A grand instrument

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuhUR2EMt1va2g1BvuWhsSmg2TXSLfBcXRZahDk2KcJh8ZOS9MF_2lXfxs4gHw25ojtNBLLCWtB20oU-yGa5InKs0c-1rrFDz635U-begD5q3OI8lHLUvylAnSmgTb1IxAj3KFJTUMqY/s1600/aesthetic+movement.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559698474211102322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuhUR2EMt1va2g1BvuWhsSmg2TXSLfBcXRZahDk2KcJh8ZOS9MF_2lXfxs4gHw25ojtNBLLCWtB20oU-yGa5InKs0c-1rrFDz635U-begD5q3OI8lHLUvylAnSmgTb1IxAj3KFJTUMqY/s400/aesthetic+movement.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> In 1903, Roosevelt had a very grand piano commissioned from Steinway & Sons for the <a href="http://architectdesign.blogspot.com/2010/12/white-house-east-room.html">East Room</a>. Steinway commissioned noted Aesthetic artist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Dewing">Thomas Dewing</a> to paint the inside of the gilded case in a patriotic theme which he entitled <em>America receiving the 9 muses</em>.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCIiNiGlS7qAd-_y2tLxZOFDzReq5pv91t9P_spB1L4cvskzMdKaZewwoNQoj_FVtF-ezOjvJB7o_koeCsB9tKkNpu4RHLiMdlbMw_S69jaAu0LJxCDTirZxk7VjnJQIrC3ATCRt8S9Y/s1600/steinway+piano.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559698470939632210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCIiNiGlS7qAd-_y2tLxZOFDzReq5pv91t9P_spB1L4cvskzMdKaZewwoNQoj_FVtF-ezOjvJB7o_koeCsB9tKkNpu4RHLiMdlbMw_S69jaAu0LJxCDTirZxk7VjnJQIrC3ATCRt8S9Y/s400/steinway+piano.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> In the painted scene, women in colonial revival gowns representing art, music, poetry and learning pay homage to America, the new steward of western culture, as represented by the seated woman. The piano now resides at the <a href="http://www.npg.si.edu/">National Portrait Gallery</a>, but I think it should be brought back to the White House, don't you?</div>

A grand instrument

In 1903, Roosevelt had a very grand piano commissioned from Steinway & Sons for the East Room . Steinway commissioned noted Aesthetic a...

