The rug (photos)

[Undercurrent]

The current floor:


Taft (the old Oval Office before the 1929 fire)


FDR:


Reagan:


Clinton:


Bush (cost $68,000):

[lamp_shade]

1. Actually, I like it. n/t

[emilyg]

72. It's lovely.

[Afikpo Chic]

73. Gorgeous Rugs

Hopes Obama will keep them.

[AndyA]

2. I like the hardwoods best. Cuts down on the dust, and is easier to maintain.

Yank up the rug and just leave the beautiful hardwood floors exposed. No need to "hide" them now!

[SoCalDem]

6. That wood design would give me a headache:) I like Laura's rug

she has better taste in carpeting than in husbands

[lunatica]

35. She has fine taste in decor. Look at the curtains she wears!

[Name removed]

63. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BeyondGeography]

70. 3 posts in and you're ripping Michelle

I smell pizza.

[Simplylivin]

71. You know what?

Why is it that I'm ripping Michelle if I use the same exact phrase that someone else used?
Besides, it isn't even true that Laura Bush's clothes look like drapes... like it or not, she's an attractive & classy woman.
Some of Michelle Obama's clothes are attractive, and some are less so.
It's a fact. It has been established that a large number of people didn't like some of her clothes.
Not that it's important at all... but let's remember, it was not I who began speaking of clothing worn by first ladies and former first ladies.
I speak my mind... I wasn't ripping Michelle. I wish her the best. I just thought her dress looked like drapes.

[Afikpo Chic]

74. Mrs O has great taste

Look who she is married to.

[GreenPartyVoter]

64. Yes, I think that version of the Oval office is very nice.

[Clio the Leo]

27. Whomever laid that needs an award....

... putting that diagonal pattern into an oval room.

Too bad he's not still alive. He could fix the economy.

[Captain Hilts]

3. It looked like Obama was using Bush's rug in today's photographs. nt

[lunatica]

37. Obama said he would keep the rug

Some people think it's in the spirit of bi-partisanship, which is probably not a bad idea. It does lighten up the room a lot giving it just the right sun shiny feeling of this new era we're coming into.

Plus, I'm beginning to think that Obama wants to practice what he preaches about being thrifty. It wouldn't be very good if he just spent like the Drunken Bush years.

[TheWraith]

45. He is, he's opted not to change it for the time being.

Personally I like the Clinton rug, but I have a weakness for rich blues. I think they mesh well with the off-white of the walls.

[nyc 4 Biden]

50. I agree. I prefer Clinton's rug as well.

It just looks very presidential. The Bush rug ain't too bad either I guess.

[Captain Hilts]

54. The first rug was HIDEOUS!!!!!!! He must have changed for 2nd term. nt

[Captain Hilts]

53. Agree on the blue with whiteish walls. nt

[sfpcjock]

75. Me too

The yellow Clinton curtains look gaudy but the Reagan successor sun rug has got to go: it's Hitlarian. Barney probably pooped on it so they can take it out. I know that it will stay because Barack is trying to be parsimonious in the current crisis. Anyway, he gets $100,000 to do modifications on his Whitehouse. I hope he does something good with it for the girls or Michelle.

[TheWraith]

83. I think the Clinton curtains were meant to convey blue and gold.

Which is a beautiful combo, but finding the right shade of yellow-gold is incredibly difficult. Often it ends up either looking mustardy, like those did, or almost neon. Might have opted for either a rich, medium-dark red, or else a light slate blue/grey color instead.

Of course, you can also raise more money from private donations to refit the White House.

[babylonsister]

4. I like Reagan's the best. So sue me. :) nt

[SoCalDem]

8. Reagan's decor was typical '80s color palette..too brown/rust for today's tastes

The rug was nice though.. They needed to get rid of that orange-y brown swag on the drapes..

The light airy look it has now is great..he should keep it until something else comes to his mind

[babylonsister]

15. And I was thinking that was rose to match parts of the rug. nt

[SoCalDem]

20. whoops.. I was conflating FDR's & Reagan's

not enough sleep here

Reagan's was ok..I did not like the dark rug in Clinton's office though

[Jeanette in FL]

12. I do too

I was going to say that Reagans has the right color tone for the room.

Great minds think alike.

[Renew Deal]

5. It's a really nice rug.

And I think the white helps light up the room.

[tridim]

10. It certainly ties the room together does it not?

And these guys peed on it?

Shut the fuck up Donny.

