White House Redecoration

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Michelle Obama announced this week that California-based interior decorator Michael Smith will be leading their renovation of the White House.  She says that she is looking forward to adding her own touch to the East Wing and creating a living space where her family feels comfortable. 

Deborah Needleman says the White House is both a museum and a living home, and she’s arguing that the Obamas should follow the example of Jacqueline Kennedy in stressing the living over the museum. She says that the Obamas should ask "What would Jackie do?"

Needleman is founding editor in chief of "Domino" magazine and co-author of “Domino: The Book of Decorating.”

"Jackie left the Obamas a sort of a double-edged legacy.  She was basically the first one to understand that the White House is a living museum.  She walked into a White House that was rather shabby, because prior to her, the residents of the White House could throw away, auction off, or toss anything that was in the White House, so she arrived to a White House with very little of historic value to it."

"Jackie did give the house the historical foundation it needed and they did bring in hundreds of pieces of authentic 18th and 19th century furniture; some of it which had belonged to past presidents.  But, it has not gone any further than where she took it.  In fact, it’s sort of devolved into very strict period rooms."

The Obamas have hired Michael Smith to renovate the living quarters only at this point, so it is not clear if greater plans will develop.

"In much the same way that First Lady Obama has been dressing with American designers, but not Donna Karan and Ralph Lauren, but Maria Cornejo and Isabel Toledo — these smaller, independent American designers.  I think that there is probably going to be a sense of that brought into the interiors as well."

There have been calls to make this iteration of the White House one that breaks free of it current traditional European mold, and have it embrace a more multi-cultural aesthetic to reflect contemporary America.

"They’ve got all of the National Gallery and the Smithsonian at their disposal, and could really hang some art shows that show the diversity of the American experience, even if these were temporary shows, in some of the larger state rooms that the American public visits.  And I think it is up to Mrs. Obama and her committee to really interpret the museum character of the house and what they want to do."

Support PRI when you purchase Deborah Needleman’s book  "Domino: The Book of Decorating: A room-by-room guide to creating a home that makes you happy"

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