Blue Room Christmas tree with decorations made by SCAD

Wednesday evening, after having worked on the decorations for the past five days, all of the volunteers were invited to a reception at the White House.  This would be the first of many holiday parties at the house this season.  Mrs. Obama estimated that over 100,000 people would get to enjoy the decorations we had created. 

Relaxing on a priceless antique in the Grand Foyer

The party started at 4:00, but we were told to gather near the entrance starting at 3:30.  There was a large line at the entrance.  About 500 people were invited to the party.  In addition to the Christmas decorating volunteers, there are many others who volunteer at the White House through the year, and all those people were invited.  Our id’s were checked four times, and we had to go through an airport-like security screening process to get inside.  Ultimately, we entered through the East visitor’s entrance just as we had done every day before.  The difference was this time we were guests and were allowed to actually sit on the furniture!

Party scene in the Grand Foyer

The party was spectacular to say the least.  The house just glittered.  Everything in the White House is perfectly cleaned and maintained, so in its Christmas finery, it really shined.  I stopped to ask one of the housekeepers one day what was the secret to the deep shine on the marble floors, and the answer was clear.  “We polish them every day.”  With the amount of traffic through the house, this made sense.  The movie theater was used as the coat check for the party.  The first family can watch first run movies in the theater, and one day while working in the house, we saw Warner Brothers delivering current movies.  The theater is a beautiful space luxuriously appointed in red velvet, and located along the East Colonnade. 

Party scene in the East Room

Floral centerpieces in the East Room

The stage for the party was set in the Visitor’s Foyer where the male chorus from Princeton was singing.  There were about 20 of them and the downstairs hall was filled with their voices.  After that, I bumped into Santa who was welcoming people at the foot of the stairs going up to the main floor.  I walked through all the rooms we had decorated on the lower level first.  People were really enjoying themselves.  There was a table set up in the Lower Cross Hall with wine, sparkling water, or champagne.  The cocktail napkins were beautiful and had the Presidential seal embossed in gold.  Upstairs in the main floor, the magic unfolded.  As soon as you entered the Grand Foyer, you could hear the Marine Corps band playing swing style Christmas music in the East Room.  It was such a festive atmosphere. 

Reception tables in the East Room

The foyer was magical with the giant urns filled with the Aspen branches we had decorated days before.  The icy branches we wove into them just sparkled.  There was another drink station set up in the Cross Hall with wine and water, and another one with coffee and hot chocolate.  There were a few tall round bistro type tables set up in the grand foyer draped in red tablecloths.  The flower arrangements in the Grand Foyer were small bouquets of red roses and coffee berries.  Amazingly fresh was the only way to describe them.

Recycled magazine Christmas trees in the Green Room

Once you moved into the East Room, the scene was so festive.  To the right was a station serving the richest eggnog you have ever tasted.  Four round tables in the center of the room had beef tenderloin; pork tenderloin; a giant punch bowl filled with oysters on the half shell, shrimp, and crab claws; tiny roasted potatoes; white asparagus; fresh vegetables; and smoked salmon.  There were homemade breads to put things on and amazingly delicious sauces.  No surprise that everything you tasted was cooked to perfection…just as all the meals we had eaten there before were prepared.  There was a table set up serving roast turkey…..the most perfectly browned bird ever.  There was also a ham carving station here as well and there were dressing balls and cranberry sauce as well.  For desssert, there were homemade Christmas cookies, apple pie, chocolate cakes, coconut cakes, and so many other things I can’t recall them all.  There was also a full bar, and another station for wine and water.  After you get all that delicious food in your mind, filter in the marine corps band, the four towering Christmas trees and wreaths on gorgeous mirrors, the beautiful golden silk draperies at the windows, and three enormous crystal chandeliers overhead and you have the makings of a magical event.  There were countless butlers.  These people made certain that no dish on the table was empty, and made certain that you had what you needed.  Whenever a glass would be set down, it would magically disappear.  Nothing ever ran out on the food tables.  There was a constant flow of fresh goodies from the kitchen.  The entire East Room scene was repeated again in the State Dining room….with the exception of the band.

