Not a flamingo in sight!
Smithsonian Documents Detail Chief’s Expenses
Invoices Include Work on Home of Secretary Small
By James V. Grimaldi
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, March 19, 2007; Page A01
Internal Smithsonian documents offer a glimpse into what one senator called the “Dom Perignon” lifestyle of the taxpayer-supported institution’s chief official, who turned in a $15,000 receipt for the replacement of French doors at his home and spent $48,000 for two chairs, a conference table and upholstery for his office suite.
Smithsonian Secretary Lawrence M. Small’s spending has been the subject of intense public scrutiny after The Washington Post published details last month from a confidential inspector general’s report delving into his $2 million in housing and office expenses over the past six years.
The Smithsonian Institution spent thousands of dollars decorating the office and subsidizing the housing costs of its president, Lawrence M. Small. These expenditures came at the same time that the institution was struggling with budget constraints.
Spreadsheets and invoices obtained by The Post include previously unreleased details on expenses deemed by the Smithsonian Board of Regents to be authorized and “reasonable” under the terms of Small’s employment agreement.
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This is the house in question. The Woodley section of D.C. is most commodious, but outward appearances are often misleading.
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How was Huggy Bear chosen as the interior designer?
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Huggy’s claim to fame is his statement: “Oy Vey! A Foyer!”
He has always believed they were a waste of space and that is why he had installed two televisions and a SR-71 painted onto flocked velvet.
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Huggy never uses the term ‘living room.’ It’s a Mood Room.
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Huggy’s favorite room is an uncluttered paean to love.
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The Master’s Bath is a study in gilt antiques and the porcelain mod.
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Huggys days on the street allowed his imagination to soar when it came time to add a rec room in the basement. He chose the Budweiser Custer’s Last Stand painting to juxtapose his old and new views of society.
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Images: (House) james v. grimaldi Washington Post.com; (Huggy) ebizstudio.com; (mood room)2modern.blogs.com; (sofa) bubblefurniture.com; (Lady Liberty); (non foyer) poole-associates.com; (SR-71) globalaircraft.com; (lamp) housewares.hardwarestore.com; (sr frame) zipser.nl; (fan) germes-online.com; (flocked) needleworthy.com; (coulter) cbsnews.com; (rhumba sleeves) acewigs.com; (frame) discountcatholicstore.com; (bedroom) hotel-online.com; (gilt bathroom) simon&baker.com; (tub) alibaba.com; (toilet et al.) cmcsupply.com; (coulter velvet) (coulter sombrero) posterpop.com; lavendergirl.com; (rec room) mondiale.co.uk; (custer pic) juliahanovercomputer.com; (large custer pic) juliahanovercomputer.com;
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