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White House: East Wing

<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557807741868784642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0P2rNZ5LONbkmfO8AsEWdcYkSigZZpgaDSaYZdZ5zx0ojrEmcCRDTbgYHwe-gNFqpAbPJEEabef6nE5959_PySmcUgNldnGpQyekGXWtLZyIwoL7CJdhYvk23729Tfa-3WYhSEhcTWfk/s400/side+entrance.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 303px; CURSOR: hand" />As I mentioned in a previous post on the White House, unless you are on official State business, you will enter through the East Wing, seen above. This allows for the extensive security to be hidden around the side and rear of the building.<br /><div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557807736282884866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FwXNgTWK45xVPL_9ZcAl-1go4CTdS7gyOZFrSolZ4pqi8Seacy5mTUNLZwr84sfA6T6rE7S98FLoiTBfXZMsNjIyNH8l4DOb1K7rMUFu4sh_NhKnuME4sGK8oSQrbpa8xTMoMpRIvVA/s400/topiary.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 297px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /> The entire house was decorated for the holiday. I loved the red berries and ribbons in these iron urns decorating the porte cochere. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557807523729020786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9oxhRM0LNUmipP6aB9lSwOoYhkxtSAKSshyVfXvV1a9ZjwI16qgVGyalfJIcGIJj3p6PzvLEXPd4IQMd58ZkT2CZNvp-6U8C2d1vXhPwE-0XRQKXloP4czW2-7_zj-j1OOQhSxZ465MA/s400/woodwork.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 304px; CURSOR: hand" /> <div><div>Inside the vestibule is access to the first ladies' offices. The wood paneling is beautiful and a handful of presidential portraits decorate the space.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557807521377725026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw89uVXVakikIkFVZ2UDLKDPXPF88lSRBd2jCpDUApDRcCoXeQWtBz9-px3UFTADcwoFzl7G4PaZbkSRcQS7s42xx4pnz-eMwK5oBOSRbDeEEHHW9veVrH4QasLo23thoROOs3mE7qACY/s400/overdoor+closeup.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />In the holiday decorations, I especially liked the use of these magnolia garlands.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557806980644170754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkovGYl3gMFTm-7URBvZ7U4DEPYmk755nHU_KDYP6GpIxoaPaRwVHsFVm_HMrDbpjxiq4J9fUHHQsBXZd1RJWg0xShtMJNqd9mCwzMupHWGpl9P-KXaCdmomtgE-51hYDXW1FBA9aFA4/s400/colonnade.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />From this hallway, you enter into the east colonnade which was originally open when constructed in the 1902 renovation. It was enclosed in 1942 when the east wing was expanded.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557807528227049474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMUewhT4knsrH8layFjf93rS83YcI4x8Wl554929fMongW_1r7_dixcZc0pCXZjV7N4e4K5wlDnPGqg3Ni-ysGjfS63Hp2CGDWS-kHEW-WORfXui-rhoGt1Pgn00BtzuFGZpayUIKPzI/s400/transom.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" />These transoms let light into the spaces adjacent to the colonnade which includes the family theater.<br /><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557806992632829810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pLvZm45bahHECF_YUmLtR4z7SavBRbs8udJzr8UvXpGXS7xUm25uV424VQvgZIx2Tv7trMj895kqmi3oob7SmvtXeuCSbVK0fW-hpQdGjHLify1hyphenhypheni6N4AK8O0hWr5DxJk3QXY3L-x8/s400/dried+wreath.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /> <div>The length of the colonnade was decorated with these enormous beautiful wreaths, each made of a different fruit.<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557806476616212946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEyM1k30YMUR2q-MsuVW6P5g66fOz8hoiDsC3qOg2qZHXRVGWsGkgwI16JJHZBUlpHfuXkafq8LOr8JhNRjNuuAr3Lsj7WLj4UQtTucZgLz5CH2WUhwKJpTO_e5n_Q3emeWM3f6Qbiug/s400/archway.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 328px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /> <div>The east colonnade leads you though this archway into the Visitors Vestibule, decorated for Christmas with more uplit glittered branches. Centered on the archway is an enormous bronze bust of President Lincoln. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557810891630689954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWEnyNPRauEsNyHJd-lMZiATSXk1PCFMRvjraJvpt0VBu-5MIXeEhBr-4i2iZHtyetKK_0Xh-Po5HadmyeVSVw5TNGLdmuu2WBT0pABlREh20xDgIZMjrv-j-CNz1CGqTsTIS8lAuc_w/s400/christmas+tree.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />I liked the playfully decorated trees in this area the best.<br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7h9nPWPKk6Ej7faxrblLGdSMq1ySciUZm7kFEUGGcc2ysvBAVfe6uz0JfqrK2Lo_KBEkm3dI2vRcAMtIAiHIdetgvI8XTwW2AEE899DwkNoNlvWaY9gB3qC2dED4t9xFaXgKxwD9jX5A/s1600/hallway.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557806470615807282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7h9nPWPKk6Ej7faxrblLGdSMq1ySciUZm7kFEUGGcc2ysvBAVfe6uz0JfqrK2Lo_KBEkm3dI2vRcAMtIAiHIdetgvI8XTwW2AEE899DwkNoNlvWaY9gB3qC2dED4t9xFaXgKxwD9jX5A/s400/hallway.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>These spaces lead you to the ground floor Main Hall in the original block of the White House, off of which are the <a href="http://architectdesign.blogspot.com/2010/12/white-house-vermeil-room-library.html">Library, Vermeil Room</a> and <a href="http://architectdesign.blogspot.com/2010/12/white-house-china-room.html">China Room</a> which I discussed last week.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hgOaT5JZe2JLhUe-r7Z-qjioxxSczdqjpcdcXwLPCt9RCRjspGnSellAzfn7kP_8N9IcB6NRkVtdGzrAuSBA6ZsKmi23Dhb4PqIWTiCCPSfIygrZPWDWinXC1B65o6wnRiNP3kC0vtQ/s1600/chandelier.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557806470605781954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hgOaT5JZe2JLhUe-r7Z-qjioxxSczdqjpcdcXwLPCt9RCRjspGnSellAzfn7kP_8N9IcB6NRkVtdGzrAuSBA6ZsKmi23Dhb4PqIWTiCCPSfIygrZPWDWinXC1B65o6wnRiNP3kC0vtQ/s400/chandelier.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>I hope these photographs I've shared over the past weeks have helped you become familiar with the White House. If visiting Washington, I highly recommend trying to get a tour to see this lovely house, rich with so much history!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

White House: East Wing

As I mentioned in a previous post on the White House, unless you are on official State business, you will enter through the East Wing, seen ...

