Michelle Obama Surprises White House Visitors With Public Viewing of Old Family Dining Room
Public viewing of the newly restored dining room, first in White House history.
— -- For the first time ever, first lady Michelle Obama surprised visitors this morning with a public viewing of the newly refurbished Old Family Dining Room.
The room--located just off of the State Dining Room--now boasts a fresh coat of crisp gray paint, new golden medal wall sconces, red draperies and a black, white and gray Anni Albers rug.
“It’s all of our home,” said the first lady, who was accompanied by first-daughter-turned-NBC-contributor Jenna Bush Hager. “This is the peoples’ house!”
With updates funded by contributions from the White House Historical Association, the room now houses an assortment of Obamas’ favorite modern art pieces all by American artists, including “Resurrection” by Alma Thomas and “Early Bloomer” by Robert Rauschenberg.
But it wasn't always so mod.
During the Truman era, the room was adorned with dark red draperies and matching carpet, then updated to a less-formal gold and yellow scheme approved by Jackie Kennedy in 1963, according to a White House blog.
Enjoyed by first families since 1825, the space functioned as a breakfast room until Mrs. Kennedy moved the family’s dining room upstairs to the first family’s private residence.
Since then, the room has been used as staging during state dinners, and to house any additional members of staff. Presidents have also used the dining room for lower-key official meals, including lunches with foreign leaders.