Blairs to give No 10 £850,000 makeover

Cherie Blair is to get a set of custom-made, glass-fronted bookcases in her private office at Downing Street as part of a make-over for the historic Prime Minister's residence.

Leaked documents revealed that Tony Blair and his wife are overseeing the complete redecoration of Number 10 and their family flat over the Chancellor's residence at Number 11 at an estimated cost of £850,000.

The leaking of the confidential papers, which has echoes of the row over the Lord Chancellor's expensive taste in wallpaper, was intended to cause maximum embarrassment to the Blairs.

They have chosen the same wallpaper manufacturer as Lord Irvine of Lairg, Cole and Sons, but they have more modest tastes. Lord Irvine's hand-printed Pugin wallpaper cost £300 a roll, but the Blairs appear to have settled for £70-a-roll Windsor Stripe.

The work, which is part of regular maintenance around Whitehall, was deemed sensitive enough to be covered in secrecy. Marked "restricted", the decorating plans for Number 10 were codenamed "Cygnet", and those for the Blairs' flat were called "Cob".

The papers, which read like a script from the TV show Changing Rooms, give details of the type of wallpaper, floor covering and paint that are to be used, with a warning to the workmen that the dress code will be "shirts with contracts' names and clean boots". It is expected that the work will be carried out in August while the Blairs are on holiday.

Structural work in Number 10 will have to be approved by English Heritage. Dado rails will be replaced along with skirtings, windows, doors and carpets. A new entrance at the back is planned. There will also be a new air-conditioning and ventilation system for the Georgian house.

The Chancellor, who swapped his flat at Number 11 with the Blairs because it was family-sized, is not expected to join in the redecorating with his neighbours. Gordon Brown has warned Cabinet colleagues that improvements to their grace-and-favour apartments must be regarded as a perk for tax purposes.