Executive Order

Decorated by Michael S Smith for the Obamas, the White House’s private quarters are as worldly and relaxed as the family that calls them home.

- Mayer Rus

Considering the epochal achievements of the Obama administration—the Affordable Care Act, the legalization of same-sex marriage, the Recovery Act, the Paris Agreement on climate change, and so much more—it seems trivial to append a footnote that reads, “The President and First Lady have a pretty chic dining room, too.” But the fact is they do. And for anyone who appreciates the power of design, Michelle and Barack Obama’s emendations to the White House speak volumes about the sea change in American culture the two have championed for the past eight years. Adorned with an unprecedented array of 20th- and 21st-century artworks, their private quarters remain an oasis of civility and, yes, refined taste in a political arena so often bereft of both.

“Because of Michael Smith, the private residence of the White House has not only reflected our taste but also upheld the proud history of this building. Above all, it has truly felt like a home for our family,” says Mrs Obama in praise of the Los Angeles-based decorator, who has collaborated closely with the First Family during their tenure in Washington, DC. Smith returns the compliment by describing his work as a response to the First Lady’s progressive spirit: “Mrs Obama often talks about bringing new voices into the national conversation, and that idea informed many of the decisions we made,” he says. “We selected artists and designers who would never have appeared in the White House before.”

SETTING PRECEDENT