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White House: China Room

<div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisABViGjGsiIGoqwYBn0mzeW_N5t1I25ibx4T4gJuVGfgXXjVXWJBK4yfQ7nvXER91w1excUK-Z2zlU-9nkCkUYSsXzRIeUuhhhhAGAIXh1ecxgk5xK_0-hh-a_X3OJziMiOnP5VhxiC0/s1600/dining+room+2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555757315087999298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisABViGjGsiIGoqwYBn0mzeW_N5t1I25ibx4T4gJuVGfgXXjVXWJBK4yfQ7nvXER91w1excUK-Z2zlU-9nkCkUYSsXzRIeUuhhhhAGAIXh1ecxgk5xK_0-hh-a_X3OJziMiOnP5VhxiC0/s400/dining+room+2.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> The China room on the ground floor is now also referred to as the Dining Room. Architects McKim, Meade & White had designated the room a cloak room in the 1902 renovation, but in 1917, Mrs. Woodrow Wilson requisitioned the room to display the growing collection of presidential china.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsGjkzMuvgZkO20cJulMz_Smsatpx1S6HbRvuck-TfU2JT28ZETAnuWG0lz22qZmb94fVrKuwvIc09fEuKhPhCvGMGfKG7tU1KgsQxX9k3QYV7dJIAsM8rNqfrTy8HuaIGxOsbV9ieII/s1600/dining+room+3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555757311561566466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsGjkzMuvgZkO20cJulMz_Smsatpx1S6HbRvuck-TfU2JT28ZETAnuWG0lz22qZmb94fVrKuwvIc09fEuKhPhCvGMGfKG7tU1KgsQxX9k3QYV7dJIAsM8rNqfrTy8HuaIGxOsbV9ieII/s400/dining+room+3.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 288px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> The room has a red color scheme based on the elegant 1924 portrait of Mrs. Calvin Coolidge, Grace. The shelves that display the china are red velvet, the curtains are red silk taffeta and the room is finished off with an early 20th-century Indo-Ispahan rug. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555759445493101442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCz7xV7OH7ITALEBwV3MihdtkEdwOXfMfgmVrDX_ftF3BWyFK2oCSnlo8mpksG-fzO6MaM-Ya3ZK9mf2IwjaheyUg2DMhkzdtKJ3jLGTMkk47oyfig1GqdS8BRemv_97dECia2NMyRXTQ/s400/Grace+Coolidge.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 180px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />The room has more of the salvaged wood paneling, which was again, painted under the Boudin redecoration. I love the regency style chandelier!<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4x9tW3VFxfLdb6kn43l3j_j9KMbmIyZKmHe0j9Sik5Hbgcfvyah8vfi476dHPN7ZENgg74wy3M21MiN4vucuzwnbgshZG7LJDt0ct6bYDcEvfNZARQdfvJaYyFALDRYZM_spANUC7osc/s1600/dining+room.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555757304985416034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4x9tW3VFxfLdb6kn43l3j_j9KMbmIyZKmHe0j9Sik5Hbgcfvyah8vfi476dHPN7ZENgg74wy3M21MiN4vucuzwnbgshZG7LJDt0ct6bYDcEvfNZARQdfvJaYyFALDRYZM_spANUC7osc/s400/dining+room.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 298px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Before paneling, the room had smaller built-in cupboards which you can see below in 1948. I guess thats fitting as there was less china at the time! The cupboards were created more shallow however, after the paneling, and a few of the larger items could not be included. I call that a major oops!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrDslsVPQrDuCO5JyJBl8HEPdyT9l3zEIEIyEZNBaVtlF-fnH6AVps681O9MjyZOLtHPqVFGfS2JyrK5CnKWbKRUfaRPXVuH7FY1Q3CKpGRrSdT1oNguerZcLRSz-y4_umeg9XVsrKUw/s1600/china-room-1948.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555757303398795714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrDslsVPQrDuCO5JyJBl8HEPdyT9l3zEIEIyEZNBaVtlF-fnH6AVps681O9MjyZOLtHPqVFGfS2JyrK5CnKWbKRUfaRPXVuH7FY1Q3CKpGRrSdT1oNguerZcLRSz-y4_umeg9XVsrKUw/s400/china-room-1948.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 296px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> This image below shows the Boudin Kennedy-era redecoration. The paneling was glazed grey with white details.<br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaa-ZcrlsI8ai4ws3Hep0lKFiM67psjYqdRtQp5bI0A73C_gwig3-tfIlCGjZvcKzg_c9Agnv19bvJifK2mEqMEK7aXKr0AkMX-tK39GyYp5_qKY8Ri1wPRAesPA58sFLfui3zx1c5wA/s1600/china-room-c1962.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555756559693361554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaa-ZcrlsI8ai4ws3Hep0lKFiM67psjYqdRtQp5bI0A73C_gwig3-tfIlCGjZvcKzg_c9Agnv19bvJifK2mEqMEK7aXKr0AkMX-tK39GyYp5_qKY8Ri1wPRAesPA58sFLfui3zx1c5wA/s400/china-room-c1962.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 191px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> As the collection continues to grow, parts of it are housed in the corridor in pieces of furniture.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKLfivfu6tWBcAobGesT-YCiQDz8oUHjdE-agVYYHoxVYVzPbglX7oB80mE5bL3m6BsA3SsBEVN5yFJ5E3Tc9t1sYGdBVnfkPTKsMz3_2VKPaOsrYZ7L7p5kctlkIj77rOJEnLxWJfRg/s1600/china+cupboard.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555756554586299474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKLfivfu6tWBcAobGesT-YCiQDz8oUHjdE-agVYYHoxVYVzPbglX7oB80mE5bL3m6BsA3SsBEVN5yFJ5E3Tc9t1sYGdBVnfkPTKsMz3_2VKPaOsrYZ7L7p5kctlkIj77rOJEnLxWJfRg/s400/china+cupboard.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> I loved the china of President Harrison, with the edge band of navy blue with raised gilt stalks of corn!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUucdvSPBHP4tb17B8hPbkGau3oEh0snuwqlqcvjxeZZhhg4WIeUuj5cV98Q-GimCUbgHoOCgxMVrnJT91OU2Vf-uZvrkFIcrKSWy7KfNdeD3xH3mSbde_3SyJG8kkLiMYSfmAiuKiPWM/s1600/President+Harrison+china.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555756550237606082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUucdvSPBHP4tb17B8hPbkGau3oEh0snuwqlqcvjxeZZhhg4WIeUuj5cV98Q-GimCUbgHoOCgxMVrnJT91OU2Vf-uZvrkFIcrKSWy7KfNdeD3xH3mSbde_3SyJG8kkLiMYSfmAiuKiPWM/s400/President+Harrison+china.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 293px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>Included in the same case was President's Harrison elegant cut crystal.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHsq0FLKR8cQIBHzJFCQtsCGqEEpgA7pwqcheJJZ9kFOUpmeULDgJDXA8lJ0EvWTJ4bCRiI5Qo0ihG5u7mrqMmlPCTeo7vu3dP91wdloyVW3SybEXhRu7LXiVJ2JmrafYbKZSi5vbL28/s1600/President+Harrison+crystal.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555756546581723714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHsq0FLKR8cQIBHzJFCQtsCGqEEpgA7pwqcheJJZ9kFOUpmeULDgJDXA8lJ0EvWTJ4bCRiI5Qo0ihG5u7mrqMmlPCTeo7vu3dP91wdloyVW3SybEXhRu7LXiVJ2JmrafYbKZSi5vbL28/s400/President+Harrison+crystal.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 249px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

