Patrick Kruger

To create the illusion, Kruger cut a tree nearly in half and attached it to a plywood base, surrounding it with roofing material to achieve the effect of the broken tiles.

So far, the response has been exactly what he hoped for.

"We have had tons of people come by the house take pictures, smile and laugh," he said. "It took about 9 hours to put this together and I would do it again in a heart beat. The expression on the kids' faces is priceless."

Courtesy of Patrick Kruger

This isn't the first time Kruger has played a decorating prank. He says his family did something similar at their last address, and are equal-opportunity decorators when it comes to holidays.

"We do go big for Halloween as well," he said. "I love the entertainment factor. I love to see people enjoying something simple."

Kruger says that comment, which sums up the reaction he's received, made it all worth it. "What else can you ask for?"