For this edition of our Mom Crush series, we’re thrilled to spotlight Jenny Bohannon, the creative force behind Tallwood Country House. Nestled in Virginia’s historic horse country, Tallwood is more than just a home—it’s a testament to the art of preservation, thoughtful design, and gracious living. Jenny’s passion for celebrating the beauty of the past while embracing the demands of modern family life is both inspiring and timeless.
Join us as we step into the world of Tallwood Country House—a world filled with charm, elegance, and plenty of holiday inspiration.
What inspired you to start the Tallwood Country House brand, and were there any specific experiences or influences from your past that shaped your vision for Tallwood?
The Tallwood Country House brand has become synonymous with classic elegance rooted in the past, but its beginnings were quite humble and born out of my desire to live in gratitude, even in the midst of extensive and slow moving restorations.
Having grown up with parents who were passionate about historic preservation and restoration, I knew when we bought Tallwood that, while it was a gem, we would be in for a long haul. I also saw, even as we first walked through her doors, a rare sort of beauty that deserved to be celebrated and shared and so began the platform in an effort to focus my eyes on all that was lovely about her rather than on all the restoration that loomed before us. As an aside, I highly recommend taking this approach of gratitude and “looking for the good,” as I think it is our tendency to be much too critical of our dear sweet homes. As Abraham Lincoln said, “If you look for the bad in people expecting to find it, you surely will.” This truth might also be applied to our homes, I think!
As far as specific experiences or influences that have shaped my vision, growing up in a Virginia suburb of Washington D.C., it’s hard to know where to begin! The design aesthetic of old Virginia was heavily influenced by the English who settled her, and then one must juxtapose upon those European sensibilities the glamour of old Washington and the indelible impression Jacqueline Kennedy and Bunny Mellon, two of our most notable tastemakers and glamorous socialites, left upon the area. Once-upon-a-time, John and Jackie Kennedy owned a house in the Virginia suburbs not too far from Tallwood — a stately, white brick house named Hickory Hill, and life in the area was synonymous with the political glamour of Washington D.C. Those sensibilities still run deep in the lives of those who were fortunate enough to have grown up immersed in them.
Can you tell us about your upbringing and background, and how it influenced your decision to raise your family in the country?
In truth, it can hardly be considered the “country,” but we are fortunate enough to live in an old Virginia suburb of Washington D.C. where the old horse farms have been preserved so it “feels” like the country, though we’re only 20 miles from the White House, lol. I grew up in the neighborhood and come from a closely knit family I am now blessed to have as my neighbors. Both my husband and I lived in the city before we met, and neither of us had the desire to raise a family there — It works for some but would have been less than ideal for us. My husband still works in the city, and I know it’s a blessing for him, especially, to have a tranquil escape in the evenings — Somewhat tranquil, I should say, since life can only be so tranquil with three young boys, though they’re the sweetest, of course, lol.
As a mother to three young boys, how do you balance your creative work with family life, especially during the busy holiday season?
Such a good question and one as hard for me to answer as for most women, so let me first acknowledge that the pace of modern life is hard and one we sometimes need to push back against as women, for the sake of our families. Instead of looking for balance, which I truly feel is impossible when one is spread thin between work and family, I have opted to throw myself utterly and completely into the role of homemaker, as my mother did, and could not be happier. The Tallwood Country House platform is a lovely extension of our home and a place where I am able to explore the gentle arts of womanhood — I am grateful for the added dimension it has brought to our home life and the joy it has brought me as a creative outlet, but I am more-so grateful for my husband’s unwavering support and commitment as we seek to stay true to our values. There have been countless sacrifices made in order for us to successfully navigate life as a single-income family, but all has been worth it for the time and space I have been given to raise our children well. Jackie Kennedy said it best, “If you bungle raising your children, I don’t think whatever else you do matters very much.”
That said, the holidays are difficult for anyone to manage, and I’ve found much peace in looking at where our family is each holiday season before deciding how much we’ll take on. Some years, our dance card will be quite full with magazine shoots, brand campaigns, parties, concerts, etc…. Other years, I’ll say no to every opportunity and RELISH the quiet glamour of a slow, unhurried, old-fashioned Christmas.
Preservation plays a key role in your design philosophy. How do you incorporate timeless elements and traditions into your home while keeping it functional with your kids?
I learned early on that children will meet the expectations set for them — If set low, they will meet them; but, if set high, they will meet THEM. That’s not to say we’ve never had a window find itself on the wrong end of a ball (Ahem, Jackson and Harrison Bohannon, lol!), but manners are learned and good taste acquired, so we do our utmost to expose our children to culture, immersing them in classical music, museums, historic homes and landmarks, and all the things that living just outside the nation’s capital affords.
What are some of your family’s favorite holiday traditions at Tallwood, and how does your home help create a special atmosphere for those moments?
Growing up in the sort of closely-knit family one reads of in story books, I have the sweetest memories of Christmases past, so the season is most nostalgic for me, personally, and the season in which we are perhaps the most grateful to live in a community surrounded by the ones we love most. Our children experience the Christmas carol, “Over the River and Through the Woods,” each Christmas as they walk to my childhood home to celebrate Thanksgiving and then Christmas with their grandmother and a gaggle of cousins.
Down the street at Tallwood, we ADORE our themed Christmas trees and typically decorate three each season. For what has lovingly become known as our Children’s Tree, we make a handmade ornament each season. This tradition began some thirteen or fourteen years ago, when our eldest was a toddler. We visited Middleburg for the annual Horse & Hunt Review, and I noticed the town had decorated the boxwoods that lined the streets with ornaments handmade by the children of felt and colored papers and felt it would be fun to follow suit. We also have “Mother’s Tree,” which I am sure can go without explanation, and, as a Washingtonian family through and through, a White House Ornament Tabletop Tree, a sweet tradition that began when my husband served on the National Security Council at the White House.
I grew up in a household where notes of Handel’s Messiah or Baroque Music were the soundtrack of the season and have continued that sweet tradition with my own children. We enjoy holiday baking (in small doses), and also look forward each year to a very special Christmas Morning Brunch after presents have been opened. One of my dearest friends delivers homemade Cinnamon Rolls Christmas Eve, and our entire brunch revolves around that delivery — In fact, I don’t know what we would do with ourselves if we didn’t make her list one year, lol!
When it comes to decorating for Christmas, how do you achieve a look that feels timeless yet festive? Any go-to pieces or design elements that you love to incorporate?
Fresh greens, fruit, and veggies are my “must haves” for a truly timeless holiday aesthetic. You will notice Christmas comes much later to our feed than to most others, and that is because I ADORE having fresh greens that will last into the New Year. We have a massive Magnolia on the property I enjoy foraging each Christmas, along with English Ivy, and English Boxwood — Boxwood boughs are my favorite. Because we’re in Virginia, I also enjoy the long-standing tradition of incorporating pineapples and oyster shells into seasonal decor. Along those lines, Williamsburg is a constant source of inspiration, along with the seasonal movies of Hollywood’s Golden Age, in which there is endless inspiration. As in all design, mixing old and new elements is key to achieving a storied look. I tend to forego the big box stores in favor of local antique shops and estate sales where the real holiday treasures can be sourced.
