The Sorry Girls got interior design tips from the first ladies of the U.S. and Canada

A recent video from The Sorry Girls features some prestigious guest stars. The YouTube hub, founded more than a decade ago by DIY designers Kelsey MacDermaid and Becky Wright, sat down with U.S. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and her Canadian counterpart, Mme. Sophie Grégoire Trudeau.

The collab between The Sorry Girls and their first lady friends got started in March, when the Canadian creators received an email invitation to Ottawa. They had been tapped for a conversation with Dr. Biden and Mme. Grégoire Trudeau. The chat took place during the Bidens’ official visit to the Canadian capital, which began on March 23.

Using their trademark ingenuity, The Sorry Girls turned their interview opp into something more. While MacDermaid and producer Rochelle Gracey solicited decoration advice from Dr. Biden and Mme. Grégoire Trudeau, Wright and co-host Rachael Nyhuus applied their shared design aesthetic in order to zhuzh up a minimalist bedroom.

On the surface, DIY room decor may not seem like a befitting topic for two first ladies, but the collab promotes interior design as a means of improving mental health. After their respective husbands were elected, both Dr. Biden and Mme. Grégoire Trudeau had to find ways to bring character to their new homes. “The container…is historical, but the content is human. It’s us and it’s a family,” Mme. Grégoire Trudeau told The Sorry Girls. “We’re just trying to live our lives.”

The Sorry Girls found out how the North American first ladies imparted their sensibilities into the White House and Rideau Cottage. Dr. Biden described using scents to awaken the senses of her guests, and Mme. Grégoire seconded that suggestion, describing herself as a “candle freak.” The FLOTUS also stressed how important it is to make room for exercise, while her northerly neighbor discussed the ways she incorporated Trudeau family heirlooms into her designs.

Like their guests, The Sorry Girls are known for touting the benefits of a well-designed living space. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to not only meet Mme. Grégoire Trudeau and Dr. Biden, but also to collaborate with them on a video, and share stories on the importance of creating spaces that are welcoming and feel communal,” MacDermaid said in a statement. “They were both so open and honest, and gave us a peek into how they build comfortable spaces for themselves and loved ones to recharge and reconnect.”

MacDermaid and Gracey concluded their interview by asking the first ladies about their dream homes. Mme. Grégoire Trudeau imagined herself living at a surf shack near the beach. If she ever gets around to building that residence, there will be several other creators who will be interested in dropping by for a collab.