WhiteHouse

Value of the White House Drops by $15.5 Million

Filed under: Estates

Even the White House isn't immune to the nationwide housing slump - the famed presidential mansion in Washington D.C. plummeted in value by $15.5 million to $292.5 million over the past year, according to a new study by real estate site Zillow. This marks the second year in a row that the landmark's value has fallen, making for a total loss of $39.5 million since 2008, meaning it was once worth $332 million. Designed by Irish architect James Hoban, built in 1792 and much improved and expanded since, the gated residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue now stands at 55,000 square feet and sits on 18 landscaped acres. It also has 132 rooms including 16 bedrooms, 35 bathrooms, three kitchens, three elevators, 28 fireplaces and an underground bunker. Don't get to thinking that the loss is purely President Obama's, however - we the taxpayers actually own what is increasingly looking like a white elephant.

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Tags: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, 1600PennsylvaniaAvenue, President Obama, PresidentObama, Washington D.C., WashingtonD.c., White House, WhiteHouse

Tips for Decorating Your Christmas Tree

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

The first written record of a decorated Christmas tree was in 1510 in Riga, Latvia when men representing the local merchants' guild decorated a tree with artificial roses, danced around it in the marketplace and then set fire to it. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, roses were used for many years and are considered to be a symbol for the Virgin Mary.

During the 17th century, apples were commonly used in Germany to decorate Christmas trees, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. This practice was a holdover from the 14th and 15th centuries when evergreen boughs hung with apples were the only prop used in the "miracle plays" that were performed at the churches on the day before Christmas. December 24th was known as "Adam & Eve's Day" in the early Christian calendar, and the plays were used as ways of teaching the Bible to a largely illiterate population.

During the 18th century, edible ornaments were so commonly used on Christmas trees that they were often called "sugar trees." During this time, lighted candles started being used as decorations in France.

German settlers introduced the Christmas tree to the United States during the 19th century and they rapidly grew in popularity. At first, Christmas trees were tabletop in size before the floor-to-ceiling-sizes became more commonly used, according to the association.

Do you want to make your Christmas tree a striking one this year? Here are a few tips to help you:

1. Choose a theme and color scheme
Begin by choosing a theme and color scheme for your tree. Such is the tradition in the White House, where First Families have selected a theme for the White House Christmas Tree each year, beginning with the Kennedy family in 1961. There's no need to throw out old ornaments that don't fit into your current theme, as they might be work with themes selected in the future. This year, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York decorated its 20 ft. tall blue spruce (above) with a collection of 18th-century Neapolitan angels and cherubs among its boughs. Flanking the tree's base are groups of realistic crèche figures flanking the Nativity scene at its base. The tree is currently on display in the Museum's Medieval Sculpture Hall.

2. Work from the inside out
Once you have figured out what your theme is, work from the inside out. Be sure to string your lights before hanging the garland and ornaments. Metallic-colored ribbon works well as garland.

3. Hang your "filler" ornaments
Decorate the backdrop of your tree with your filler ornaments (solid colors or simply decorated) before hanging the thematic ones. Wire or ribbon works best for hanging ornaments, as they will provide more stability. While many ornaments come with hooks attached, these tend to fall off the branches easily.

4. Hang large ornaments low and small ones high
Larger ornaments often work best on the lower branches of the tree; use the smaller ones for the higher branches. Metallic ornaments and garland are a great choice, as they will reflect the light emitted from your Christmas lights.

For a peak at some of the most beautiful Christmas trees in the world, click on the slide show below. Here you will see a range from traditional Christmas trees to those that are futuristic.

Gallery: The World's Most Beautiful Christmas Trees

Christmas Tree at Plazza Del Duomo in Milan, Italy

The 2009 Official White House Christmas Tree

Tags: awards-main, awards-module, awards-promo, decor-pedia, luxist-awards, main-pedia, metropolitan museum of art, MetropolitanMuseumOfArt, national christmas tree, NationalChristmasTree, obama, u.s. capitol, U.s.Capitol, White House, WhiteHouse

The Gingerbread White House Gets A Garden Too

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

The gingerbread White House is a holiday tradition but the first Obama White House has a few renovations. The replica White House, made out of 400 pounds of gingerbread coated in white chocolate took six weeks to make according to White House Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses. For the first time it is missing a wall revealing an interior with a tiny miniature State Dining Room with furniture created of dark chocolate. Outside the massive gingerbread house there is a marzipan version of Michelle Obama's kitchen garden and the first dog, Bo, is also rendered in marizipan. Check out the hi-res images in the gallery below for close-ups of the intricate masterpiece.

