Doors adorned with wreaths bedecked in gold and glittering silver stars hanging from the eves will greet visitors to the French Quarter home of John Miller and Jason Peters for the Patio Planters of the Vieux Carre Holiday Home Tour on Dec. 22.
Miller got an early start in adding an abundance of holiday flare to the circa 1887 late-Victorian, four-bay bracketed cottage the couple has shared for the past year.
Before that, they lived next door. In an enviable “lease to own” arrangement, the couple enjoys the trappings of a home furnished with exquisite period-appropriate antiques — including a full antique dining suite of heavily carved mahogany from the property owners’ native Sicily — and fine window dressings, all in the heart of the French Quarter.
They’re working to personalize the garden further before they take the final plunge into home ownership.
“I lived next door for 20 years, the last 11 with Jason,” said Miller, a landscape designer and a native of Washington state. “Before we moved into this house, I had been working on the landscape with the property owner for seven years or so. It was a blank slate when I started.”
Today, the deep courtyard and garden, which are invisible from the street, are divided into a series of outdoor rooms for dining, lounging, sunning by the cocktail pool, or quietude in a “secret” space accessed through an archway flanked by flourishing Meyer lemon and satsuma trees.
Specimens in the garden include salvia, Camelia, coleus, banana trees, Colocasia, aroids, bougainvillea, vinca, roses, gardenia and a variety of ferns. In a nod to the homeowners’ Italian heritage, Miller planted a row of spear-like Italian cypress trees between the pool and the fence, creating a refined privacy screen.
For the holidays, a stunning thicket of Japanese magnolia trees with golden leaves soon will display glass icicles hanging from the branches.
Inside, 12-foot ceilings and heart pine floors pair with elegant triple crown moldings, wide baseboards, and fireplaces and mantels.
Furnishings in shades of cream, taupe and red are used to decorate the home.
For the holidays, Miller’s prized pieces are a collection of Christopher Radko European glass ornaments from Poland, which he inherited from his late mother. He spent decades helping her build her treasured collection.
He shared a tip for organizing holiday decorations: Use crates marked by room or location (bedroom, living room, mantel, etc.) for ease of use each year. “I just helped an old friend with generations of beautiful holiday decorations. Nothing was organized so it was frustrating, a mess. A little pre-planning really helps.”
Collections of wooden nutcrackers, antique porcelain Christmas trees, and golden and silver holiday figurines glow against the warmth of flickering candlelight.
Masses of red poinsettias throughout the home create a lush feel, while decorative throw pillows keep things cozy, as do stockings hanging from the living room mantel.
“The holidays bring me memories of my wonderful childhood growing up in Washington,” Miller said. “My mother took such care to make things special. I love to share that warmth and traditions with friends and family here.”
Holiday Home Tour
What: The Patio Planters of the Vieux Carre presents its annual self-guided tour featuring homes in the Lower French Quarter with interesting architectural styles, home furnishings and various collections of Christmas decorations. It’s a fundraiser for the group’s Caroling in Jackson Square event, which follows at 6 p.m.
When: Noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 22
Tickets: $35 online in advance; $40 day of, cash only. Children 12 and under free. Pick up in the alcove of The Cabildo, 701 Chartres St., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. patioplanters.net.
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