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Published Sunday, November 30, 2008 2:11 AM

Obama White House could be green, high-tech

The Associated Press asked several interior designers to suggest Obama-style changes for the White House. Some of what they had to say about their designs via e-mail:

The Oval Office

Vern Yip, designer and host of HGTV's Deserving Design: I wanted to design an eclectic space that combined White House treasures with modernist Brno flat chairs designed by Mies van der Rohe in 1930, with off-the-shelf, clean-lined, chocolate-velvet Lombard sofas from Crate and Barrel. These store-bought sofas have an ecofriendly construction consisting of a certified, sustainable hardwood frame and seat cushions filled with soy-based filler.

The Lincoln Bedroom

Kim Myles, designer and host of HGTV's Myles of Style: Talk about gilding the lily! The current Lincoln Bedroom hides its most famous feature -- the bed -- behind layers of fussy fabric, busy prints and stodgy color. I've chosen to bring the room back to basics and combined classic and contemporary elements.

The Queen's Bedroom

Celerie Kemble of Kemble Interiors, author of Celerie Kemble: To Your Taste: Given that we seem to be in for a long economic slowdown, and many families are struggling, the president cannot seem to be extravagant or ostentatious. ... Luckily, Barack Obama's natural style fits the times perfectly. His suits are sharp but never flashy, and the same should go for his home.

The Green Room

Taniya Nayak, designer of HGTV's Designed to Sell: The stone, fabrics and flooring are all made from green products. Sustainable living is a way of life now, and what better place to implement that than in the Green Room of the White House.

The East Room

Mark Woodman of Laurel, Md., board member of the Color Marketing Group of color experts: The words modern and optimistic kept coming to mind as I considered the newest (first) family and read the history of the room. Since the East Room can serve many functions -- including, even, a past roller skating space for Amy Carter -- it has to be imbued with that sense of optimism while keeping a hold on heritage.

The Red Room

Frank Fontana, designer and star of HGTV's Design on a Dime: My concept for this design is something I like to call "Colonial Funk." It comes from the fusion of vintage colonial architecture and hip modern day decor. A similar parallel to the Obamas themselves, as they must fuse their youthful and vibrant energy into a vintage and historic home.

The Library

Lisa LaPorta, designer for HGTV's Designed to Sell: I see the library as more of an Internet cafe-lounge with state-of-the-art computer, television and surround-sound capabilities as well as a place for books. ... I would like to take down whatever art hangs above the fireplace and replace it with a flat screen television-computer monitor.

The Rose Garden

John Gidding, designer for HGTV's Designed to Sell: I'm introducing some gradation of slopes into the lawn and putting (in) some informal walking paths. I see the Obamas as a very American, nonformal-style family, happy to walk around their new home and welcoming people to walk there with them, somewhat mitigating the current formal nature of the Rose Garden.

State Dining Room

Charles B. Smith of Charles Smith & Associates Inc., Denver: My whole concept is to create a room with pale yellows, "peche," creams and white. It would be an unforgettable experience to walk into this room that glowed with soft colors, provided an eclectic combination of classical architectural elements with some museum-quality pieces of art (and) accessories.


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