Entrance to the Lower Visitor's Foyer

In the Red, Blue, and Green rooms you could sit on all of the furniture.  At 5:00 Mrs. Obama descended the Grand Staircase and addressed the crowd.  She was so appreciative of the effort of all the volunteers.  She talked about how so many of the states were represented.  She talked about how proud we should be because of all the people who will enjoy the house during the holidays.  She was certainly clear that this was not her house…..that it was the People’s house….and that EVERY American should be proud of it.  After being in the house and seeing how many people it takes to run it…..butlers, cooks, housekeepers, janitors, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, Secret Service, photographers, and then on top of the the First Lady’s and President’s staff….it is very clear that it is not a private house.  Mrs. Obama spoke for about eight minutes and then shook hands with many people in the audience.  It was a great experience to see that these people are in fact real people. 

We were at the party from about 4:00 to 6:00.  About 5:50, the State Dining Room doors were closed, and they used the door closing to start ushering people out of the house.  Eventually only the East Room was open, and it was closed by 6:15.  The crowd slowly started to elave, and I would estimate that by 6:45 everyone was gone.  It is a good thing because at 7:00 there was another holiday party at the house!

East Visitor's Entrance

The entire experience was eye opening for me.  The operation of the house is incredible.  It is an entertaining machine.  Everything is so beautifully maintained and cared for.  Everything works like clockwork, and because so many of the staff have been there for so many years, it runs very smoothly.  Everyone knows what to do and when to do it….and they do it with a sense of urgency and pride that is absent from lost of areas in our country’s work force.  If every American could have this experience, they would change the way they think about the President’s life (maybe not the politics) and they would change the way they work.

Green room with trees and wreaths made from recycled magazines and newspaper

It took an hour for 90 people to get through three security checkpoints to get inside the White House.  They were super thorough. 

Once inside, it was easy to move about the public areas of the house.  There was a screen set up in the lower cross hall to screen the President and First Family as they came and went.  I am certain they have little privacy, so this was understandable.  The house is really beautiful.  It feels very intimate for the President’s residence, which surprised me.  It is a big house, don’t get me wrong, but the overall feeling is very approachable and welcoming. 

Our first task was to unload all the trucks with the supplies we had been working on at the warehouse.  This took about two hours.  You would get a box, take it to where it needed to go, and then go get another one.  Some of the things took two or three people to carry, so it took a while.  I was one of a few volunteers who got to walk through the Palm Room and Rose Garden to help unload things that were destined for the West Wing.  This area is typically totally off limits, so it was great to see it first hand.  The oval office was visible and within a few hundred feet of me.  The rose garden is beautiful in person.

Once the trucks were unloaded we started working in our assigned rooms.  I worked in the East Room.  Bill was the room lead.  He is an 82 year old man who has been decorating during the holidays at the White House for more than 40 years.  He is amazing at the stories he tells….and can referrence looks from so many different administrations.  One thing he said is that the recycled newspaper trees in the Green Room are a direct take off of something that was done in the 1940’s when there were no additional resources from which to make decorations.  I was in charge of designing the way the ribbon was placed on the East Room trees.  We used four ribbons:  a really wide gold satin ribbon, a blue silky ribbon, a blue brocade ribbon, and a soft blue.  The soft blue would be made into rosettes along with a plum color.  The color scheme in the East Room was derived from the peacock theme in that room.  Ultimately, the “Simple Gift” of the East Room was the “Gift of Nature’s Splendor”.  We had six large peacocks that a Michigan artist had made from dried flowers he had gathered from the woods around his home.  We used one of these at the top of each tree, and worked gold leaves and some of the large rosettes arund them so they appeared to be nesting in the trees.  The other two peacocks would be used in the garland over the entrance door to the East Room.  With the help of two other people, I tied the peacocks into the tops of all four 14 feet tall trees in the East Room. 

