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Michelle Obama Unveils Refurbished White House Dining Room

The White House has received its first major upgrade since 1998. According to the report by dc.curbed.com, "The White House's State Dining Room now sports new arm chairs, side chairs, and draperies."

The upgrading of the White House' State Dining Room was spearheaded by the First Lady, Michelle Obama. The total expenditures for the renovation was $590,000. The new look that the First Lady gave to the dining room will last even if she is gone as stated in a report by bigstory.ap.org.

Michelle Obama also unveiled the Obama china service which carries an understated look according to a report by dc.curbed.com . Silk draperies with vertical stripes of peacock blue and ecru replaced the previous curtains that were made of ivory silk brocade.

The mahogany side chairs and arm chairs were made in North Carolina and it replaced the old set of chairs. According to a report by bigstory.ap.org, "The new chairs are done in a brown, grid-patterned horsehair fabric and trimmed with brass nail heads."

The chairs exhibited similarities to the arm chairs that President James Monroe ordered for the East Room in 1818 from a cabinetmaker in Washington's Georgetown district. The room was last updated during the Clinton Administration. First Lady Michelle Obama did the refurbishment of the house with the guidelines set forth and approved by the Committee for the Preservation of the White House.

The funding for the three-year makeover were from the White House Historical Association. It is meant to ensure that the rooms within the White House are beautified and maintained. The White House State Dining Room can hold 140 guests. The State Dining Room is mostly used for formal dinners for those visiting the White House such as the heads of states or presidents from other countries. In February, Michelle Obama revealed a restructured look of the Old Family Dining Room. It is smaller and is next to to the State Dining Room.

The White House State Dining Room with all its rich history needs to be preserved and protected. The State Dining Room was previously a drawing room, an office and even a cabinet room during the presidential term of Andrew Jackson.


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