[tridim]

7. Bush's oval office is just too beige for me

I know we don't have the money to redecorate completely (thanks Bush), but how about adding just a little color to the office? Beige really isn't good for creativity.

[Faygo Kid]

Time for Blue. Yes We Can.

Get rid of the crappy W. stuff, Barack. Blue is cool.

[Tallison]

36. Agreed - Clinton's is the most presidential looking

The room's too big for light colors - makes it alienating-feeling. I like the warmth of deep blue.

[Captain Hilts]

55. Me too. nt

[Faygo Kid]

9. Time for Blue. Yes We Can.

Get rid of the crappy W. stuff, Barack. Blue is cool.

[panader0]

11. I wonder what kind of shit got swept under that rug.

[lunatica]

41. Maybe all those WMDs lurk under it

[fed_up_mother]

81. Haha Best reply!

[Whalestoe]

13. I like Clinton's the best. Obama should pick his own rug though... why is he using Shrubs?

[ronnykmarshall]

29. Because of the cost.

I think the rug is nice.

[InvisibleTouch]

32. I'm sure he can get a decent new rug...

...for considerably less than $68,000!

Definitely something to be said for making one's daily workspace a reflection of one's own personality. It enhances efficiency, and he's supposed to feel at home there, after all. Colors have a huge impact on mood and emotion.

[Lorien]

48. Or just reuse the Clinton one-get rid of the embedded smell of

Jack Daniels, vomit and bullshit.

[Name removed]

61. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[firedupdem]

67. get out of here....I see you....nasty little buggar......the country

has spoken. We're done with criminals in the whitehouse.

[Simplylivin]

68. :)

You see me? What's that supposed to mean... I just voiced an opinion on a rug, like everyone else here..... thanks for the warm welcome, though, you sweet little bugger.
By the way, I wish Mr. Obama the best, and hope he is the best president we've ever had.

[fed_up_mother]

82. A custom designed, custom made wool rug for that size room?

Would cost a whole lotta' dough.

[Clio the Leo]

14. Is that Reggie Love!!!

YAY REGGIE!!!

There's yet another OH MY GOODNESS HE'S REALLY THE PRESIDENT!!!! (Barack of course, not Reggie.)

I also like the rug.

I'm not digging the curtains which are just another example of Laura's blande color palate. I'd put up light blue ones ... what I like to call "2004 DNC Speech Tie Blue" ones....



It's what any basketball loving boy would call "Carolina Blue."

Looks good on him.

If may have to Photoshop them curtains if I get bored later.

[Barack_America]

16. Keep Bush's rug.

It's tasteful and now is not the time to be spending taxpayer dollars to replace that sort of thing.

The room as it is now though, does need some color. Besides the President himself, that is.

[Thrill]

17. He's going to change that. You just know he isn't going to keep Bush's crap

[Mist]

21. Actually, our new President may opt to set an example by not spending money

where it really doesn't need to be spent.

[Thrill]

22. I doubt it. This is something you want to make feel like your own

And there is nothing wrong with spending on that.

[Kaylee]

18. I like ruggy....he really brightens the room.

[Kittycat]

19. I prefer bush's rug, but Clinton's couches

I think the rug opens up the room. It's the paint, or lack thereof that bothers me most. They need some warm/soft color on the walls - the beautiful trim is just lost in that sea of white.

[Mist]

23. Yes, I'd be okay w/painting the walls--perhaps a very pale blue tint? Doesn't

cost much and is an easy fix, as they say on the shelter shows.

[Kittycat]

51. Agreed, might I recommend one of the blue shades from Restoration Hardware?

We have the darker blue in our family room, and the middle two shades in my son's room on alternating walls. My front room is very inviting, and we have a couch similar colors to the 'rug'. My son's room is very relaxing - probably the calmest room in the house (surprisingly, given it's his room :lol .

[Clio the Leo]

24. Yeah, too bad those stripes would clash. NT

[Captain Hilts]

56. I agree. How 'bout some yellow with the shelves, etc. in white? nt

[crispini]

25. What gorgeous hardwoods! Screw the rug!

Hardwood lovers UNITE! No Mo Rug!

[marlakay]

26. i like Reagans & Bush's

Don't like the gold drapes Clinton had or the dark rug FDR had.

looks more spacious with lighter colors and it seems your mood would be better too.

[Clio the Leo]

28. Overhead shots of Clinton and Reagan's rugs...

Clinton...


Reagan...