A completed East Room tree with ribbon and peacock theme

Peacocks on top of the East Room trees during the Reception

Monday morning started another amazing day.  When I got to the White House this morning at 7:30, I could not believe what a giant mess we had left the night before.  Even though we spent an hour straightening up, it was still a disaster.  I was relieved to know that even in the President’s house, a fantastic Christmas decorating job makes an enormous mess.  By mid-day there were scads of volunteers just breaking down boxes and carrying trash out to the trucks. 

I continued to work in the East Room.  After I got a team working on each tree, I took on the task of decorating the garland over the entrance door to the room.  Alison was my helper.  We placed lengths of all four ribbons, two giant peacocks made from dried flowers, and many of the gold leaves that had been used before.  We also added some glass ornaments, and it was spectacular when it was complete. 

We had lunch today (and every day at the White House) in the State Dining Room.  There was an array of things to choose from, and everthing we ate was delicious.  In the mid-afternoon each day there was a special treat.  Sunday we had chocolate chip cookies, today popcorn.  The smell of these things baking filled the rooms just like it does at home.  It really made you feel like you were working on something for yourself. 

There are layers of detail everywhere.  The Blue Room tree is really interesting with all the decorations being made by SCAD….Savannah College of Art and Design.  It really does have the “Simple Gifts” theme, with all of the decorations being made from recycled or 100% sustainable products.  The East Room is probably the most elegant room.   The Red Room is my favorite.  How could you not love that color?  It is such a pretty shade of red, and this year they have mixed purple and hot pink with the red.  It is rich and beautiful. 

The Red Room with the Simple Gift theme of "Christmas Traditions." The White House tradition in the red room is the cranberry tree, and this year, Chief Floral Designer Laura Dowling created a modern interpretation with a deconstructed cranberry ball.

The cranberry ball in the Red Room

The elegant mantle in the Red Room

Garland over the East Room entrance

There are many people on the White House staff who have been there for years.  Bob, one of the carpenters who helped me on this day has been there for over 20 years.  He came to the rescue when the large garland I was working on broke in two.  It had to be competely disassembled and re-done.  Everyone on staff is really friendly. 

Tuesday was my favorite day.  The house shaped up fairly quickly, and the majority of spaces were completed by 2:00.  I had to hang all the wreaths above the mantles in the East Room on the mirrors and do bows and gold leaves on them.  The paintings of George and Martha Washington by Gilbert Stuart and Eliphalet Andrews that had been covered up while we were in the room decorating were uncovered, and the 18th century creche was also uncovered.  It had been hiding behind the curtains of the large windo in the East Room.

Creche in the East Room

One of the wreaths on the four mirrors in the East Room

One thing that has been amazing to me is what a great job the Social Secretary’s office did in selecting the volunteers.  Both people who are gifted with a knack for design and those who aren’t are totally necessary.  They had the mix perfected.  There is really a place for both types of people.  I could not have done the work that I did without the help of someone preparing the things I was working and handing them to me.  Otherwise, I would have been coming up and down the ladders every minute. 

The Grand Foyer was the last room to be completed.  The trees were done yesterday, but the garlands weren’t started until 2:00.  All of the lead designers from each room ended up working on the Grand Foyer garlands.  There was a great energy here.  It was great so see everyone who had created the centerpiece of each room come together as a team in the foyer.  We covered the garlands with red poinsettia blossoms made out of ribbon, gold pinecones, repurposed gold leaves, and whatever ribbon we could scrounge together from the different rooms.  The garlands were amazing, and would become the backdrop of the First Lady’s address at the reception I would attend on Wednesday. 

One of the four garlands in the Grand Foyer

Beautiful garland and wreath in the Grand Foyer

Detail of garlands in the Grand Foyer

Fun poinsettia ribbon flowers for the Grand Foyer

There are many other beautiful spaces in the White House, and each had its own special “Simple Gift.”  Scrolls were added to each tree explaining the symbolism.  It was very emotional to see the meanings that were intended behind all the work that was done.  Following are photos of more of the spaces along with descriptions of their “Simple Gifts.”

East Colonade and the "Gifts of the Garden" with wreaths made from preserved gourds

"The Gift of a Child's Joy" in the East Entrance. All the gingerbread decorations were made by children whose parents are in the military.