White House: China Room

The China room on the ground floor is now also referred to as the Dining Room. Architects McKim, Meade & White had designated the room ...

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White House: Vermeil room & library

<div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyffKq44IBA_raUdvt9gmA4fBtpRFn0Ah40lDMAO2RLr0vhgsHwD9DRbQLjScJ0LxQHNusXu53-x8A_O-3_-h8Ekp5d4NZcVCSQ3bWgDrxi-KH9ZP82c4yJSPDLdSilzjuVVOuwm1UPXA/s1600/library.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555744246318684322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyffKq44IBA_raUdvt9gmA4fBtpRFn0Ah40lDMAO2RLr0vhgsHwD9DRbQLjScJ0LxQHNusXu53-x8A_O-3_-h8Ekp5d4NZcVCSQ3bWgDrxi-KH9ZP82c4yJSPDLdSilzjuVVOuwm1UPXA/s400/library.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> When visiting the White House, unless you are on official state business, you will enter from the ground floor (yes, I've shown these posts in reverse order of my visit!). Located on this floor are a number of functioning spaces so much of it is closed to the public. However, one can catch glimpses of the Library, seen above. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555744239348444146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hkyAM-PcAejCwVBbzWWV7pmTai6NPLiFcuuqab7896sfjxxY_fMELtjIFRI7nWv-m8UHt5ugXwDOsUMDiY3C9nNKdV5TdqHNuIT3LeObqmCNU8GIeQCNKS1x_EekEE1UxSwqgmncy0s/s400/floor+plan.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 276px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> <div>Before the 1902 renovation of the white house, this was the official laundry room of the building until becoming the servant's locker room. In 1935 it was turned into a library. The space is used for small meetings as well as press conferences and houses over 2700 books on American life which are added to by each president. The current furnishings are from New York, circa 1810. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555750781651003570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5frpmZb6x04XyazXC6Lt0dtg0W2Ylb3ct-yqewHgW0Iqai9fQ9aQODxxIuH2Tm7T8gYvwIQfOKBjiZTM4HMiPAx_cZL2H3GIieiklh-HuMW41CjbkP1BB9iaJcHHzxhEQqa6we9khEdw/s400/library-1952-sw.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 271px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />The walls are painted paneling from timbers which, before the Truman renovation of the White House, were the structure of the building (replaced by steel). This paneling is seen in a number of rooms on the ground floor.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555750785262892066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKc4mxO2TSi_JXIanwS5ygmlExBP3iZj0KZdR_j5kDDgMFya1MMMQFFpP9FtJs-Rgl0z6A8a_t0IrLmhIaU9dMg8-4r2UBuNJyL-H7X20LIwSQB6Dc4KC3B6lqvdrkYd2EdFsgAVprp-I/s400/library-1963.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 285px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />The paneling remained unpainted until the Boudin redecoration of the White House, seen above in 1963. I love that blue painted ceiling!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqINZTZyIvv6-MDVl2ZRYJFk-y-rQDWTi07WmGrLgZ2FCnZhFqaAqWUAZRKWRfJhjVy1yC47_BHLccRlG4HwTG-4hy4n7xL3yAliQc2zmAYVKSiOFgdJvosmo-7Fdr6uybHMB6Z_yuQFI/s1600/vermeil+room+2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555744239443788866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqINZTZyIvv6-MDVl2ZRYJFk-y-rQDWTi07WmGrLgZ2FCnZhFqaAqWUAZRKWRfJhjVy1yC47_BHLccRlG4HwTG-4hy4n7xL3yAliQc2zmAYVKSiOFgdJvosmo-7Fdr6uybHMB6Z_yuQFI/s400/vermeil+room+2.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 336px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> The walls of the Vermeil Room above (so called after the collection of Vermeil displayed here, donated by Margaret Thompson Biddle in 1956) are currently the same green painted paneling as in the library but here house portraits of First Ladies. The room functions as a ladies sitting room and is where the First Lady often receives her official guests. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555747519392606594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKNFoxtSRXeRq0P432MmDtXQizdrDfVsuGtAk5HqhuivbI6L-D036D6DknFzDVFgxpbqpAi6Mtqs8iaiO-DWqM9m3u2JEFnJG1LpoAUz1xmo9aKva4pLUdRERzdmot3UJuAZCp9oMZuo/s400/vermeil-room-1960-nw.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 373px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />After the 1902 renovation, architect McKim created this room as a ladies lounge as it was adjacent to the ladies restroom and it has retained that purpose. Above you can see the unpainted paneling in 1960.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555746239547741218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZj-geIM8drA8dc7nPUhqDBYxs2EkBd6-ZIiBZhIsEN39Q87TyVMedmrNfbN0yi2rEh9sXtguIiPZxF6z6tiYaPCm5YFBwSWv_KwfYj8fNOTKth9qT8bh7WG3_I3MCDhzKqDA-3OxzJiI/s400/vermeil-room-c1962.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 276px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />The walls were painted blue by Boudin's redecoration with a grained finish. Originally, these ground floor rooms were staff quarters and the vermeil room was, fittingly, the silver polishing room!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiov0Nc8NQJ1hkXIXx1FjzFDQHytwSe2rpfEdVu3AtkqEuzRvIvbRC8r23fBQEfXImEzHH5E7ZCYFcNiEI96BtkGJIje5zErMPPJhNmdZ-GnYLwZRJbhImJtvFJgm0hH1NDp80rJ11xuS4/s1600/vermeil+room.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555744235939432834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiov0Nc8NQJ1hkXIXx1FjzFDQHytwSe2rpfEdVu3AtkqEuzRvIvbRC8r23fBQEfXImEzHH5E7ZCYFcNiEI96BtkGJIje5zErMPPJhNmdZ-GnYLwZRJbhImJtvFJgm0hH1NDp80rJ11xuS4/s400/vermeil+room.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 284px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> The carpet in the room is beautiful, an 1860 Turkish Hereke. Only a few rooms left to go -join me tomorrow to see the ground floor dining room!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

