How Much Did Obama Spend To Decorate The White House

White House renovations

The White Firm has undergone many renovations over the years. | Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

America's about famous business firm and 1 of our priciest landmarks attracts over 100,000 visitors monthly. It'due south grandiose, mysterious, and powerful. Notwithstanding, for some American families, it has to exist a comfy domicile as well.

These first ladies put their unique spin on White House home decor, however, it didn't come cheap. While each family is given a budget, which has escalated to fit inflation, the post-obit women exceeded it drastically to make the White Business firm feel like their dwelling.

Jackie Kennedy

Jackie Kennedy spent an incredible amount of time and effort to transform her new home from what she found dismal and dowdy into the elegant, television-worthy historical display that information technology would become. Following John F. Kennedy's inauguration, Kennedy appointed interior designers similar Stéphane Boudin (Jackie was a known Francophile) to assistance her transform the White House.

Jackie began developing artistic ways to admission more funding for the house. She organized a volunteer commission of antique enthusiasts to locate pieces that she could decorate with on loan. Jackie gave her famous guided tour of the White House on CBS that attracted over 80 million viewers, eager to meet how she transformed the presidential quarters. She spent $two million on the redesign in 1962, which comes out to $16.4 million in 2017 dollars.

Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama gardening

Michelle Obama planted a vegetable garden. | Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images

While each offset couple is given an allowance to spend — since the Clinton administration, it's been $100,000 — Michelle and Barack opted to employ personal funds. Michelle notably transformed the White Firm Land Dining Room for the first time since 1998 when Hillary Clinton took on the task.

The interior alterations gave the room a distinctly 21st-century update and toll $590,000. She took on the project presently later on completing the renovations for the Old Family unit Dining Room. Information technology was once off-limits to the public, however, Michelle remade the room into a mod space now fit for public viewing. The Obamas spend $ane.five million in total on decorating, according to NBC.

Melania Trump

melania trump walks past a christmas tree

Melania Trump fabricated headlines for her elaborate Christmas decorations. | Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

In true Trump fashion, Melania and Donald are already on track to profoundly exceed the Obama's spending later their get-go year in the White House. So far, the Trumps take spent almost $2 million on new White House decor. According to NBC, while it'south unclear exactly what the two accept done with the place, some of the money has reportedly gone toward things like "furniture pedestals" and custom rugs. And, of course, Donald has adorned his office with gold drapes, his favorite color.

Melania made headlines for her elaborate Christmas decorations. She personally designed this year'south holiday display, titled "Time-Honored Traditions," which intends to give a "nod to the past 200 years of White House holidays," co-ordinate to CNN.

Mary Lincoln

Mary Todd Lincoln

Her design went over the $xx,000 budget. | Brady-Handy Photo Collection (Library of Congress)/Wikimedia Commons

Back in 1861, Abraham and Mary Lincoln were allowed $20,000 to revamp the White House. The first lady caused a stir, overrunning the cost by about $seven,000. She reportedly bought items like carpets, people's republic of china, and draperies from the finest stores in Boston, New York Urban center, and Philadelphia. Mary tried, unsuccessfully, to hide the debt from her husband.

She eventually received an additional allowance from Congress and was able to pay off the purchases. In 2017, the total price would have roughly equaled $600,000 in renovations.

Nancy Reagan

Ronald and Nancy Reagan

Nancy Reagan financed her design updates largely through private donations. | Ronald Reagan Presidential Library/Getty Images

According to Architectural Assimilate, Nancy Reagan left her own unique marking on the 2d- and third-floor private quarters of the White Business firm. She as well put coin into the Yellow Room, the Treaty Room, and the Lincoln and Queens' Bedrooms. The Reagans establish 1600 Pennsylvania Artery in a grim state when they moved in. The plumbing and wiring were outdated, the floors needed serious work, and the draperies were "falling autonomously," according to the family'south go-to designer, Ted Graber.

Nancy secured most of the $1 one thousand thousand budget from private donations since the renovation costs drastically exceeded the $50,000 the regime allotted her. She allegedly spent $200,000 on new china alone.

Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton walking on stage

She used a designer from Little Rock, Arkansas. | Alex Wong/Getty Images

Hillary and Nib Clinton spent $396,429 on a redecoration curve by designer Kaki Hockersmith from Niggling Rock, Arkansas. The restoration was financed by private donations to the White Firm Historical Clan

White House spokesmen said that the Clintons opted non to utilise the $50,000 allowance from Congress. They also received cloth and decorative materials via donations from manufacturers. Hillary had Hockersmith redo the Yellow Oval room, iv of the private bedrooms, a few of the sitting rooms, the kitchen, and the 3rd-floor invitee rooms and solarium. The Clintons displayed the renovations to reporters for an 60 minutes after they were completed.

Laura Bush

laura bush with white house christmas trees

She used the human who designed the Bush's Texas ranch. | Alex Wong/Getty Images

Laura Bush took on what she called a "job of decisions" upon moving into the White Business firm. "He [hubby George Bush] did what he thinks is the smart thing for a leader to do — he delegated information technology to me," she told Architectural Assimilate. Laura took the money and ran … all the way to designer Kenneth Blasingame, who likewise designed the Bushes' ranch house in Texas.

Laura and Blasingame made changes to the Oval Part, the Chiffonier Room, the Lincoln Bedchamber, and the Vermeil Room, among countless others. Of all the rooms she redid, the Light-green Room was Laura'due south favorite. "In that location's a great reminder of history when yous live here," she said. However, at that place is always room for new additions; Laura revealed a $74,000 set of China they purchased for the White House just earlier the end of President Bush's 2nd term.

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