In Australia, the saying goes that the Prime Minister has been given "the keys to The Lodge" (the PM's official residence in Canberra, the national capital), when their political party is elected to office.

The just recently defeated Prime Minister, John Howard, chose to live at Kirribilli House in Sydney, and was criticised for doing so.

His successor, Kevin Rudd, will be expected to live in The Lodge in Canberra, or else (I would hope) receive the criticism (as being a hypocrite) of almost everyone including his own Labor Party that roundly criticised John and Janette Howard.

I recently rode a Sydney Harbour ferry past Kirribilli House and thought the place and grounds quite lovely. I'm sure the inside of the house is quite easy to live in.

By contrast, when I last went through The Lodge, on an open day, its dark wood panels and small rooms made it feel quite small and closed in. I'm sure Rudd's wife, Therese Rein, will have some say in its decoration, depending on who "wears the pants" in that household.
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Peter