Tag Archives: couch

This could be the First Couch! Design by Michael S. Smith.

Today, the Obama family announced they would be redecorating the White House’s private quarters. While it is traditional for the First Family to spruce up the WH to their liking, the Obama’s are doing something entirely unique: they are funding the remodeling entirely out of pocket.

The First Family is traditionally allotted 100,000 dollars for sprucing up and usually draws on financial donations from the White House Historical Association. However, The Office of the Frist Lady announced today they “are not using public funds or accepting donations of goods for redecorating their private quarters.”

Although this is a small statement amid our much larger financial woes, it’s nice to see the Obama’s making sensible, respectful decisions. Michelle had previously promised to not use taxpayer funds for decorating and even tossed around the idea of using Pottery Barn in the First Family’s quarters. To put the spending into perspective, the last purchase for the White House Historical Association was a 74,000 dollar set of china for Laura Bush. Go figure.

And for those of you who are HGTV dorks like myself (looking at you Zach Martin), the Obama’s have hired Michael S. Smith, a notable California designer known for ” “Old World classicism with very contemporary settings.” In the past he was worked for Steven Spielberg and Rupert Murdoch.  (Source NYMag)