This year, the sidewalk in front of 225 Lafayette Avenue presents a spectacular display of twinkling lights, layers of greenery, a lighted Christmas Tree, and garlands of colorful glass baubles tucked under a new black and white striped awning. Through the front windows, you can see more lights, sumptuous bronze and silver garlands, beautiful flower arrangements, sculpted tabletops, and candles galore. (More photos on the BHCA Facebook and Instagram pages.)
It is an amazing, not-to-be-missed extravaganza that changes every year. Jake Boone, real estate agent and floral designer extraordinaire, creates magic. He and his partner of 30 years, Bryan Jones, begin decorating in early November and spend their nights and weekends leading up to Thanksgiving to achieve the year’s design.
Jake noted that “this year’s look is spare…. I didn’t hang anything from the ceiling for fear that the living room ceiling would come down.” The décor is anything but spare! Never satisfied, Boone added a lighted Christmas tree to the outside space in December, saying, “I really needed to kick up the front a notch!”
A new feature this year is a sailcloth over the front door and downstairs windows, providing extra space for guests and weather protection when needed. Boone sketched out the idea in the fall and shared it with longtime friend Brian Loane of Loane Bros., who said it was doable. He arranged for its fabrication and installation, using the Afghan tailor who advertises on the fence at Memorial Church to sew the canvas. The sailcloth will stay up throughout the holiday season.
Since he was little, Boone says, he has loved decorating for Christmas. As a child of 7 or 8, he would make outdoor window decorations at his Roland Park home, creating green spheres by poking boxwood twigs into a base of potatoes . He recalls his mother being terrified of what he would try next. For a number of years, Boone was in charge of the decor for the St Vincent’s Children’s Christmas party in the school gym. Under his direction, the event grew from decorating 10 or 12 trees in the first year to decorating over 300 trees seven years later, transforming the gym into a Christmas wonderland created by an army of volunteers all in one day.
While not at that scale, Boone continues to have “fun with flowers and décor when called upon.” He is considered one of the premier floral designers in Baltimore for weddings and parties but says he is a realtor first and foremost.
Boone moved to Bolton Hill 38 years ago. He and his partner live with three huge dogs: Airedale Ellie, Bernedoodle Tyler, and Bernese Mountain Dog Hank, who manage to navigate the Christmas splendor without harm to the decorations. According to Boone, who quotes Dorothy, “there is no place like Bolton Hill!” And there is no place like the Christmas décor on West Lafayette Avenue!
–Sallye Perrin
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