Decorating

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

The latest Obama shopping news doesn't concern a new sleeveless dress Michelle's sporting—no, it's about the couple's redecoration plans. The Obamas plan to use their own funds to overhaul the White House. "Though Michelle Obama has talked up Pottery Barn, [hired decorator Michael S.] Smith’s client list includes cost-is-no-object types like Rupert Murdoch, Steven Spielberg, and former Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain...'There’s no question that he’ll get it done in the way that it’s supposed to be done,' says Smith client and Democratic donor Katherine Chez. 'But how, I don’t know.' The White House declined to disclose the budget, saying that all expenses would remain private as a result of the Obamas’ decision to absorb the cost." [NYM]