Reading Copy Book Blog

Californian interior designer, Michael S. Smith has been chosen as the new White House decorator.

Michelle Obama’s spokeswoman,  Katie McCormick Lelyveld said Smith was chosen to redecorate the private quarters “because he had a similar vision of what [the Obamas] were looking for.”

Smith is known for combining the expensive with the less expensive - he’ll mix rare antiques with custom-made and retail items for a unique sophisticated but comfortable look. This is not dissimilar to Michelle Obama who combines retail pieces with designer items in her wardrobe.

Named one of Architectural Digest’s Top 100 Designers in 2002 and 2004, Smith’s other clients includes celebrities such as Cindy Crawford, Steven Spielberg, Rupert Murdoch, Dustin Hoffman and Michelle Pfeiffer.

If you’d like your private quarters to have the Michael S. Smith look, pick up a copy of his latest book Houses and you’ll get lots of ideas and many of them are not too costly to implement. Writes Smith, “One of the secrets of good decorating is not to be afraid to be simple. Sometimes all you need is a jute rug from Pottery Barn.” 

Hey, it’s an opportunity to say you used the same designer as the First Family!