Issue 37: Interior Design

Featured Response: Lana Burroughs || Blogger, Topsy Turvy Style

Lana Burroughs

It still seems like a dream: a president who inspires and excites us with his intellect, his good graces, his sweet temperament, and his inner strength.

We, as a nation, are counting the days until the inauguration of Barack Obama.

If we are expecting an advocate for arts and culture, the Obamas’ choice of Michael S. Smith as the White House decorator is a promising first step. Mr. Smith is widely regarded as one of the best interior designers in the country, and most experts in the field would agree that he is a true artist. It is also likely that, with a highly-trained eye for design, fine antiques and art, his influence will extend beyond the realm of décor.

Although there is a high level of artistry and sophistication in Mr. Smith’s interiors, the first impression is likely to be one of warmth and comfort. Combined with an ability to deftly incorporate multi-cultural elements into his spaces, along with a seamless mix of high and low, Mr. Smith’s strengths should be a perfect fit for the Obama family. And, just right for this country at this time. After all, we are a melting pot.

Michelle Obama has expressed an interest in 20th century American artists. How wonderful it would be to see stimulating art displayed in the White House, from the likes of Franz Kline, Ellsworth Kelly, Jackson Pollock or even Thomas Hart Benton. This is one more indication that we will have a president and first family who will promote a higher level of thinking, open mindedness and a more lively and inquisitive intellectual discourse.

I think we have every reason to expect appreciation and support of the arts and design to expand throughout society, now that our next president has already taken the lead at home. This bodes well for this country and the world.

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Inaugural Insight

  • The inauguration for the first U.S. president, George Washington, was held on April 30, 1789 in New York City.
  • Should January 20 be a Sunday, the President is usually administered the oath of office in a private ceremony on that day, followed by a public ceremony the following day.
  • Immediately following the oath, the bands play four ruffles and flourishes and "Hail to the Chief", followed by a 21-gun salute from howitzers of the Presidential Salute Battery.
  • The inaugural celebrations usually last ten days, from five days before the inauguration to five days after.
  • Since Thomas Jefferson's second inaugural on March 4, 1805, it has become tradition for the president to parade down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House.
  • According to tradition, in the first inaugural, President Washington added the words "so help me God" when reciting the oath, although there is no contemporary evidence of this.
  • In 1977, Jimmy Carter started a new tradition by walking from the Capitol to the White House, although subsequent presidents have only walked part of the way for security reasons.
  • The War of 1812 and World War II forced two swearing-ins to be held at other locations in Washington, D.C.
  • The new President assumes power at noon on January 20th, regardless of whether or not he has actually taken the oath of office.
  • There is no requirement that any book, or in particular a book of sacred text, be used to administer the oath, and none is mentioned in the Constitution.

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