Well, I hope they like subway tile. ;-)

It all leaves me feeling kinda cold, especially the kitchen and living area. Overall I think it has a bit of a sterile feel to it, but I would imagine the Obamas could manage to bring it to life if they do end up calling it home.

The outside is cute, but the inside is....too many clowns, all painted white.

I love it! A blank canvas. All it needs is some colorful accessories and art.

I have to think major renovations and decor changes are in their future.

Beautiful grounds and location. I think there is room for improvement inside. The kitchen is underwhelming. Really strange island configuration. I don't like heavily coffered ceilings like that. I think they are too distracting. I also don't like the concrete pillars in the entryway. The upstairs bedrooms and bathrooms are nice. I do love the round observatory room!

I guess because the dogs are prize-winning, they rate their own faucet : ) .

That's an incredibly white kitchen.

And the 10 karate-chopped pillows on the sofa lol.

I think the best part of the property is the location -- the amount of land, the privacy, and being right on the water. Though if they do buy it, I'd love to see what a designer like Michael Smith would do with it. His Jasper fabrics would be lovely in a beach house,

https://www.michaelsmithinc.com/jasper-showroom/fabrics

Get a can of paint, redo the walkway to the beach to be more of a curve, might want it a bit wider, and how about that bunk room for the Secret Service detail?

The bathroom reminds me of this:

Hmm, watching it in this context I can see where one might put a political spin on it (the first time I tried to post it, the video included the whole of "Gotta Stop That Man" leading into "I Believe in You"). I'm apolitical here, I'm just about the mirrors in the bathroom!

Beautiful home with acreage and the ocean! Of course there are things I would change inside, wouldn't everyone? I'm sure once they put their own touch on things it will be beautiful.

Two car garage??? And they need a better forecourt for guests to park. No picture of the front of the house?

The location and privacy are just perfect. Everything else can be fixed, and I’m sure they will.

Not that it is likely to convey, but the desaturated pool table was particularly puzzling to me.

I think it has lots of unexploited potential.

With a $64,000/month mortgage I don't know how they could afford a can of paint. I think the owner of the Celtic's owns the home. Obama is "just" an ex-President. That's a lot of books and speeches!

There are lots of neighbors and now that the address has been publicized, not sure how much privacy they'd get.

Looking at the house again, for me, it'd take a good million to decorate it to my standards. All the metal rods on the ceilings. What is that?

Oh, I know. "Modern country." :)

I figure the metal cables either help hold the roof down or open parts of it?

Massachusetts seems like an odd place for the Obamas to land. Their home is Illinois, and they vacationed often in Hawaii.

Did you catch the his-and-hers sinks that are side-by-side but opposite one another?

Edgartown no less. I think with a home like that, in that location, it will likely NOT be their only residence.

Might not be my taste, but yes I could live there.

graywings123

I figure the metal cables either help hold the roof down or open parts of it?

Massachusetts seems like an odd place for the Obamas to land. Their home is Illinois, and they vacationed often in Hawaii.

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When he was President, I believe they spent all their summer vacations at Martha's Vineyard

Winter/Christmas was back home in HI

https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2016/07/31/clintons-obamas-marthas-vineyard/

As an aside, I believe the Secret Servs also like it because it's an island

What a breath- taking spot. A perfect summer home.

IIRC, they spent at least half a dozen family vacations on Cape Cod over the years. And I imagine this will be a vacation home, rather than a permanent residence.

The house was originally on the market for $22 million, and apparently the Obamas will be paying less than the current asking price ($14 million).

Decor you can change. Location you cannot and it's a wonderful location. I would suspect that a lot of that white is realtor staging - and I would bet it would be painted and redecorated.

I think it’s beautiful! Once they get their stuff in there to create some anchor, ones eye won’t automatically rise to the busyness' of some of the ceilings.

I didn't see a basketball hoop.

Thank goodness I didn’t see gold furniture.

There's a hoop. Look at the pool photos. :D

I think it is wonderful and quite livable. Not wild about the bathroom tiles (just too much of it or maybe it is the dark grout), but everything else is just fine. And oh how I would love 29 acres in that location. Sigh.

Blfenton, there was a hoop on the side of the pool for water basketball! ha.