Gallery: The Gingerbread White House 2009

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Tags: bo, gingerbread, gingerbread house, GingerbreadHouse, marzipan, obama, white chocolate, white house, WhiteChocolate, WhiteHouse

Rothko, Diebenkorn and Degas join Obama in the White House

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art, Celebrity Design

The world's latest Nobel Peace Prize winner also has excellent taste in art. President Barack Obama has skipped the staid portraits that are usually pulled to adorn White House walls and instead opted for three dozen pieces with a bit more of an edge. Works have been pulled from the National Gallery of Art, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and the Smithsonian American Art Museum to decorate the building the symbolizes executive authority in the United States.

The Obama family is definitely leaning modern, with Rothko, Degas and Diebenkorn among the artists represented. They've also included a word painting by Ed Ruscha. Not wanting to deprive the public of the opportunity to view works on display, the Obamas limited their choices to artwork in museum storage.

There's now a lot of money hanging from those White House walls. "Red Band" by Rothko, "Berkeley No. 52" by Diebenkorn and "White Line" by Sam Francis together are estimated to be worth between $20 million and $30 million. Throw a piece by Jasper Johns into the mix – specifically "Numerals, 0 through 9" – and you get a sense of the collection the Obamas have assembled.

Even with access to a collection of that caliber, though, I'd still never take Obama's job. And, there aren't enough Rothkos out there to change my mind.

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Tags: art, art collecting, art collection, art museum, art museums, ArtCollecting, ArtCollection, artist, artists, ArtMuseum, ArtMuseums, artwork, barack obama, BarackObama, degas, ed ruscha, EdRuscha, hirshhorn-sculpture-garden, jasper johns, JasperJohns, mark rothko, MarkRothko, michelle obama, MichelleObama, museum, museums, national gallery of art, NationalGalleryOfArt, nobel peace prize, NobelPeacePrize, obama, president, president barack obama, president obama, PresidentBarackObama, PresidentObama, rothko, smithsonian, smithsonian american art museum, SmithsonianAmericanArtMuseum, white house, WhiteHouse

The Obamas Will Pay For Their Own Redecorating

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Michelle Obama has already taken a rake to the White House lawn tohelp put a kitchen garden in, now the First Family is taking matters into their own hands when it comes to White House decor. New York magazine reports that Barack and Michelle Obama have decided not to use taxpayers' money to renovate their private quarters at the White House. Traditionally new presidents have $100,000 of government money to outfit their rooms. But the Obamas, who hired famous interior designer Michael S. Smith. will not be using public funds or accepting free goods to redecorate their quarters. Because it will be out of public domain, the exact budget for the Obama overhaul isn't known. Michelle Obama has expressed interests in brands like Pottery Barn but that might be a bit of a waste of Mr. Smith's talents.

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Tags: barack obama, BarackObama, michelle obama, MichelleObama, white house, WhiteHouse

Jewelry for the Obama Inauguration

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

Diamond and Pink Sapphire Cherry Blossom Brooch

The 2009 Presidential Inauguration is inspiring special commemorative clothing and jewelry all over the world. We found two jewelers in/near Washington D.C. whose pieces are truly extraordinary: Ginger and Chas Schwartz & Son.

Featured in our gallery are cherry blossom items, like the pink sapphire and diamond Cherry Blossom Brooch you see here ($36,000), silver and gold monuments, and a $10,000 diamond Obama necklace or brooch certain to create some real Obama Drama.

The designers include Chas Schwartz & Son as well as Suzanne Somersall and R-Nichols, both available from Ginger (in Bethesda, MD and Winter Park, FL). If you've never bought inauguration commemorative jewelry before, perhaps 2009 is the year for a change.

