Jon Carloftis: Blair House

We like to call Jon Carloftis "our own." May we brag? The Kentucky-born garden designer just completed the holiday decor of the courtyard at Blair House — the official guesthouse of the President of the United States.

Blair House was built in 1824 and purchased in 1837 by Francis Preston Blair, a Kentuckian who was known as the most powerful member of President Andrew Jackson's "Kitchen Cabinet." Blair House is now four connected and restored historic buildings serving as the official guesthouse of the President of the US. It is now 119 rooms and 70,000 square feet, larger than the White House. blairhouse.org.

We had to go traditional, but we gave it a new twist by adding hanging silver balls from the trees that looked like snow and used 2 different sizes of stainless steel balls in the containers and on the huge floor to make the space connected visually. They also reflected the light and could be used in a modern situation for an outstanding result.

All the branches are from nature, including winterberry (Ilex verticillata) and southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) while the evergreen roping was common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens). All of these items could be used in a less traditional way with great effect. Plus, the winterberry provides food for birds later in the winter.

The garden will be seen only by White House guests and for the many seasonal parties such as the one last Friday for the past Secretaries of State. There is an event nearly every day during December. Says Jon, "What a fun time to take a week off and do once in a lifetime!"