Michael, Michelle, and Redecorating the White House

"Santa Monica designer Michael S. Smith to decorate Obama's White House living area"
Los Angeles Times (January 17, 2009)

"Santa Monica designer Michael S. Smith has won the commission to redecorate the White House living quarters for the Obama family.

" 'He sounds like a wise choice, with his interest in traditional though not pedantic museum settings,' said historian William Seale, author of 'The President's House: A History.' 'What works best in the White House is someone who is immersed in the past and can design in a modern way.'..."

This article gives a pretty good introduction into the interior design end of the Obama presidency.

High Profile, Not High Profit

"...Though the White House is a high-profile assignment, ... the incoming president usually is allocated $100,000 per term for redecorating -- a relatively modest sum for what could be a large, complicated job.

"Many presidents bring their own furniture to their new quarters, and President-elect Barack and Michelle Obama will have access to White House warehouses.

" 'It's been a mandate since the Kennedy administration that nothing can be thrown away,' Seale said. 'So Mrs. Obama will be shown a catalog of furniture, drapery, even curtain rods.'..."

Good news for the Obamas: they can do what they like (and can afford) with their private quarters. Given their apparent preference for traditional houses, though, they're not likely to make headlines with their decor.

More posts about Barack Obama's inauguration day:

• "President Barack Obama: An American Made History Today"
  (January 20, 2009)