I asked our design panelists to imagine:  it's 3 a.m. on Jan. 21, 2009, the phone rings, and the call is from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. The new president is inviting you to oversee a redecoration of the White House, including a complete makeover of the First Family’s private living quarters. Political preferences aside, which candidate would you most like to have as a client, and what would you do? --Susan Dickenson

Barack Obama. I love the fresh new approach as well as the hope he inspires in so many of us… such a young, vibrant family would be fun to work with. Without knowing the Obamas personally, I don't know what color palette I would select. However I do feel that a new modern look that reflects his platform of change would be appropriate. I would stay away from the tradi...Read More

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Does the White House really have money to redecorate? Don't they already have furniture? All kidding aside, this year's political race has been very exciting. We're looking to potentially change history by electing either the first African American or the first woman as president. Because Barack Obama's campaign is all about change, I think he's the most likely to shake things up in the White House living quarters. The White House has always been the showcase for our historic legacies in design and decor. But in 2009, I think we need to look to the future. America wants change. The White House should be our role model -- the White House needs to go Green!  It also needs more representation of twentieth century decor -- a little mid-century, a little transitional and a lot of environmentally green design elements. We'll repaint all the walls with organic paints in light tones of gre...Read More

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These ten designing minds share their thoughts on the changing face of luxury (excerpted from the Spring, 2008 issue of RELISH). Collectively they represent high-end perspectives from the worlds of residential, commercial and resort design, luxury retail, society show house, green design and architecture, and couture home furnishings. Their opinions and observations on wealth, status and the luxury lifestyle reveal that time is more valuable than ever, the search for meaningful experience runs deep, and the new gilded age is green, global and wired. --Susan Dickenson

 

JAMIE DRAKE

 

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I asked our design panelists to imagine: it's 3 a.m. on Jan. 21, 2009, the phone rings, and the call is from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. The new president is inviting you to oversee a redecoration of the White House, including a complete makeover of the First Family’s private living quarters. Political preferences aside, which candidate would you most like to have as a client, and what would you do? Their responses appear here, and in our March 2008 issue. --Susan Dickenson

I think the Obamas would best be suited for a radical (albeit tasteful) redo of the White House. He seems to truly be up for "cleaning house.” Most of the building is a museum, with many matronly period pieces and design styles. While very appropriate for a national building, I th...Read More

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I believe it would be a great honor to be asked to help decorate the family quarters at the White House, and I would like to help Hillary Clinton for two reasons. One, she would be the first president who is female, plus she has a spouse who has already served and lived in the White House (oh, the stories that could be told…). Two, it would be a great time to shake up some of the furnishings with more eclecticism. I would use handmade artwork, glassware and furnishings from all over our country. Each piece would have a story to tell, either about the people or artisans who made it, or about our past and where our country is going in the future. I feel the use of color, texture and materials, mixed with the White House’s architecture and historical furnishings, would be the unexpected surprise -- just like having a strong female president. --Mark Abrams

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John McCain. Traditional in values, he exhibits a forward-thinking global mindset, so I think he would be open to adding modern global elements within his home -- traditional interiors spiced up with modern elements from around the world. Furnishings would be a mix of contemporary and traditional art and sculpture. Original pieces of furniture from Lincoln’s and Roosevelt’s days in office would be a great backdrop. I'd showcase Cindy's love of helping those less fortunate throughout the world with artifacts from her travels. For example, handcrafted carvings from Sri Lanka, hand-beaded cloths from India … or when in Morocco she may have been inspired by the hand-painted tadelakt plaster, a traditional Moroccan wall finish. Specific spaces would be personalized with family photo galleries. He has a large family, so creat...Read More

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I would go with Barack Obama. Who better to decorate for than a client who appreciates change, and shaking up the status quo? If I were to redecorate the private living quarters upstairs at the White House I would go for broke! Out with all of those heavy, fussy furnishings, and in with those that are more conducive to the needs of a busy family today. I would choose a color palette that was warm and inviting, like chocolate, or mocha, and pop it with important pieces in vermillion, turquoise, chartreuse and coral. The pieces would be reminiscent of (or from) the cities Barack has lived in, or has visited. Texture and silhouette, as well as play of color, would be unifyin...Read More

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Barack Obama. Why? I figure if he is running on “change” he should put his money where his mouth is. Anyone so engrossed in such a word should honor it in every aspect. Like most busy young families in 2008, I am sure the Obamas want spaces that are warm and comfortable for both adults and children, and easy to maintain. I would begin by reserving first choice for the selection of the antiques and rugs within the White House. As a designer, I love to blur the lines between contemporary and ornate. I would begin this task by painting the rooms so that they have a warm, yet monochromatic feel. The color palette would vary by room -- grayish browns, grayish blues and a variety of cream colors from light to dark. All ornate molding would get a fresh coat of ultra-pure white...Read More

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I’d definitely enjoy assisting Hillary with the redecorating. I love the idea of a white house – interiors that include all shades of white in different textures, from damask to more contemporary fabric, pleats, the hard-wearing fabrics, etc. I’d take some nonhistoric-with-an-historic-look pieces and paint them white, use some crystal with that and add some eco-friendly elements. I’d probably use reflective things… add some stainless pieces of furniture in there to recreate what I’ve been doing in my own work, the Remix Revolution. It’s a look that juxtaposes the traditional with the very edgy modern -- pairs the historical with the nonhistorical, the elegant with the mundane, and creates a lot of surprises. --Raymond Waites

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I would like to redo the White House with Michelle and Barack Obama. Their youth, style and freshness would make the White House seem less dated. I would change the White House to be younger in style but not lose the great history that has made us a great country. I’d suggest including the great American furniture designers with the style we are about -- color, freshness and easy living, opening the gardens of the White House with works of American sculpture, designing green gardens. Our White House could become the best example of organic and green living. I also believe the White House should display our great adaptable lifestyles and love of design. The more I travel, the more I realize that American design dictates how most of the world lives as far as style and taste. I love history but I believe we are making it every day in what we design...Read More

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I asked our design panelists to imagine: it's 3 a.m. on Jan. 21, 2009, the phone rings, and the call is from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. The new president is inviting you to oversee a redecoration of the White House, including a complete makeover of the First Family’s private living quarters. Political preferences aside, which candidate would you most like to have as a client, and what would you do? Their responses appear here, and in our March 2008 issue. --Susan Dickenson

Doug Wilson -- Why can’t our “royal” families have a little fun and put true personality into the digs that they’ll inhabit for four to eight years? Hillary Clinton was in charge of her domain during the Bill years, but now just might be the time to ...Read More

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While most would agree with society decorator Billy Baldwin’s definition of decorating as “the art of arranging beautiful things comfortably,” it’s the interpretation of beautiful that promises to keep designers and decorators of luxury interiors employed for decades to come. In the Fall 2007 issue of RELISH, eight high-end designers and decorators shared their thoughts on the subject, the results of which are shared below. Several themes emerged in these exclusive interviews, including a strong preference among the prosperous for blue palettes, high-dollar carpets and original artwork. Also, there’s no compromising when it comes to quality, comfort overrules everything, and copying is as much of a no-no today as it was in Mr. Baldw...Read More

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