An Angeleno in the White House
designslinger]
The eyes of the world are focused on Washington D.C., and interior designer Michael Smith
has his eyes set on the White House. The Obamas (or maybe just Michelle) have invited the Los Angeles based designer to fluff-up the White House for them. Smith has the requisite celebrity clientèle and very good taste. The pictures above are from his website portfolio, and you can see that he's very good at combining a traditional sensibility, with a contemporary twist.
1902, Library of Congress - Barnett Clinedinst; via whitehousemuseum.org /Artwork: designslinger]
Congress allocates something like $100,000 to the incoming First Family, which should
make the new residents eligible for one of those make-over shows on HGTV. But, the Obamas can raise as much money as they want, privately, though they have very little say over the decor, beyond the family quarters on the 2nd floor. That wasn't the case when Theodore Roosevelt became president in 1901. The President's Mansion, as it was known back then, was a convoluted pile of 30 years of Victorian bric-a-brac and stenciling. Roosevelt got the very, upper-class New York architectural firm McKim, Mead and White to overhaul the place. The firm returned the interior to a Georgian/Federal inspired style, and reconfigured the floor plan. McKim relocated the grand staircase, thereby creating a new sitting room area on the second floor. The firm also designed the new East and West Wings, which meant that for the first time, the president's family could have the second floor all to themselves as private quarters.
Abbie Rowe, via whitehousemuseum.org; Demolished interior, 1950, Truman Library - Abbie Rowe, via
whitehousemuseum.org /Artwork: designslinger]
Franklin Roosevelt and his family were the longest occupants of the White House. And
although the West Sitting Hall looks comfy and cozy, (the picture on the far left) apparently Eleanor took WASPY, shabby-chic a little bit too far for the Truman's taste. When Harry Truman took office, after Roosevelt's death in 1945, Bess Truman did her best to clean up the place and air out the linens. But in 1948, while the President's daughter was playing the piano in the Family Quarters the instrument's leg fell through the floor, and Harry said enough is enough. The Trumans hightailed it to Blair House and the White was gutted. The four walls, the third floor and the roof remained, but otherwise the building was stripped down to its brick exterior. In the center picture (which was taken at the time of the Truman rehab), you can see evidence of the ceiling arch of the Theodore Roosevelt redo, as well as the Victorian-patterned, flat ceiling from previous years. As a result of the Truman gut job, the House's interior may look very period, but it's all been manufactured since the 1950s.
Reagan's, 1981, Architectural Digest; via whitehousemuseum.org /Artwork: designslinger]
Because the First Family is given the most leeway in their personal decorating choices on
the 2nd floor, I wanted to take a look at some of the changes made by other First Ladies in the West Sitting Hall room. First is the Kennedy redo. Jackie O. came into the White House in 1961 and made quite a splash. She decided it was time to treat the Executive Mansion with the same curatorial sensibility that governs a museum. She hosted the first televised tour of the White House, which brought the Mansion directly into millions of America's living rooms. The Carters seemed to go in the direction of Eleanor Roosevelt with the functional, comfortable and slightly boring. Good old Nancy Reagan, she made sure Ted Graber gave her an interior befitting a First Lady who knew the importance of appearances.
Only time will tell what Mr. Smith has in store for the Obamas, but if his portfolio is any
indication of the things to come, Jackie O. would be very pleased with Michelle O's choice.
Posted by designslinger at 1/19/2009 10:20 AM 
Categories: Architecture, Art, History, Interior Design, Furniture, Decorative Arts
Categories: Architecture, Art, History, Interior Design, Furniture, Decorative Arts
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