"The Gift of Music" in the Vermeill Room

"The Gift of Stories" in the Library.

Lower Cross hall and the "Gift of the Poinsettia"

Diplomatic Reception Room

Mantle detail in the Diplomatic Reception Room

China Room and the "Gift of Family." The table is set with the Reagan china.

White chocolate gingerbread White House in the State Dining Room

State Dining Room and the "Gift of Celebrating with Friends and Family"

Sconce detail in the State Dining Room

Beautiful garland in the Diplomatic Reception Room

One of the four trees I worked on in the East Room of the White House.

About the second week of October I got a wonderful surprise.  It was an email from the Social Secretary at the White House asking me to be one of the 100 volunteers they select each year to help decorate the White House for Christmas.  I had written a letter to the Chief Floral Designer and to the Social Secretary back in January telling them of my interest, and finally word came.  As I talked with the volunteers once I was in DC, it was clear that we all had done the same thing.  We were not really selected on our ability to decorate….or who we were….or what we did in our daily lives.  We were selected because of our passion to want to be a volunteer in the People’s House, and to help make it beautiful for the People of the United States.  If I learned anything during this week of decorating, I learned that being a proud, helpful American is one of the most important things we can be. 

More photos below if you don’t want to read about the experience and just see pictures.

I traveled to Washington on Thanksgiving morning.  This would be the first time in 41 years that I have not spent Thanksgiving with my family.  It was a good day, turkey at Old Ebbitt Grill, and then the Smithsonian and National Gallery of Art. 

We met at the White House gate at 7:30 on Friday morning.  “We” being about 90 volunteers.  The White House Social Secretary, Julianna Smoot, said they had invited about 100 volunteers, but only about 90 showed up to work.  I found out that I would be assigned to the East Room, although today, I would be working on lots of rooms.  We were shuttled to a support facility warehouse nearby where we would be working for the next two days.  The facility was full of boxes of Christmas decorations that we would be processing.

This year, the “theme” of the Christmas decorations was “Simple Gifts.”  The significance of this will reveal itself as these posts go further, but please keep that in mind as you read. 

There were sample boards for every room on display.  These boards were no larger than half a poster board, and contained one of everything that would be used in each area.  One of all the ornaments, a piece of all the ribbons, etc.  There were also sample wreaths that had been made up for each room.  The wreaths would not actually be used in the house, but they were to illustrate again the same concept as the sample boards.  Anytime there was a question about what would go where, you could refer to the sample boards and sample wreaths.  Lots of crates and boxes had been pre-sorted by room, and everything was clearly labeled as to where it was to go.  I would estimate that more than 75% of everything that was being used this year was recycled from previous years.  Several of the people who had done the decorating years before said that the Obamas have toned down the decorations.  The Reagans started the large scale decorating tradition, and it has continued ever since.

It seemed like about 70% of the volunteers were female.  I would also estimate that about 30% had done it before….maybe not quite that many.  For many years, a large percentage of volunteers were repeat workers, but this year, Mrs. Obama wanted to open up the opportunity to more Americans.  Most of the volunteers had a similar story about writing to the Chief Florist, First Lady, Social Secretary, one even wrote to Sasha and Malia.  Some wrote many letters, some only a short email.  Some sent their requests in early, and some last minute.  Everyone hears via email around the first week of October.  The age of the volunteers ranged from High School age to retirees.  There was one son who had brought his mom and dad with him as a surprise for them.  There was a grandson and his grandmother who wanted an adventure together; he surprised her with the trip as well.  There was a cancer survivor who just found out she was clear of the disease the week before she came.  This was sort of a renewal gift for her.  There was a young man who came with his family.  They were sightseeing while he was decorating.  Everyone was super nice, and there were no egos to contend with that I encountered.  The group I ended up working with most seemed really efficient and were always asking for more things to do while we were at the warehouse.

