Susan Dickenson

OBAMA DECORAMA: Chia-heads, Lava Lamps, Gnome pillows among decorative Obama collectibles

There’s nothing like an inauguration and new First Family to fuel the creative marketing mind, particularly when it comes to new collectibles and decorative accessories for the home. My favorite thus far is the Obama Chia-head planter which is available by advance order through Amazon.com for $20.

I’m also intrigued by the special collector’s edition Inaugural Lava Lamp created by Chicago-Based Lava Lite, available soon at select U.S. retailers and through the company’s Web site, www.lavalite.com, for $39.99. "As fellow Windy city residents, we wanted to commemorate Barack Obama's historic presidency with a special edition Lava Lamp," said Larry Gutkin, Lava Lite’s CEO. "We believe this lamp captures Mr. Obama's charisma and optimism, which are reinforced with the words "Yes We Can" on the back of the lamp. This will be a collector's item for years to come."

And while a quick Google search for “Obama collectibles” yields a plethora of sources for commemorative Obama posters, coasters, glasses, paperweights, coffee mugs and apparel, you’ll find some of the more creative “Obama décor” on eBay, such as:

- Obama/Obama Family Portrait vertical blinds

- the Historic Barack H. Obama & Joe Biden Light Switch Cover (many styles available)
 

- a Super Obama Cushion Cover, with a starting bid of $1.99, that ships from Shanghai for an additional $9.40 in postage

Also on eBay, for the hostess with the Obamamostess, there’s the First Lady Cheese Tray, a wine-bottle-melted-into-a-cheese tray with an image of our new First Lady, Michelle Obama.

And even though it doesn’t really fall into the home accents or home décor category, no home is complete without a Craftsman Patriot Obama Change Chainsaw, “to cut government spending… pork barrel projects… the deficit, maybe even trim the trees around the White House” (starting bid is $100).

 
An outfit called Dugshop.com has created a cute "Hope on a Rope" soap, and Amazon’s collection of Obama gear includes a "Pets for Obama" bowl by Dreams2things.com, and a $9.99 glow-in-the-dark Obama refrigerator magnet by Rovakada.

At celebritygift.com, you can purchase your own President Barack Obama bobblehead, or a life size cardboard cutout, “smiling and looking proud in a sophisticated dark suit” -- was $32.50, now a bargain at $27.50.

QVC and HSN.com have got us covered with a selection of Barack Obama throws ranging in price from $35 to $50.

Over at Homedecor.cafepress.com, there’s a huge selection of Obama-themed clocks, tiles, coasters, ornaments and keepsake boxes, such as the young-high-school-basketball-player-Obama wall clock.

Or, maybe your tastes lean more toward the “Gnomes for Obama” pillows, the “Yarmulkas for Obamulka” or “Obama Girl” wall clocks, or the “Barack and Roll” ornament.

All good stuff for our homes, but what about the Obamas’ new digs? Last Spring, our Home Accents designer panel offered the First Family some of the earliest decorating advice to date – WAY before the primaries had narrowed the field down to two candidates. Unfortunately, the honor of First Interior Designer didn’t go to any of them, but I’m sure Los Angeles-based Michael Smith is an excellent choice.  

However, we can all take a stab at decking the Obama’s new halls on IKEA’s “Embrace Change” Web site. At www.embracechange09.com, you can design your own version of the Oval Office using a drop and drag click tool, and share the big reveal with friends and/or staffers at the White House. 

In the meantime, furniture ordering for the new White House is already in progress, and some of those orders were placed with companies here in North Carolina. Ray Allegrezza, editor of Home Accents Today’s sister publication Furniture/Today, reported that a Battersea settee from Anthropologie vendor Vanguard (based in Hickory, N.C.) is on its way to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., along with several other pieces. The settee is actually for use by first daughters Sasha and Malia Obama -- both of whom may grace your child’s wall this year in the form of the First Kids 2009 Wall Calendar, available now at Amazon.com.

UPDATE Feb. 12, 2009: After reading Bonnie Anders' comment (following this blog post), I visited The Dezine Shop online and uploaded this image of the Obama Dream Dance collectible fleece throw, 50" x 60", available at www.thedezineshop.com/movies,-music,-books--gifts/gifts.aspx for $49.95 plus shipping.

Posted by Susan Dickenson on January 22, 2009 | Comments (2)