63 Years After Jacqueline Kennedy Curated Her Nutcracker Suite Tree, Its Enduring Retro Charm Continues to Inspire the World’s Leading Designers

Jackie Kennedy Onassis is one of the most revered style figures of the twentieth century, from her closet to her Christmas tree, the latter particularly relevant in this, the twelfth month of the year.

Jackie's most iconic decorations date back to 1961, when the First Lady brought a hint of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker to the White House's Blue Room, and over sixty years later, they continue to resonate with the world's top designers, including 'British Interior Designer of the Decade,' Katharine Pooley.

'Jacqueline Kennedy’s introduction of the themed Christmas tree at the White House was inspiring,' Katharine shares, in a conversation with Homes & Gardens.

'She created something utterly mesmerising, and it has always stayed with me. I like to introduce themed trees throughout my own home, each one considered for the room it sits within, and often tailored to the guests who will be visiting. I choose decorations that I know they will enjoy and place them thoughtfully so that the tree feels personal to them.'

In 1961, Jackie decorated the tree with toys, little birds, angels, and other ornaments inspired by the ballet, making it a fairly elaborate, cohesive theme rather than following a generic holiday tree theme.

One year later, in 1962, she reused many of those same Nutcracker ornaments, applying them to a 'children’s theme tree.' That year, the tree was placed in the White House’s North Entrance Hall (because the Blue Room was under renovation) and decorated with elements meant to evoke childhood wonder: candy canes, gingerbread cookies, wrapped presents, and straw ornaments. It's this charm and personality that still resonates with Katharine Pooley today.

'Over the years, I have gathered a rather extensive collection of baubles and ornaments sourced from my travels. It is a constant joy to discover new pieces to add to it. I have just returned from the United States and found some wonderful decorations, so I am especially looking forward to dressing the house this year,' she says.

Jackie's aesthetic has lived on through American homes over the last six decades, but Katherine is also no stranger to decorating grand spaces, including the Château de la Croix des Gardes, that offer a canvas that's almost as luxe as Jackie's White House.

'From time to time, clients ask me to decorate their homes for Christmas. It was a particular pleasure to work at the Château de la Croix des Gardes recently. The ballroom was designed for entertaining and is a magnificent space, filled with soft pockets of blue set against calming neutral tones,' Katharine says.

The Christmas decorations were chosen to complement these hues, and what I love most is that the tree feels both impressive and gentle, adding warmth and softness to the room. The twelve-foot tree is dressed with blue hydrangeas and berries, alongside an assortment of blue baubles in varying shapes, sizes, and patterns.'

So, how can we replicate this look on a smaller scale? 'The secret is to begin placing baubles deep within the branches near the trunk and then work outwards. I often use large gold baubles at the core for added depth,' Katharine explains.

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She continues: 'We had that tree decorated in blue to match the blue hues of the Ballroom; everything was thoughtfully considered there. The client wishes for a whimsical, idyllic Christmas scene, so we looked to The Four Seasons and The Ritz, Claridge's, and the Rockefeller tree for more inspiration.'

Here at Homes & Gardens, we also rounded up the most iconic Christmas trees in history, including some from the Rockefeller Center and Claridge's that have impressed (almost) as much as Jackie's over the last century. It's not too late to use them as inspiration for your scheme this year.