[ created by designer Michael Smith ]
I think it's great. Can you imagine designing for the president? Sure, any designer could have thrown in tons of pattern and texture and it would have been more interesting visually... but you have to know how the space lives. Color and pattern wouldn't have been appropriate in this space. I think it's perfectly subdued and sophisticated. And no matter what political party you are, you have to admit the president is just plain cool. And the turquoise lamps reflect that. On a side note, I cannot imagine designing for the president. Talk about pressure!!!
And for some comparisons, here are pictures of the Oval Office of the past (all found here)
TAFT
TRUMAN
KENNEDY
KENNEDY (cool desk & the most modern curtains of the bunch)
JOHNSON (kept Kennedy's curtains)
FORD
REAGAN
BUSH Sr.
CLINTON
W. BUSH
CLINTON
W. BUSH
I agree!! I think it's a very well done update. Many people think it's boring and ho hum, but you have to remember where you are....The Oval Office. This is not the place to go all out. There has to be some restraint and it has to stay classic. Love the shots of past "Ovals". It really helps to put things in perspective.
ReplyDeleteI love the peacock blue lamps in Obama's new office. They are so 'Michelle." I wouldn't be able to think straight with those mustard drapes they used in the early years!
ReplyDeletehappy long weekend!
xoxo, cassie
I like it..would love a tour..wink wink
ReplyDeleteFun post! :)
ReplyDeleteI feel like I am always the odd one! :D...but I don't love it. I totally agree that tons of color and pattern wouldn't be appropriate for this space, but I am just not digging what was done. I like parts of it, but as a whole not so much. :/ Just being honest! :)
ReplyDeleteThe desk that *most* presidents use (the one with all the scrolly detail) is called The Resolute Desk, google it, it has an AMAZING history. It was a gift from Queen Victoria in the late 1800's. I don't think that the second picture that you marked as Kennedy was correct. One of the most famous oval office pictures is of JFK Jr. as a young boy peeking through the trap door at the base of the desk while his father was working/on the phone above him. Kennedy definately used The Resolute Desk. I think it is by far the best desk for the Oval office. I also think Obama's design is pretty bland, I like more traditional "historic" colors used in the White House overall.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely an improvement! I love those lamps!!
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely an improvement, but what is up with those couches? Not a great color, fabric, or silhouette in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI love that Kennedy and Johnson have rocking chairs. Looks like Johnson kept the couches from the Kennedy years too.
ReplyDeleteHonestly I don't like the change - the colors are really blah. I much preferred the old rug, I can't believe he swapped it out for that thing! The room now looks way too casual for its purpose in my opinion!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous idea for a post. I really enjoyed looking through each president's office. I didn't realize that they were given as much reign as they wanted with the design. The carpet change each time is truly surprising! I wonder who makes a carpet for the Oval Office with the crest on it? Stunning.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, but I don't really like it. It looks very urban and not very presidential or regal. The furnishings would be beautiful in the family quarters or in a Chicago home, but not in America's house. An enormous amount of official photos are taken in this office and it doesn't look appear to be the office of the Commander and Chief. I heard the Obama's were going to leave the Bush's rug due to the economy, but I guess the less expensive custom made seagrass type rug must have been a real deal.
ReplyDeleteI hate the update - The Obama version is blah, blah, blah.
ReplyDeleteI think it's bland. I understand it's the oval office, and living near d.c., it's the city of neutral. But really? Couldn't have another punch of blue? And the sofas bore me. They could have gone modern vintage with some tufting or better lines.
ReplyDeleteI like Kennedy's desk the best, JOHNSON had the best sofa's and I like that he (kept Kennedy's curtains)those are classic drapery panels!
ReplyDeleteI love the new colors and stripes on the wall.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool post! I love that you included older pictures. How interesting!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool post! I love that you included older pictures. How interesting!
ReplyDeleteI love the new colors and stripes on the wall.
ReplyDeleteI like Kennedy's desk the best, JOHNSON had the best sofa's and I like that he (kept Kennedy's curtains)those are classic drapery panels!
ReplyDeleteI think it's bland. I understand it's the oval office, and living near d.c., it's the city of neutral. But really? Couldn't have another punch of blue? And the sofas bore me. They could have gone modern vintage with some tufting or better lines.
ReplyDeleteHonestly I don't like the change - the colors are really blah. I much preferred the old rug, I can't believe he swapped it out for that thing! The room now looks way too casual for its purpose in my opinion!
ReplyDeleteFun post! :)
ReplyDeleteI love the peacock blue lamps in Obama's new office. They are so 'Michelle." I wouldn't be able to think straight with those mustard drapes they used in the early years!
ReplyDeletehappy long weekend!
xoxo, cassie