White House: Vermeil room & library

When visiting the White House, unless you are on official state business, you will enter from the ground floor (yes, I've shown these p...

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Merry Christmas!

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgCH4FxitBQT5eue49UmDOEvXn8EvxcwQgEOuzOZqGzaA-skfE3KcIn3mHyjUu_Pp4vITfshmrfoVrYZWT2OLKoNjDhfi7KTUT0Dynbq4ZHyanRefJDmjbyONFZivslSlcFvpiioOZIg/s1600/Christmas+foyer.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553940593795438034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgCH4FxitBQT5eue49UmDOEvXn8EvxcwQgEOuzOZqGzaA-skfE3KcIn3mHyjUu_Pp4vITfshmrfoVrYZWT2OLKoNjDhfi7KTUT0Dynbq4ZHyanRefJDmjbyONFZivslSlcFvpiioOZIg/s400/Christmas+foyer.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> To those of you who celebrate, Merry Christmas! I hope you are all enjoying my White House tour, I know I am. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553940588628591266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSt51I70RJOwN81OJ8BORF7cbC-vy6fext6lD1jArQz-QAfhVPRxwn9OJ4cvbiOp3NhYOuOAS35Lxkm_-dCdNILhg-juxpsd05lhr9tfAwp8hIHmLBnuwbR1Y-jdjWCKv7RfgFM7rjXrw/s400/White+House+wreath.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />Thank you so much for your informative comments. I have to admit I sadly know very little about this important building's history and am enjoying the lesson!

Merry Christmas!

To those of you who celebrate, Merry Christmas! I hope you are all enjoying my White House tour, I know I am. Thank you so much for your in...