The first thing we did was to unpack  ornaments for a tree (never saw where this tree ended up…probably either in the private residence, the First Lady’s Office, or the Oval Office) that had been sent in from all over the country.  Towns, counties, states, organizations, even one from Candy Spelling decorated by her.  It was a pink bus that said “Hollywood” and had a white poodle as the driver.  Evidently, if anyone sends an ornament to the White House, it is earmarked for this specific tree.  We unpacked the ornaments, peeled off any labels, cut tags, etc., and put floral wire on them to be hung. 

The Military and Service tree "Gifts of Gratitude and Service" located in the East Entry area. This is the first tree visitors see upon entering the White House, and one of the ones we worked on preparing the decorations to be placed on it.

Next we unpacked some new holly leaf and berry ornaments, cut off the labels, and tied wire onto them.  Everything we touched whas then repacked in boxes for transport, but at least it was ready to be placed.  We next worked on boxes and boxes of ornaments from previous years.  Going through all of them to make sure they had wires on them, or reconfiguring how they would attach based on where they would be used.  We tied wide ribbon onto huge mercury glass ornaments.  The next thing we worked on was tying gold pinecones into clumps of three, which were then woven into a massive pinecone garland that will be used on the stairs in the Grand Foyer.  There were three guys who did an amazing job of weaving this together….Jordan, Robert, and Wayne.  It was painful to do with all the little needles on the pinecones.  The final element we worked on were the Aspen trees.  These were fresh cut Aspen trees that we worked ice cube-like acrylic beads up all the stems, and then topped off the tips with smaller cy fronds.  These will be put in huge 6-foot tall urns on pedestal bases and used in the Grand Foyer.  They will be uplit from the base with clear light.

The gorgeous Aspen trees with crystal decorations flanking the entrance to the Blue Room. In the photo is White House Chief Usher, Rear Admiral Stephen Rochon, who is in charge of all household operations.

Gold pinecone garland visible on the staircase railing in the Grand Foyer

Saturday was similar to Friday.  We met at the White House at 7:30, and went directly to the warehouse.  We worked a little more on some ornaments that were delivered late the day before unpacking and wire tying….and then came the gold leaves.  The leaves were recycled from a previous administration, and there were mountains of them.  I have never seen so many gold leaves.  Crates and crates of them.  All 90 of us were fluffing them out, and then tying wire to them to wire to the trees in the East Room.  After all that was done, we tied fruit into some of the gold leaf branches, and amber glass beads into others.  When that was all done, then came the fruit.  Again, it was being repurposed from previous administrations.  Bags and bags, and crates and crates of every kind of artificial fruit.  We tied pieces of fruit onto about 25% of the gold leaf twigs.  After all that was done, we started organizing the crates and boxes and getting them ready to go to the White House.  Everything we packed will have to be opened by the Secret Service for inspection before it can be loaded onto the guarded trucks that will haul the items there.  It was an amazing operation.

The beautiful State Dining Room trees decorated with gold leaves and fruit. The fresh lemon leaf garland is decorated with gold leaves with amber glass beads woven into it.

One of four fantastic fireplaces in the East Room bedecked with some of the gold leaves we worked on in the warehouse.

Food while we were at the warehouse was a treat, as would all the food we ate during this experience.  It was prepared by the White House staff, and sent over to us.  The first day we had turkey or veggie sandwiches (they thought of everyone’s food needs); two kinds of soup…beef and barley or cream of tomato; salad; and for dessert either lemon pie or vanilla ice cream.  Chips were out later in the afternoon for snacks, and you could get whatever kind of softdrink you wanted anytime.  The food was similar the second day….but once we were inside the house, the food became amazing.

Bunny Williams with me in her new "Bee Line Home" showroom in High Point

One of the highlights of this market was meeting design legend Bunny Williams in the new showroom for her new product line, Bee Line Home.  I am now carrying Bee Line home here in Knoxville thanks to my sales representative Roe Pitts.  Bunny is truly an interesting person who has a unique perspective on design, and who has lived a life full of doing what she loves, and creating beautiful interiors along the way.  Her classic book, “Affair with a House” is one of my favorites, and chronicles the evolution of her country estate.  Her partnership with John Roselli in Treillage is also an incredible story of interesting travel and places…..again coupled with beautiful objects from around the world.  Bee Line Home gives fans and consumers the opportunity to purchase some of her all time favorite pieces which she has beautifully reproduced. 