I wonder how far the house is from the beach. It is certainly different and a whole lot of white! I suppose though I could spend a summer there even if they had to drag me kicking and screaming! :)

I think it's a perfect location and I love the house and the acreage.

Mary, I looked at the house on google maps, and the long sidewalk goes to the beach. I think that's my favorite part, I can see myself riding my bike there. Hopefully they'll give a tour once they've redecorated. It's hard for me to see past the blinding white!

Love the location, the property and the exterior. The interior? Way too white for me. I'd be painting and adding fabric to every room to make it cozier...I'd redo that kitchen too as it's not set up well for my purposes. But I love the bed in the nook by the window. Now that's cozy!

I don't like the exterior that much..

They wanted to tell so many things while composing the house. one wonders "so what did they want to tell?"

this book about American architecture made me too fussy I think..))

Well, it's really nice, and nothing that some paint and different decor couldn't fix.

But...... I'm a big Obama fan, but ..... somehow it bugs me that a former president of the "greatest democracy on earth" would spend 14 mio on a vacation home.

And now I dug and cover.

Oakley, who says he's taking out a mortgage? The Obama's have made a good bit of money SINCE his presidency. Apparently his networth is around $40 million (and that's an old figure) and Michelle has income also.

As an aside, has anyone read her book? obama's worth

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/02/13/donald-trump-george-washington-net-worth-us-presidents/39011559/

Click to make sure that captions are visible.

Would be very interesting to compare this to, say, UK prime ministers and German chancellors.

I read Michelle Obama's book. I was not prepared to enjoy it (despite being a big Obama fan); I thought it would be typical of political biographies--a bit coy, circumspect, glossy. Instead, I found it moving and authentic. I'm very glad I read it.

I read it too, and loved it. Warm, authentic, moving, yes!

I'm glad to read such glowing recommendations of her book. I admire her, but would probably not ever think to pick up her book and read it. You may have just changed my mind.

If you can, get the audio version too. Michelle reads it herself, and it is even better listening to it. I had both, a great way to read/listen to it.

I wasn't going to read it but bookclub chose it so I did read it. I am so glad that I did and really enjoyed it. I am a fan of the Obama's but I learned a lot about their philosophy of helping others. It really is an inspiring story.

I'm surprised there is no casita/guesthouse or outbuilding for security, I guess they will have to build one. It's definitely location, location, location. I'm guessing the reason for the potfiller as dog faucet was "because they can".

The kitchen reminds me of something that was built for a person with staff but who wanted an illusion of a regular person's kitchen, hence the restaurant style partial divider. Where is the stove? I see a single oven. Is there another staff kitchen?

I don't like the exterior that much..

They wanted to tell so many things while composing the house. one wonders "so what did they want to tell?"

this book about American architecture made me too fussy I think..))

lol april

I think what the home owner/builder, who's the lead owner and governor of the Boston Celtics, wanted to tell people, "Look at me, and my money".

I'm not keen on the house either. It has too many early 2000s, McMansion-y elements for me. With even a little more restraint and sophistication, it could have have been much less clunky, and truly lovely. I think it's telling that there's no architect listed on the RE listing, for a house that was originally priced at $22+ million. But I have no doubt that if they buy the house, Michelle's friend and previous designer Michael S. Smith will be able to work his magic; he's not only done some masterful interior design, but some remarkable remodeling/gut projects,

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/michael-s-smith-gives-a-new-york-city-apartment-a-spectacular-update

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/michael-s-smith-before-after-slideshow

The house has been on the market for almost five years,

https://www.amlu.com/2018/10/16/celtics-owner-wyc-grousbeck-looking-to-sell-30-acre-marthas-vineyard-estate-for-16-3m-down-from-22-5m/

https://www.bostonmagazine.com/property/2015/08/13/celtics-owner-wyc-grousbecks-estate-is-for-sale/#gallery-2-9

Those links have some other pictures of the property, which to me make it look much nicer than the current listing photos.

Thank you all for the reviews on the book. I have read one book this summer, LOL!! I think I might want to read Michelle's book though. Thanks again.