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White House; State Dining Room

<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553930063520090994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtljbTwvoi7bOvmMROr1SOw2YVC0YTZA7lfMxWKWPh1rXoic2mx2FUhiDiFAbKC7-zsyaWShMMzurz1k4BiKSsTHcJvk4WzDASkn90owbhJhhJQseMp319Z1hE0P4GY_Pv6HdeNckKOSw/s400/Picture+090.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />The State Dining Room owes its existence to the work done by McKim, Meade and White in 1902. Prior to this time, the room was half the size. When the main staircase was moved to its present location, the dining room was able to be doubled in size and now can seat up to a presidential 140 guests.<br /><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553932630999152194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_SBacPfJWAPMN2eGw17-27ZyrZaOT9ehA3vARkzczXZ8Fz6XgX7UC2F2MQefcPDwoyJvELrcHlhma5OHXX9LivopbE1o7q3RgfywxblSWQo60L8V18JpS1In81WVvZoAMbiuxwET9B8/s400/white-house+first-floor-plan.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 277px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />Oddly enough, this room from the 1902 renovation is the most original to the house since the woodwork survived the 1950 gut remodel mostly intact.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553930056827614866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4kUCUL8MONjj5QMxI0TTvatFV2tRRsJUAtjDGZwcp6khRkiQeFlY7E2niJraLzL_MSBAcNPt8fbomFkln325hn-ed6VvI99uoeEy_hp5Phl5LwR0YmEl4ZoY_2Kr3xJOMxWa9jrMN7I/s400/Picture+089.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />However, it did need to be patched and so the woodwork was painted a mint green. Below you can see the room with its original unpainted wood finish from 1904. <br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553930922828992210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94YX2FFBMpQVkAbejcfrEROunQHERtGPNOyMfTWYcvaTbJC2-JQtv6ado6FZ6Nw0CXyDrpyTzWDom89iawH80MK25bgAnsjnCqg3qkgre5pYTZNORMUmFCeIirxFNGRiWwccaXI_6ld4/s400/state+dining+room+1904.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 316px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />As with the East Room, Boudin created a more elegant room by painting the walls in ivory. He also had the original silver plated chandelier and sconces gilded. The sconces were moved from their original location, mounted on the pilasters, to the walls in between; a much more appropriate location (what was McKim thinking?).<br /><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553930922636386850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmu5DRxcZ39PZjeWqei3miE-vAGGsUon-0F90ambB2chKCvklTOVwhtCeeQ_pfZBI7twxVElqBcgpWwy-52vqCqhjx2xTpBfSwneYiWjoqSd_Iqd5uk7Z3qL5Dce1EXnfWOopDEw4oeIk/s400/state+dining+room+corner+2.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />The current draperies date from the Clinton administration, as chosen by their designer Kaki Hockersmith. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553934527402762994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDN05uPTxBF_ZI9TZLgBR11AeB6nX22DIbnze6mTqrycj5YGluz_On1nDp-P-lcT4AH0-vOFUYZjiA72pRBKRoLT4ecaGdXv1l2zVQXnkjiL9VXJngcUVtcjyQuwxUKG8FJEdWXEcin6E/s400/state+dining+room+window.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 296px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />The fabric is colonial revival and the walls were painted a warmer stone color, while the ceiling was painted a complex white to more closely match the McKim unpainted plaster finish.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553932428103665602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmDb5Dyz4qh3TsMM3XaDKMlYUfT2RlpFvHW_Jo9L-1Iwryh_VclQKxH7pXTJA0RLP28UrgKhaGZI3f8zfTDtCt-K1jaBXDXX4afD1Hma-Lg4hYrCnxjF-z4lKLo-fihOUEh8PEH_gAgY/s400/state+dining+room+curtains.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />One poor decision I think was that the gilded chandeliers were given a shiny finish, which to me makes them appear like brass. I think I would prefer the original silverplate, don't you?<br /><div><div><div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553932423264847458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHNAXUnUw-6AOFtplSVexpV4iKk5WBqxZJLz1OKmzGlqO-_9BATRGLoJm428CwzbLMgPAOAZUxSjtuyCNs3MhklAQ9z_SdR90FPzg7SBOrw5w7pKqj1olodTJOm88Oe1iU-_DvVQDv9A/s400/state+dining+room+cornice.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />Here is a detail shot of the fine wood paneling by McKim.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMiaBepGqSkUgQN-2JZdQTSF4bZ8Q7Pg5w2dcytMezrsuyGyjVqXMmflZtnIbtwd7hmjG998EULrmCCDF8TuVUnuvu_I9M-eKjpMbuiDL17PWiGBzPQXeNQiEze3TeaCQX4jY7zkQY8c/s1600/state+dining+room+buffet.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553930915757650626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMiaBepGqSkUgQN-2JZdQTSF4bZ8Q7Pg5w2dcytMezrsuyGyjVqXMmflZtnIbtwd7hmjG998EULrmCCDF8TuVUnuvu_I9M-eKjpMbuiDL17PWiGBzPQXeNQiEze3TeaCQX4jY7zkQY8c/s400/state+dining+room+buffet.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>The console tables with eagle bases had been painted and gilded during Boudin's renovation of the room (ivory, to blend in with the walls), but the Clinton's had them returned to their original mahogany finish.<br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoWLj0T8O7rj_oy0daYuBVvWGz5a697fA6XgJ3dSNA20G0EiOtIGPvdFThgmMdfj2CPiIcG3-yiJd3jQrAMXBUi6-yIIhyphenhyphenlpypSNwEE4emLW6revGDwxnj6fjQBW6IzVA7dlQUbsxH3w/s1600/lincoln+portrait.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553930049893335682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoWLj0T8O7rj_oy0daYuBVvWGz5a697fA6XgJ3dSNA20G0EiOtIGPvdFThgmMdfj2CPiIcG3-yiJd3jQrAMXBUi6-yIIhyphenhyphenlpypSNwEE4emLW6revGDwxnj6fjQBW6IzVA7dlQUbsxH3w/s400/lincoln+portrait.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>Above the fireplace is the Lincoln portrait by George Healy which Boudin had restored and it has remained since. Join me next week as I continue the tour!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