HEY!!! Wait a minute! W copied Reagan!!! lol

[Tallison]

38. Wonder what happens to them on retirement...

They'd be kind of tacky looking in any room but the OO.

[Posteritatis]

42. Presidential libraries/museums, maybe?

Or they just go into storage. I could see some of them coming back out again at one point or another. (I admit I kinda like Reagan's.)

[Captain Hilts]

58. Often into the library. nt

[NV Whino]

30. I like the rug.

Laura has better taste in rugs than she does in dresses.

But I agree with other posters, a little color would be nice. Get rid of the stripes on the straight chairs and put a solid color. Couches are fine.

and let's get some modern art in there. I have a few pieces that would work. (Not that I would toot my own horn or anything.)

[InvisibleTouch]

31. I like Clinton's color scheme the best.

Blue rug, gold-yellow curtains, striped red-and-white couch set. Honest-to-gods colors. Nothing timid about that! Bush's version just blends into a single big BLAH.

[Tallison]

40. Totally agree.

Bush's scheme washes such a big, sunny room out. Deep colors pull it together and create a sense of intimacy and inner sanctum. They're also more presidential

[Lorien]

49. Agree completely. Clinton's choices make it look like a place where

serious business is done. Bush's look like a conservative home's parlor where the wealthy relax while nibbling cucumber sandwiches and sipping tea.

[Joe the Revelator]

33. Clinton's rug ftw

[Captain Hilts]

57. ftw????

[Codeine]

76. For the win. nt

[Captain Hilts]

78. Ah....nt

[Norrin Radd]

34. Looks like an old beige box computer.

Needs a total overhaul.

[Posteritatis]

39. What's the right-hand (our right, that is) in those photos? (nt)

[MissDeeds]

43. The rug issue has really bugged me

I know it's probably more sensible and cost effective to keep it, but I wish that all visible reminders of Bush would be scrubbed from the premises. I can't stand to see "The Evil One's" mark still in the Oval Office.I shudder to think of all the atrocities that were cooked up there. The whole place should be fumigated and an exorcist be brought in.

[Undercurrent]

44. I should have

also noted in the OP that in addition to the rug, the flooring was put laid during the Bush administration as well.

So those who hate the rug because it was Bush's, the floor is Bush's too.

Plus the entire White House is filled with remodeling, furniture, art, and decorations of previous presidents. Some of whom were hateful, warmongering, slime balls.

Personally, I like the current rug, and it would serve the room well if the room were a painted. I would rather $68,000 be spent on something else. Like converting the tennis court to a basketball court with a dome over it.

But that's just me.



:typo edit:

[Raine]

46. I actually like Laura's

it looks like beams of light which suits Obama.

[Phx_Dem]

47. I have to say, the Laura Bush rug is beautiful.

She reportedly designed it and it's beautiful. I definitely would have kept it as well.

The Clinton rug was too dark.

[mentalsolstice]

52. Keep the current rug, paint the trim

Paint the chair rails and the trim a contrasting color, just to make things pop a bit. Paint is cheap and quick, rugs and new furniture/upholstery=not so cheap.

[Tatiana]

59. I really like FDR's window treatments. But I like Clinton's office best.

Reagan's looks like a room in my grandma's house, which was nice back in '79 or '80, but isn't so cool right now.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

60. I like Laura's rug

but lose the brocade couches!

[Justitia]

62. Rug is okay, but those couches & DRAPES have GOT TO GO! New paint would be good too. -eom

[Liberal_in_LA]

65. Recently saw a documentary about that removable piece on the desk.

It was used to hide FDR's legs/wheel chairs. Other President's removed it... there is a famous photo of JFK Jr. hiding underneath the desk.

[Catherine Vincent]

66. They are all fine looking but Clinton's look the most presidential, imo. nt

[Beacool]

69. I liked the Clinton decor the best.

Bold and dynamic like the man who inhabited it.

I do think though that the Reagan and Bush rugs are quite lovely.

[Kitty Herder]

77. I like the Bush rug, but that room needs some color. nt

[Hersheygirl]

79. Definetly Clintons

Bush's is typical of Laura Bush, lifeless with no color or pizazz.

[fed_up_mother]

80. I love that rug.

[calico1]

84. I like the Bush rug and the decor the best.

I also like the Regan rug but not the rest.

I like the Clinton couches but not anything else.

I understand Obama is pretty much keeping everything except for a few items.

I will say this: Laura Bush does have good taste.