Another highlight was meeting Alexa Hampton.  I had met her a few years ago when she introduced her first collection for Hickory Chair.  This time, she was autographing copies of her new book, “The Language of Interior Design” at the Visual Comfort lighting showroom.  She has designed a collection for them that is beautifully chic…and of course, since it is from Visual Comfort, it is affordable.  She is so gracious, and an inspiration to me knowing her history and the fact that her father, Mark Hampton, was one of the greatest designers of all time.  The book is beautiful, and richly showcases many of her projects.  The book is interesting because she speaks to so many different styles and can’t be categorized to one look.  This is something I strive to do in my own work, and is the result of listening to what your clients have to say and to what they want.

The final highlight was meeting legendary designer Michael S. Smith and Elle Decor editor Margaret Russell at the Press Party in the Baker showroom.  The showroom is of course unbelievably large and even more beautiful.  They have created an entire Michael S. Smith home in the showroom to showcase his new product line for Baker.  I have enjoyed watching his career develop….even before his most recent honor to design the private living quarters in the White House.  It was an incredible experience to walk through his brilliantly laid out spaces and soak up inspiration.  His look for Baker is classic but fresh at the same time.  It walks a fine line between the 18th century and today.  This is a tricky place to be because there has to be enough fresh elements to keep the look current….but at the same time has to referrence history enough to make the look classic.  He is a master at this mix.

Read the entire article at http://www.traditionalhome.com/design_decorating/howwelive/farmhouse-style-renovation_ss1.html

Angela with me in her fantastic shop

On our first day in Venice, we visited the studio of Angela R. Greco on the Ponte Delle Ostreghe, near San Marco.  Angela and her sister have been in this same location for years, and make the most beautiful Venetian style lamp shades I have found anywhere on the planet.  Each shade is made by hand, and you can see their love for their craft in every piece.  Angela’s typical shade is made from Fortuny fabric, and stretched over a wire frame.  I love these shades because they have an exuberance of style not found in most American lighting.  They have the fantastic shape of the Venetian shield style shade, plus color and pattern brought by the fantastic fabric.  A stunning combination.  We chose this trip a small pair of shades in blue and silver for a pair of lamps in a bedroom. 

Angela hand sewing the lining of a shade while her sister looks on

Besides being a fantastic place to find the fabulous, Angela’s shop is warm and friendly.  She loves to see people enjoy her work, and welcomes photography.  It is fun to see Angela and her sister again on this trip….in their matching smocks and pearls.

Lamps in the shop of Angela Greco

Bobby and I outside the shop

A carved wooden lamp base with a fantastic Fortuny shade

Click here to see video

A good designer will listen to what their client wants.  If you want a white room, with white upholstery, white floors, and white draperies, a good designer will explain what the negatives could be, and if you accept them, will proceed to give you the look you want.  All white isn’t right for my lifestyle, but I have seen places where it works beautifully and clients who are able to easily maintain it.  When I look at a room that is beautifully done, it is easy for me to appreciate what went into the making of the room, and to visualize how it could be lived in.  As readers of shelter magazines, we should try to show tolerance for different styles and to learn how to appreciate them.  Interior Design is an art form, and designers and their clients deserve the same type of respect for their areas of expertise that good artists get.  Who would say that Picasso could not paint?  Even if you don’t like his style, most people can appreciate what went in to creating his pieces.  If you don’t know how he transformed himself from a classical painter to one of the most well known contemporary artists ever, read up.  It is fascinating to see his style transform. 

Traditional means different things to different people.  Someone from Saudi Arabia will have a completely different perspective on what “traditional” is than someone from Kansas.  Try to think about these factors when reading your shelter magazines.  They will become much more interesting, and you will learn lots more about different styles and cultures.  You might even be surprised by discovering something you didn’t know, and changing the way you view interiors.

All that being said, before you judge an interior as ugly, dated, not original, or impractical, try to determine why it is that way.  Maybe it is exactly what the client wanted, and maybe to someone else, it is beautiful.