White House; State Dining Room

The State Dining Room owes its existence to the work done by McKim, Meade and White in 1902. Prior to this time, the room was half the size...

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White House: East Room

<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553902585918080354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlD04eKRUInY0lwi3GxDlmuTLyn-umf7nYIMd21pH1wvndtQQ1hvVx-w-Bzd6eQ_J60GBwqvhhGJAAPCrBckrGbfzZJH3aCYMRlq4R0JpqSv9DNWZ38c0JxpMmq58yjT6XA570ErO6TiI/s400/2nd+empire+candelabra.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />Probably the most famous room in the White House (at least in my understanding) is the East Room, home to some of the most memorable events in the building's history. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553907685049162082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zFKRJ5Ccp4TVaTR19YSOIyJfwNvTMaXotFvJJ6XnRGPU87KP6j2xr4nW3QltKCGWbD9EOdGm70YyQpw7hIaAVn9YF_3KCu5AGtJcQD63DhhulglaFRERvL-ncaZBMb1i3WSqUjBxcns/s400/white-house+first-floor-plan.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 277px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />The largest room in the house, it was originally refered to as the <em>Public Audience Hall</em> but the name was thought to sound too reminicent of a throne room and so has since been referred to as the more democratic sounding <em>East Room</em>. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553902578986526274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Czc8IxhL29EUwKQPwX1mv1WxbAKpxEwfceJqzz2aLNp7AGnlijjiXzX76X1VYoXDBx9dB1dsRkCj6vGUjX0ok6aAeQv6EGfinz5deXch7I7ZreJU4AcnyZNxT9cenV9J81-rK7s1e5k/s400/east+room.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 301px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />The room has changed notably from the 19th century. During Grants administration, the room was highly ridiculed as being 'steamboat Gothic', as seen below in 1873. Thanks heavens curators haven't decided to go back to this version of the room!<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553917028691194770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53PnJXKXKcMWoyDf9lsMe8OHs7S8vdsDij0X-G5EMGP2FM4fdaFFOHJzAEHDhtMVmG_rnLWHYoO0SIRly51KS1hKjclcWF24firy8iHk9C-08Ih3vTVOzobB51zwIywnf4XTNx9d_YT8/s400/east+room+1873+-+Grant.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 359px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />The room's transformation was done most notably by the architectural firm McKim, Meade and White, seen here below in 1904. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553908644733672210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRt-5Sb-c6uXA8PAOBOz_mevHSeg7TR3ZKM7q06xyQGS0q6dWRoGKZnjrRs7t-e4AkSH4ACPaI8WnVwHQXX3flRYHleB_aohrlT2S-EKOrj0r9IA-WvlIBCgKpX8c9G9CmC3X_3jdAvk/s400/mckim+meade+white.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 321px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />McKim based the Louis XVI design on the famous <em>Salon de famille</em> at the Chateau de Compiegne, seen below. The details were perhaps slightly less refined due to the limited headroom, but notice the same heirarchy of pilasters and paneled chair rail: a notable inspiration.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553910806195750914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMP2ED5V0ZYDyihd7sOX5wVpgK82lDhhMzUyyfU2E3dWVDJ-Fxz-gEymEGJZlCquFAN9NBsmGRNlUdMOWSRX25Nxd_zR95NIeu_ve8Gmp-V18rrzsq0ptyQFecTcOLd6U7PAES68g-a6Y/s400/salon+de+famille.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />Later, from 1949-1952, when the room was dismanteled during the remodeling of the white house, the original paneling was damaged and had to be recreated. The picture below shows a detail of the paneling today (ignore the switchplate cover which I thought was a bit hilarious -thats the best they can do?!). <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553900229376788098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX11wGM0B0TMCG9t_oUTdx3mzlHelkbv04H2HOkKDh5PSBW_RuUxO-oOw86rfdC6oRYtyMueCJomShppecV3s7QdWkL9o6RVjvO93ROpkt2ltNv_Hjjz6-dibwH6HI-zu3oBPpF0P2D9I/s400/east+room+detail.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />The paneling was done in a simpler fashion but is perhaps more elegant to my eye. Certainly, at the least the ceiling is preferable if not the paneling. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553905920827826962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrCmDGIGgqofsW_2asmZ7wQ10gItlHUYv9COvekqb73zYlxtiRtf6S1AdvvtuwgMH38WFWkSeBF2uVrxkICbDatRSX5jlXNKnwipjzZHKAeM4bcrVpcNBqF5QU8JnAgNx0RWkH-jCkVI/s400/Boudin+version.