Dec. 04--The White House, styled into a "Children's Winter Wonderland," dazzled its first holiday visitors on Wednesday with room after room of festive decor.
First lady Michelle Obama welcomed military families and children as the Christmas season's inaugural guests. "It gets better and better every year," she said, beaming. "The house is just breathtaking."
Fifteen staffers from agencyEA, a Chicago-based event planning firm, helped the White House staff create the bedecked and bejeweled spaces. Eight Illinoisans were among the 106 volunteer decorators from 37 states.
The designs playfully mix vintage, high-tech and whimsical touches.
Animated replicas of first dogs Bo and Sunny, crafted from more than a mile of black-and-white satin ribbon, welcomed the first of the estimated 65,000 visitors expected in coming weeks. The "robotic" dogs have motion sensors, so their heads swivel as revelers approach.
The first dogs share digs in the East Garden Room with a new crowd pleaser: a snowscape that is projected onto a wall and lets guests insert themselves into the scenery -- and pose for selfies.
Until Wednesday, the theme, color scheme and special features were secret.
The volunteers, who began work last Friday, agreed not to divulge them in emails or photos while the work was in progress, said one, Kate Bateman, a retired art teacher.
"We would get sent home -- and nobody would be that stupid," said Bateman, 59, of Radcliff, Ky. "This is the first lady's bailiwick. They wanted the big 'wow' for the reveal. They wanted the military families to come in and say, 'Holy moly.'"
Victoria Meyers, 54, a nurse from Edwardsville, Ill., said lending a hand was "probably the third best thing that's happened to me in my life" after getting married and having two children.
Martha Hopp, 72, a florist from Nauvoo, Ill., likewise was emotional about volunteering, since she festooned a tree that pays homage to fallen service members and the "Gold Star Families" who survive them.
"I don't have enough tissues in my pocket. I'm feeling blessed that I don't have to put a star on the tree," said Hopp, who noted that her Marine grandson survived being shot in the head in Iraq.
Twenty-six trees rise in spaces open to visitors. None compares to the majestic 18-foot-tall concolor fir from Leighton, Pa., in the Blue Room. That tree has its own theme, "America the Brave," as a salute to the military.
Gabrielle Martinez, managing partner of agencyEA, said her work with the White House social secretary's office began last March. Imports this season included toy trains on loan from Omaha, Neb., and reindeer carousel pieces from a private collection, she said.
She imported Chicago talent, too, including Paige Pera, an agencyEA designer, and Jami Darwin Chiang, a paper artist from the Bucktown neighborhood.
Traditionalists will marvel at the gingerbread house in the State Dining Room. The confection was crafted from 250 pounds of pastillage, 80 pounds of gingerbread dough, 40 pounds of marzipan, 25 pounds of gum paste and 25 pounds of sugar.
Techies will note the 3-D printed ornaments, the result of a competition in collaboration with the Smithsonian and Instructables. "We've got some new twists. ... We're playing with technology this year," the first lady said.
Those interested in visiting via the Internet can download the tour book -- along with Bo and Sunny houndstooth-patterned gift wrap -- at whitehouse.gov/Holidays.
kskiba@tribpub.com
Twitter @KatherineSkiba
