Came across this interesting photo of the rug for the Oval Office replica in the Clinton Library being manufactured. The caption reads, "Being made at Scott Group Custom Carpets in Grand Rapids. It is a replica of the one they made for his Oval Office in the White House."Also, came across a good early pic of Bush 2 in the Oval Office with the Reagan rug.
Well, this is one job where it would be well neigh impossible to cut corners... heh-heh... get it? Oval Rug - no corners.... OK, bad joke... : )
ReplyDeleteI've been playing with my Presidential Plates - went back to the consignment shop and got the Jefferson one today - My living room looks like Plate City at the moment... (Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe plates). The "chain of 15 states/Martha Washington plate" looks really fine on the mantle - and the Monroe plate looks great on the genuine reproduction Seymour tambour desk... I wish it had a curved pediment and a finial like the "real" Seymour desk in the East Sitting Hall, but unless I win the Powerball Lottery that ain't gonna happen.
I got an note with photos from someone who would like to sell a genuine Harrison plate. I'll post the pics as soon as I get a chance.
ReplyDelete[homer]cutting corners . . he he he . . . . . . umm . . . . . I don't get it. [/homer]
ReplyDeleteJust a question regarding the Clinton Rug. If they had to manufacture a replica rug for the Presidential Museum? then where did the real rug go? I thought all Presidential Museums usually used the actual furnishings used during the Presidency?(except for those historical furniture belonging to the WH, then those are replicated of course)
ReplyDeleteWell, there are the president's personal effects and then there are furnishings that are paid for by and belong to the White House collection. The custom rugs certainly fit in the second category; the OO rugs are kept in storage (there are only a dozen or so) and new presidents can use them as they like. Bush 2 used Reagan's at first, then got his own, and has used a plain cream one at times, probably when his was getting cleaned. Carter used Ford's, as did Reagan for his first term. Johnson, JFK, and Ike used Truman's.
ReplyDeleteIt would really be fun to tour the White House warehouse and see all of the treasures that have been packed away for future use. I'm surprised that GWBush didn't keep the Reagan rug; it is very much like his own.
ReplyDeleteFor me the Reagan rug looks a little faded. I prefer the new one. I understand the Laura smokes but doens't in the oval, but maybe back in Ronnie's day he let people smoke. Maybe W didn't like the smell no matter how much they tried to wash it out.
ReplyDeleteFor overall look (except for the desk) my favourite Oval Office is still the late Mark Hampton's design for George H.W. Bush. Is there a better desk than the Resolute??
ReplyDeleteI agree. I like the George H.W. Bush office very much, except for the desk. I would hope that our next President would keep the Resolute Desk and maintain that tradition. It seems a shame to pack it away during another term, especially because the Grant Treaty Table is such a perfect and historic desk for the study in the residence.
ReplyDeleteI actually liked the Nixon Oval Office and Clintons. I visited the Clinton Oval Office in 1999.
ReplyDeleteThe bolder more presidential colors stand out. The soft muted tones actually do not do the room justice.
The original oval was actually dark green.
I loved FDRs very patriotic curtains too.
I was not a fan of the soft peach Ford and Carter room and hate that macho western Reagan theme.
I am a big fan of the treaty room being a real study vs. just being a room to look at.
I really dislike the Nixon Oval Office. The blue and gold (yellow?)make the room cold and strange. And, I agree that the Treaty Room should be a real study.
ReplyDeleteI too dislike the Nixon Oval Office decor. My favorite is the Ford, Carter, Reagan (before he changed the rug). I just like the pumpkin-orange/gold color scheme used.
ReplyDeleteBecause of a law passed by President Kennedy (at the request of Mrs. Kennedy) White House furnishings can't leave the White House. They are put into storage until someone comes along and wants to use them later. I read once that the WH was building a facility to use as storage as well as for scholors to come in and study the furnshings in storage.
As for the furnishings in the Presidential Library Oval Offices, they are all reproductions. Most of the Oval Office replicas are smaller than the real one anyway. I know the Carter Library has a smaller rug than the real one and the Resolute Desk is a reproduction (as well as the one President Carter uses in his private office at the Carter Center).
I just returned from a week in DC--it was great--the only thing, I didn't get to go to the White House :( I did make it to the White House Visitor's center. I had hoped to see the Peter Wadell paintings--anyone have any idea when they will be on display? I was also thinking wouldn't those make a wonderful WH calendar or something like that? I sure hope the WHHA will do that.
Mimlog said:
ReplyDelete"I read once that the WH was building a facility to use as storage as well as for scholors to come in and study the furnshings in storage."
That would be so cool! As Dennis said, it really would be fun to explore the White House storage warehouses. I suspect that they're better organized that my mini-storage room...
My favorite Oval Office? Probably the red-carpeted Jackie/Boudin Kennedy office - the one that was installed while they were away in Texas - which JFK never got to see. I just thought it was stately and impressive, without being "too much".
I agree with Dennis that the blue-and-gold Nixon office was too imperial and off-putting (is that a phrase?).