Jill Biden Selects AD100 Decorator Mark D. Sikes to Redesign Her East Wing Workplace
First Lady Jill Biden has chosen Los Angeles-based AD100 designer Mark D. Sikes to complete the redesign of her East Wing office of the White House.
Sikes took to Instagram on February 21 to share the news with his 221,000 followers, posting a picture of Dr. Biden from Inauguration Day 2021. “This is an honor of a lifetime and I am both humbled and thrilled,” Sikes stated in the photo caption. “To create beauty has always been my passion, and I’ve also come to realize it’s my purpose. Thank you to The First Lady [sic], her team and to those who came before her and those still to come.”
Working with Sikes will be Jill Biden’s first step toward altering her office space. Her press secretary, Michael LaRosa, said in a statement:
“While most first ladies immediately come in and make changes to the areas where they spend the most time, Dr. Biden had not focused on this to date, between her travel across the country, teaching, and her issue portfolio. As is customary with previous first ladies, Dr. Biden is updating her office and working with an interior designer. She spends a great deal of time in her East Wing office, and is looking forward to personalizing the space to more reflect her working style, where she can hold larger meetings and host guests. In line with prior practice, this project will be funded through donations to the White House Historical Association.”
Sikes often uses a blue and white palette in his work.
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Known for his traditional style and love of a blue and white color palette, Sikes has authored two design books, Beautiful (2016) and More Beautiful (2020). Sikes and his projects are frequently featured in leading design publications, and he has also partnered with retail brands—including Hudson Valley Lighting, Schumacher, and Annie Selke—to create signature product lines. He was named to the AD100 list in 2021.
Sikes has frequently taken to Instagram to post about historical figures and events, including the 2020 presidential election. “I woke up this morning knowing this is the most important day of my lifetime,” he wrote in a post on November 3, 2020. Other posts on his page pay tribute to female power players across history, including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Queen Elizabeth II, and Princess Diana.