Gallery: Inauguration Jewelry

pink sapphire and diamond Cherry Blossom Brooch from Oscar Heyman at Chas. Schwartz & Son

Sterling silver cherry blossom drop earrings

Sterling silver cherry blossom charm necklace

Tags: 2009, brooch, brooches, charms, chas schwartz son, ChasSchwartzSon, commemorative, ginger, inauguration, inauguration day, InaugurationDay, jewelry, necklace, necklaces, obama, pins, president, r-nichols, suzanne somersall, SuzanneSomersall, washington dc, WashingtonDc, white house, WhiteHouse

Michael S. Smith Will Design Obama White House

by Tracy Chait (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

The Washington Post has announced that interior designer Michael S. Smith will be designing the new Obama White House. Known for his work with high-profile celebs like Steven Spielberg and Rupert Murdoch, Smith hails from Santa Monica, California, and creates a sunny aesthetic that seems like welcome change at Penn. Ave.

In a statement released by Michelle Obama, Smith was lauded for his "family-friendly style," and is rumored to be shopping already at kid-focused "everyday retail stores," according to the Post.

Smith's released statement noted the family's casual style and desire to showcase contemporary American artists and affordable decor. Looks like Mrs. O's high-low fashion aesthetic may transfer to the White House.

Check out Smith's Top 10 Rooms over at Domino, where he first mentioned his desire to redesign the White House back in April.

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Tags: interior design, InteriorDesign, michael s. smith, MichaelS.Smith, obama, steven spielberg, StevenSpielberg, white house, WhiteHouse

Atlanta White House, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Barack Obama may be moving into the White House but if you have nearly $10 million you can move into a replica. The NY Times had a story on Fred Milani who is selling his White House replica home in Atlanta. The 16,500 square foot home was Milani's dream home but now the Iranian-American home developer is being forced to scale back and sell his home. So far he's avoided foreclose twice and is selling a variety of other properties.

Inside the facade the Atlanta White House includes a hodgepodge of details include religious images, American political iconography and McMansion details like coffered ceilings, wrought iron banisters and a sweeping staircase. The home includes an Oval Office with a replica of George W. Bush's desk and there is a Lincoln bedroom with a picture of Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation painted onto a bedroom wall. Milani's Christian faith is evidenced in a topiary that says God loves you, a congregation room in the basement, a crucifix and a tapestry of the Last Supper. Milani told the NY Times that and his wife believe that God will help them sell the house. They are going to need all the help the can get. It is listed at $9.88 million.

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

Gallery: Atlanta White House

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Tags: atlanta, estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay, fred milani, FredMilani, white house, WhiteHouse

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Barack Obama's Hotel Has A White House View

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Barack Obama may not be able to move into the White House but at least he has a view of his new home. President-elect Barack Obama and his family will be moving to Washington D.C. this weekend and will be staying at the Hay-Adams hotel through January 15. After that they will move to Blair House, the traditional pre-inaugural home. Sasha and Malia Obama start school on Monday at Sidwell Friends School in Washington D.C. The Hay Adams penthouse presidential suite usually goes for between $2,500 and $5,000 per night according to CBS News. It only has one bedroom so it is likely the Obamas have rented more than one suite for the next two weeks. It does feature a living room overlooking the White House, Lafayette Park and St. John's Church and includes a large dining table as well as a gas-lit corner fireplace. The master bedroom features a spectacular view of the White House.

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Tags: barack obama, BarackObama, hay adams, HayAdams, white house, WhiteHouse

Discussing The Global Economic Crisis Over $300 Wine

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Wine

We may all be cutting back, but at the White House dinner Friday night for foreign leaders to discuss the global financial crisis, the meal was anything but spare. The menu for around 24 global leaders gathered in the White House State Dining Room included, according to the AP, fruitwood-smoked quail with quince gastrique; quinoa risotto; thyme-roasted rack of lamb; tomato, fennel and eggplant fondue; a salad course of endive, baked Brie and walnuts; and a pear torte. What's raising some eyebrows though is one of the wine selections, the Shafer Cabernet Hillside Select 2003, which runs for around $300 a bottle, if you can find it. This wine was served with the main course while more modest wines such as the Landmark Chardonnay Damaris Reserve 2006 (around $40 a bottle, served with the appetizer) and the Chandon Étoile Rosé sparkling wine (about $30 a bottle, served with dessert) rounded out the rest of the meal. The President pays for his own groceries in the White House but state dinners such as this one are paid for with taxpayer dollars. It is perhaps some comfort in this case that at least two of those attending: President Bush and French President Nicolas Sarkozy are said to be teetotalers. Others in attendance included Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd; Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper; Chinese President Hu Jintao;German Chancellor Angela Merkel; and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

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Tags: shafer vineyards, ShaferVineyards, white house, WhiteHouse, wine

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