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 322px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />During the Kennedy administration, Jacqueline Kennedy made her famous bid to save the quality and history of the White House. She hired notable interior designer Stephane Boudin who oversaw a lot of the elegant transformation of the interiors including painting the red marble fireplaces a clean white, seen above (which I wish would be brought back into the room; the Clinton's had the white paint removed). <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553900236911467794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUK1KV0cTbtFHW6UiuO15vrRWn2DiFgtWv9DVuQF8RgSboNzqvjSOtIEOUg3Mfl5nVmRdbGZ2K4-Bz8H8_ZTUEdBCxYarfvCMDrpiHBixbTHAYvW4tnV7r78B-_57Sy7Yg4OrO0BFd_Mo/s400/east+room+curtains.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />The curtains are of similar fabric to what Boudin chose although with a more complicated valance, done by Mrs. Bush. The gilded valances are original to the McKim renovation of the room.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553902158779219122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwJ6zwPWS6tre6tW5HmkKoIQkLRnKaFhD18-KazC6y1V-WtybvlEmtYPxph5sbc3WJ8RwDawkRbHvUj3xmeTLwrCyDRUr2jr7DCXKAIqn-G0uhwRcRMnIanuWN1CmHdydFT2Wm4Jubmo/s400/east+room+2.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 393px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />The Aubusson styled carpets were installed by the Clintons to help preserve the wood floors.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553902153162345874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QphnaHkGCNg82N8WoieVP3lMOV6A-lGWsyW6-aCJcNOWONeH0X1kLBX4RvjvQqLtqhvdeBILKWm2zS4z-IUpnKmbZilT0ATSQB1B80nxp0-TiFuEaEvWzXUROJZVan2zL1ap09rywc8/s400/east+room+corner.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />During the holidays, the central window curtains are opened to display a Creche. In most images I've ever seen, these curtains have been closed for whatever reason -is it the view?<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553901299086581682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBda7lkmWeO6-uZkwamdZZUcuarjJpyH2JHBGfLg4Q53axo28xIm2lh6Gt9kUZq6BJlIY_Pb_o3qiLCjSpgJSczVp4uCOxufOGGhmzc2qGoymm6JLMhvKOc91SkBR0LhydJRmFNz_F-k/s400/east+room+niche.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 282px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />In this image from 1920 below, you can see a different window configuration from the McKim renovation which I prefer. I suppose during the Truman administration, when the room was changed and simplified, only the central window made the cut?<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553917034730756914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKvMPv5b0fx4-qAFNkmkDIpBpKSrwqP1ufcN7AqvRG_8HQTjl0XQe4qQ48U_pusuQ5xhlwqAdHHTTxKF9hgvDNqTiDVN0enCotYLMqxM0LSz1wS8c8npGXSW-WbgtCSEo2jS4GFhGXj4/s400/east+room+1920.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 330px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />The beautiful mahogany doors and doorframes, seen below, are original to the room from 1815 when the room was first finished after the burning of the White House. Prior to that it was partitioned into spaces as needed, including Abigail Adams hanging her laundry here! <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553901329944842946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQg6t6Y2sa9Ryn2EjbJpT14MFWbpIqvK6ukNoFHDUJkMDn3MnRKV3oSwn8tq_ksSZAV8gJUdtmDnaLIKBFouzTEaIiZzD5kExwqtqCMx4hQPr385zZ9y8eUmhQH_SfxC0RqAcVqqho8g/s400/east+room+fireplace.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />The theme in this years decoration is the peacock, which I think is a lovely color combination with the gold.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgac0qpBoJmNGtNyCKFh5ryHs-8c_WsawEZoN-4bOyiEUeTIyP-ThJNlG1A-785_0Stsvcuz7EgBCPcpErbskMqQ49ELuoAcZW_mS7JeM4T6ghvlcPIMPFSNnSKjYtXa5IupfvDzZJut3A/s1600/east+room+peacock.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553901322723789058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgac0qpBoJmNGtNyCKFh5ryHs-8c_WsawEZoN-4bOyiEUeTIyP-ThJNlG1A-785_0Stsvcuz7EgBCPcpErbskMqQ49ELuoAcZW_mS7JeM4T6ghvlcPIMPFSNnSKjYtXa5IupfvDzZJut3A/s400/east+room+peacock.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Join me tomorrow to see the State Dining Room.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

White House: East Room

Probably the most famous room in the White House (at least in my understanding) is the East Room, home to some of the most memorable events ...

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