Michelle Obama reveals her “modest” changes to White House State dining room months after her florist Laura Dowling quit amid reports of infighting between designers.
It wasn’t until six weeks following Dowling’s departure that Mrs. Obama’s office issued an official statement: “As chief florist, Laura Dowling and her team treated guests of the White House to their beautiful floral arrangements… Ms Dowling’s creations were always lively and colorful, reflecting not only the season but the unique and historic rooms which they graced… No two arrangements were ever the same and each one left guests with a lasting impression of the elegance and history of the People’s House… We are grateful for her contribution over the years and wish her well.”
And although the Obama family will be exiting the Presidential home in the near future, FLOTUS will be leaving her mark in the form of a new eating place. An interior design change that will endure long after she leaves the building and cost a whopping $590,000.
As for the new dining room, new silk draperies with vertical stripes of peacock blue and ecru replace dated curtains made of ivory silk brocade, designed with flowers, baskets and ribbons. While the walls received a fresh coat of paint and glaze, confirms which Vice President for Marketing and Communications at The White House Historical Association, Lara M. Kline.
It is reported that the blue in the draperies echo the “Kailua” blue that trims the modern-inspired china service Obama unveiled in April and recalls the waters that surround President Obama’s home state of Hawaii.
Replacing the upholstered golden yellow fabric chairs is a set of mahogany side chairs and arm chairs, custom-made in North Carolina.
(Click here for a look at the White House dining room renovation.)
The new chairs, which were modeled after arm chairs President James Monroe acquired for the East Room in 1818 from a cabinetmaker in Washington’s Georgetown neighborhood, were crafted in a brown, grid-patterned “horsehair” fabric and trimmed with brass nail heads, says White House curator William Allman.
Believe it or not, this has been one long revamp. According to the White House Historical Association, the private non-profit which funded the renovations by way of its White House Endowment Trust, the project was completed over three years; which began shortly after the arrival of new custom-made, wool rugs in 2012. The rug design used elements of the room’s ceiling to create a border of continuous wreaths and a blue-green mottled field designed with oak leaves. Of curse, two rugs were made so they can be switched out for cleaning. Sounds fancy… and expensive. Nonetheless, it is beautiful. What do you think of FLOTUS new dining room? Sound off in the comment section below.