Am thinking of where previous presidents went to retire. The Trumans returned to Bess's mother's home in Missouri. The Eisenhowers returned to their farm in Gettysburg, PA. Jackie K. was not without resources; she ultimately bought a large apartment on Fifth Avenue. The Johnsons returned to their fairly modest ranch in Johnson City, TX (You could see the main house across the river from the town when you drove through, as we did, though we weren't looking for the house). The Nixons went back to California, to a place in San Clemente. The Carters returned to the modest house on their farm in Plains, Georgia, and are still there. The Reagans went, iirc, to a $600,000 home in Pacific Palisades, L.A. Both Bush 41 and 43 already had homes in Houston, and 43 acquired a small ranch. The Clintons - who had not owned a home prior to his presidency - acquired an apartment in NYC, a big house in Chappaqua, NY, and Hillary's "mansion", which was to be her base, in Georgetown, D.C. I think it's interesting to see which presidents end up where!

Considering that the Obamas have an impressive home in D.C. (near Ivanka and Jared), it looks like they're not planning to spend time in their Hyde Park, Chicago, home. Although that's where his library will be, so probably an occasional visit at least!

Oh who knows why I said that Tina. I wrote it before I read their net worth & frankly I have no clue how multi-millionaires buy homes since their money is most likely invested. :)

Michelle's book was fantastic.

Becky wrote, " I think what the home owner/builder, who's the lead owner and governor of the Boston Celtics, wanted to tell people, "Look at me, and my money". I agree! Late at night when I fall into the Internet wormhole I spend a lot of time looking at homes, many on Long Island & the Vineyard. The newer homes are so ostentatious.

Looking at the house on google maps it seems the wings off to each side (and I agree the exterior is strange), are the guests houses. I'm sure Secret Service will need somewhere to sleep because supposedly they have a lot of them.

It's none of my business of course but now that their daughters have basically flown the coop, that house is way too big for three people, which includes her mother. Maybe they plan on doing a lot of entertaining? ;)

^^^^ I think they will always need space for the Secret Service guys.

FinallyHome, I read yesterday that it's not public information how many secret service are protecting Obama, but apparently more than we'd think because of all the death threats and recent incidents.

SS guys, entertaining, the daughters will come and someday, sons-in-laws and grandchildren (perhaps).

Jackie K. was not without resources; she ultimately bought a large apartment on Fifth Avenue.

She had a number of residences, including one in Peapack, NJ (which she had from the 1970s until she died) and one in Virginia, near where she and JFK had had a house during their marriage; I believe she used both for riding and hunting. She also had a large property on Martha's Vineyard that the family recently listed for sale; we talked about it on another thread,

https://www.christiesrealestate.com/sales/detail/170-l-239-1906111036074454/red-gate-farm-the-jacqueline-kennedy-onassis-marthas-vineyard-estate-aquinnah-ma-02535

Nixon's Casa Pacifica, which he used as his "Western White House" while in office, recently went up for sale too,

https://www.ocregister.com/2019/05/09/richard-nixons-former-western-white-house-in-san-clemente-has-a-new-price-57-5-million/

IIRC, the Obamas bought the DC house because they wanted to stay in the city to allow Sasha to graduate from high school, which happened several months ago; she had been at Sidwell Friends for more than 10 years. I would imagine with her recent graduation, they're probably making new housing/living plans, and perhaps the Martha's Vineyard house is part of it.

sableincal

Considering that the Obamas have an impressive home in D.C. (near Ivanka and Jared), it looks like they're not planning to spend time in their Hyde Park, Chicago, home. Although that's where his library will be, so probably an occasional visit at least!

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The plans for the new library also include an apartment for them

I could see them keeping their Hyde Park home as an investment property since it is increasing in value

. I'm sure the $$ from the SS helps to defray some of the annual costs.

As an aside:

Ronald and Nancy Reagan's Former Bel-Air Home Sells for $15M

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ronald-nancy-reagans-bel-air-910243

Thanks to those who included updates about the various homes of our first families. I'd never seen photos of Jackie's Martha's Vineyard estate before (wowzer!) or the Reagans' Bel Air property. The latter just goes to prove that one can drive through L.A.'s most expensive areas and have no idea what lies beyond the high walls and thick greenery!