BLAIR HOUSE FOUNDATION

Major Gifts & Redecorations

As The President’s Guest House, Blair House is an immediate and significant symbol of the nation to our foreign visitors. While Congress ensures its architectural and structural integrity, the interior décor and gardens depend on the generosity of citizens.

RECENT PROJECTS

  • Blair Sitting Rooms

    Redecorated Summer 2024

  • Blair Sitting Rooms

    Redecorated Summer 2024

  • Blair Dining Room

    Redecorated Summer 2024

  • Dillon Room

    Redecorated Summer 2024

  • Garden Room

    Refreshed Summer 2024

  • Jackson Place Dining & Sitting Rooms

    Refreshed Summer 2024

  • Eisenhower Study

    Redecorated Summer 2024

  • Foreign Minister's Suite

    Redecorated Summer 2024

  • Foreign Minister's Suite

    Redecorated Summer 2024

PRINCIPAL SUITE

The redecoration of the Principal Suite at Blair House in 2016 was generously underwritten by Sarah and Ross Perot, Jr.

LIBRARY

The redecoration of the Blair House Library was made possible by a generous gift from Sarah and Ross Perot, Jr.

LINCOLN ROOM

The redecoration of the Lincoln Room in 2012 was generously underwritten by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. McLarty III

PRINCIPAL SUITE PRIMARY BATHROOM

In 2009, the Blair House Foundation renovated the Principal Suite Primary Bathroom with in-kind participation from the following benefactors:

  • Carolyn Thomas, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath: Design

  • The Kohler Company: Fixtures

  • Betty Sullivan, Architectural Ceramics: Floor and wall design and marble tile

  • Wood-Mode: Cabinetry

Additional appreciation to R. Bratti Associates

In 2008, The Blair House Foundation renovated the Principal Suite Second Bathroom through the generous underwriting of the Blair House Board’s vice chair, Catherine “Bunny” Murdock, with in-kind participation from the following benefactors:

  • Carolyn Thomas, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath: Design

  • R. Bratti Associates: Marble

  • Collins & Company; Wood-Mode: Cabinetry

  • The Kohler Company: Fixtures

  • Abrielle: Accessories

PRINCIPAL SUITE SECOND BATHROOM

THE JOHN & DIANA ZENTAY HISTORIC AMERICAN PRINTS COLLECTION

In 2006 and 2007, John and Diana Zentay donated 210 framed, historic American prints to Blair House. They are now a vital part of the Blair House Fine Arts Collection.

TIFFANY & CO.

In 1988, Tiffany & Co. designed and created an assortment of gifts especially for Blair House, including 150 place settings of sterling flatware and assorted sterling serving pieces, 100 place settings of fine china, and two large bronze donor plaques engraved with the names of major donors to the home’s restoration in the 1980s.

In 2009, Tiffany created and donated two additional plaques: one to reflect the names of the Blair House Endowment Donors, and the second to list those who have contributed $100,000 or more to Blair House in the recent past.

ANNA WEATHERLY

Porcelain designer Anna Weatherly designed and donated four place settings of this beautiful breakfast set in 2008 for use by visiting chiefs of state in the Principal Suite of Blair House.

THE ARTHUR & JANET ROSS GARDEN

The Blair House gardens were created during the major renovation of the house in the 1980s. Through generous donations from Arthur and Janet Ross, the Arthur and Janet Ross Garden was established in Blair House’s large interior courtyard.

Mr. and Mrs. Ross subsequently endowed the gardens of Blair House to maintain and preserve them in perpetuity.