CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- You know the homeowners are over-the-top Christmasaholics when the doorbell plays "Jingle Bells."

"There are 10 different carols on the chime; we just like four," said Russ Fuller, who, with his partner Bruce McGlone, puts up 16 Christmas trees in their three-story home on Nancy Street.

There's a music-themed tree in the foyer, five nature-themed trees in the master bedroom, a blue and white tree in the guestroom and ceramic trees in the kitchen and bathroom.

In the second-floor hallway, bells hang from a small tree. "I hit it every time I pass," Fuller said to the chorus of tinkling sounds.

The real showstoppers, however, are the 9-foot-tall tree covered with crystal and glass ornaments in the living room and the two trees in the dining room that are decorated with silk leaves in fall colors.

"We have a deal," Fuller explained. "I do the dining room, the mantels and the garlands. He does the crystal tree, the guest room, the foyer and green room."

Oops, forgot the green room. Used as home office, the green room tree is decorated mostly with ornaments that the men found in the basement when they bought the house two years ago. Some are about 50 years old, including those made of wooden beads and hand painted in Germany.

One even has sound. Press a button on the ornament depicting Dorothy and her "Wizard of Oz" friends at the gate to the Emerald City, and you hear the dialogue from the 1939 movie between the cranky doorkeeper and the hopeful travelers.

The tree also holds Fuller's favorite ornament out of the hundreds they own. On a black heart outlined in red ribbon are the words, "All hearts go home for Christmas for love is always there." He got the ornament when he was 14, shortly after his grandmother died and right before his dad passed away.

McGlone's sentimental favorite is three small bells tied together and covered with glitter that belonged to his parents.

Otherwise, the postal employee favors the Egyptian glass creations that add color to the crystal tree. They have no idea the worth of the decorations, estimating easily $1,200 in breakables that so far have remained intact.

It could have been a disaster earlier this month if the men hadn't noticed that tree was tilting forward from the weight of the crystal ornaments. Although it took several careful moves, the fully adorned tree suffered no glass casualties.

And so far, none of the guests at the three Christmas parties they hold each season has had a mishap.

The men said their friends think they're crazy, but they love to come and look at their holiday display.

Fuller and McGlone started decorating the Monday before Thanksgiving, and finished two weeks later. They first set up all the artificial trees, then lug the ornaments out of storage and sort them according to each tree.

The birds, feathers, bird nests and houses, feather balls, red apples and gold pinecones go on the nature trees.

The gold violins, saxophones, harps, horns and other musical instruments are assigned to the foyer's music tree along with the copper-colored bulbs.

The blue poinsettias, blue jays, several red cardinals and blue and silver balls belong on the white tree in the blue bedroom.

Many of the dining room's fall-themed items don't have to be taken out of storage. Used for fall decorations, they are just reused on the two trees, with the addition of frosted fruits -- grapes, apples, pears, pomegranates -- and vegetables -- gourds and pumpkins. Peacock ornaments and feathers embellish the tall, narrow trees.

Both men said it's not the joy of decorating but rather their love of celebrating Christmas that motivates them to turn their home into a seasonal showcase.

"When we take it all down, the house seems just dull and plain," said Fuller. "We like seeing people's faces when they see the beauty."

The men shop for ornaments all year, continually adding to their collection. They especially like The Christmas Place and Dollywood, both in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

Fuller has put his creative talents to a new endeavor. He has opened The Boxwood Cupboard, an upholstery, drapery and alterations shop, in H&M Designs in South Charleston.

Reach Rosalie Earle at ea...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5115.