This si part of sponsored post, however all opinions are 100% my own.
This is as political a post I will most likely ever write. Have you ever thought about the history behind some of the decor within the Oval Office? It changes from president to president, although many times it stays the same. I always pay close attention to the rugs because they change the most. For example President Obama changed the rug to the beige color. To me it doesn’t look as antedated as that darker color one did (of course that is just a personal opinion.) Although Former President Reagan did have a lighter colored rug as well. His was a pale gold with a sunbeam design to it.
My favorite piece of decor is the Resolute desk that every president since Hayes with the exceptions of Former Presidents Johnson, Nixon, and Ford have used. Now some of them have used it in their private study in the Residence rather than in the Oval Office but love it. In fact the desk was made famous photograph of Former President John Kennedy at work while his son, John Jr., peeked out the front through the knee-hole panel. Each president leaves their mark on that particular room and I often wonder how much time and effort their decorator puts into planning things. Like do they think about the feng shui of it or is it more of this is what looks the most authoritative like or if they just have to put what they are told in there and have little say?
If it were me I would be using pieces that had the most history because I would want whomever the sitting president was to remember the greatness of the men who came before them. Although lets be honest, I’m sure the decorator wants to ensure that everything looks nice since that room is on camera whole lot. I wonder if they bring in a historian who tells them the history behind each piece or if it is something that the decorator would already have to know before they got the job. There is a lot to consider when you think about it. I mean you wouldn’t want to put some book from Benedict Arnold in there. That is so something I would do!
What are your thoughts on the Oval Office decor?
I live in a small Georgia town that you most likely have never heard of and I LOVE it! My house is more than full as I am a single mother of four & caregiver to my aging mother and uncle. Lover of all things Outlander. Goes to the beat of her own drum woman.
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I’ve never considered this about the Oval Office, really. But if I’m thinking about it, I’d love to see books. The more books, the more power!
I have never really thought about it much, actually at all to be honest. But now that you mention it, if I were to decorate the Oval Office I would want historical pieces combined with my own personal tastes to call it all my own. And who knows, in time, one of my pieces that remains behind may have that historical value to future Presidents.
I also have never given the decor any thought whatsoever. I think it should reflect both history and the personal touch of the President.
I really never gave it much thought but if I could decorate it, I would decorate it with significant pieces of history
I assumed it stayed the same from President to President. I didn’t realize they change things like the rugs. It will be interesting to see what changes happen after the next election.
This a very interesting post. I love the idea of decorating with things that hold significance rather than just good looks.
I do know that the Eagle in the center of the rug changes if we are at war. (I read this in a book about WWII.) I think it was what he holds in his talons that changes, but it was a long time ago that I read it, so I’ll have to go refresh my memory on that. Now I’m curious about what it was, lol.