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FINALLY!!!!!!

Architectural Digest has given us a present as a thank-you for all we have endured this past year:  the most contentious election ever, that I know we ALL can’t wait for it to be over, once and for all.

It’s our gift that we’ve only waited eight years for!  Finally!!!!   We now get to see the Michael S. Smith designed White House.  Well, we’ve seen a few leaks of his work for the Obamas, a few glimpses over the years, but not much, not much at all.   

AND AND AND….it’s all pretty…surprising. 

Smith’s rooms for the Obamas look so different than the usual White House decor that it’s hard to believe this is same place where all our First Families have lived.  Smith’s color scheme is so novel to the White House – it looks more like a hotel or a fancy home than the Presidential abode we have all come to love.   We are all familiar with the usual reds, green, blues, and yellows of the Bushes, the Reagans, the Clintons, and more – but now we have a new color scheme that is butterscotch, rust, and caramel, warm tones with touches of dark green and lots and lots of contemporary art.

It’s a unique approach, to say the least.

I found the Befores of all the rooms that Smith designed for the Obamas and researched the history of the rooms.  And, I searched the internet and found the oversized photos from Architectural Digest, so I hope you enjoy it all!!!

I’m very interested to know what you think of the Smith design.  So, be sure to leave your opinion in the comment section!!! 

A floor plan of the family floor – in case you have forgotten how it is all laid out.  All but two rooms designed by Smith are on the Family Residence floor. 

The Center Hall:

The Center Hall 1904 – under Theodore Roosevelt.  Dark walls, white trim, plants and Victorian furniture.

Briefly:   In 1873, President Grant had redecorated the White House, turning it from a gracious Federal House into a Victorian nightmare.  Grant had help from Louis Tiffany who installed glass partitions and windows that further marred the original design of the house.   In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt had had enough of all the Victorian decor that cluttered every nook and cranny of the White House.   He ordered a major renovation to remove all the Victoriana and restore the house back to its Federal roots.   His plans also included moving the main stairs in the house and adding bathrooms in the bedroom suites.  He also had the first executive office building built to the west of the White House, thus freeing up valuable space from the second floor.

1930:  Herbert Hoover.  This is strange.  That skylight leads up to the third floor hall where there is a true skylight!  I’ve never seen this photo.  Bookcases were built along the long hall.

In 1948, President Truman added the beautiful and iconic south portico balcony to the White House.  At that time it was discovered the house was unsound and was in danger of falling down.  The White House was taken down to its shell and was completely rebuilt from the basement up to the third floor – a steel frame was installed instead of the original wood joists. 

Above is how the center hall looked after the renovation.  New trim was added, along with shell accents above the doors. 

1962:  The Kennedy Center Hall.   Love the chandeliers and French chairs.  At the end of the hall, it’s hard to see, but Jackie added two Chinoiserie screens to flank the door.  Above all the other doors – she removed the “shell” trim – which remained missing for a number of years.

From the other side, Jackie Kennedy’s Center Hall.  I love all the white fabric mixed with blue and white stripes.

1968:  Fabulous photograph!  The Johnson years – love the Chinoiserie screens.  I’m sure Mark Sikes would love them too!! 

1975:  Gerald Ford.  The screens remain.  Jackie’s French chairs are used here.  But – the peach wall color is awful, and so is the way they painted the trim!

1981:  The Reagan Center Hall.  The screens are now put together and rest behind the sofa.  Love the coffee table.  Twin antique mirrors flank the doors.  Notice the trim paint was corrected.  Nancy’s decor was one of the best.  Just wonderful!

1992:  Reagan.  A larger view.

1991:  George W. Bush.  Very pretty!  The shells over the doors have now been reinstalled.  I’m not a fan of the center table though – it’s very clunky looking.

The Bushes walk through the Center Hall – where to the right is the focal point of its design. 

For Vogue, Laura Bush posed on the focal point of the Center Hall:   Tiger velvet on the incredible settee and two chairs, set before the Chinoiserie screen.  Gorgeous and beyond chic.

The Obamas:

Early on, when Bo was still a puppy, the President and his daughter were shown in the Center Hall – with its old furniture and carpet. What was interesting about this photo was how the upstairs quarters seemed so much like a true home.

And then, in 2014, Queen Margrethe of Denmark visited the White House and this small picture of the hall was published in a Danish magazine.  It was quite a shock to see how much everything had changed:  area rugs, a glass coffee table, contemporary art!

And today, we finally get to see the room in Architectural Digest.

2016:  Obama’s Center Hall.  First, the clunky center table is still in use!  No Chinoiserie screen – but Michael Smith loves those!?  Why didn’t he use it?  There are many contemporary touches about with the art and the glass coffee table.  He used the same furniture but in modern colors.  The green vases by Peter Schlesinger that flank the door are gorgeous.  So is the rug, very pretty.  The color scheme is new to the White House. There are dark colors, warm tones, orange, gold, moss green – shades we haven’t seen here before.

A close up of the decor – gold, green, and deep peach.

The Family Dining Room:

The Family Dining Room used to be a large bedroom – as seen here in 1898 in this pink bedroom during McKinley’s presidency.  First daughters Alice Roosevelt and Helen Taft both used it as their rooms.

After the Truman restoration, it became a family room, then a dining room.  At times this has been one of my favorite rooms in the White House.

After the 1952 Truman renovation, the bedroom was used as a sitting room.

1961:   Jacqueline Kennedy changed the room into a family dining room.  She added a kitchen to the suite.  She found antique wallpaper that depicted battles of the American Revolution.  The chandelier is fabulous – but it didn’t last long.  This is my favorite room – just like this.

Later, the Kennedy chandelier was changed, as was the rug and the chair fabric.

The room remained the same for years until the Nixons added this bold rug, a new chandelier, and new curtains.

In 1975 the Nixons changed the rug, the fabric, and the curtains.  Again!

Mrs. Gerald Ford HATED the battle scenes and installed wallpaper over the wallpaper.  All the Federal styled mirrors are gone, replaced with oils.  Here she entered the Queen of England and Prince Philip.

BTW, are you watching Netflix “The Crown?”  It’s so good!!!

AND then, a few years later, Rosalyn Carter took OFF the yellow wallpaper and brought back the battle scenes.  Here, Nancy Reagan kept the same look.  Not sure I like the dual convex mirrors. Here the tables are set for a Prince Charles dinner.

Mrs. Bush liked the battle scenes too.  So did Millie!

But, then we come to the Clintons who didn’t like the wallpaper, so it was covered up again.   The room was done in yellow, again.  Yellow is a popular shade for the upstairs White House.

Actually – this room doesn’t look TOO bad, but the Clintons win the award for having the worst White House decor.  Now, if Hillary wins – I just hope she doesn’t hire designer Kaki Hockersmith again!!!

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