Yes We Tan!

Christine,

I am a fan of CBS Sunday Morning, and record it to watch at leisure on Sunday afternoon. You really should see their critique of Obama's oval office redo. It made me smile - and wonder if someone has been reading Design with Christine.

- Rhonda

Thanks Rhonda- I'm sure that must be it- my blog has really created a buzz! ;)

Check out this video clip: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6837570n&tag=cbsnewsVideoArea.0

A New Look in the Oval Office

Today the new design for the oval office was unveiled to the public. I thought I'd show it to you and we could share opinions on the design of it. First of all- I like the wallpaper and the wainscoting. They are Federal in style- ever appropriate for such a room. The smaller side chairs are very nice. I like how they use four different textures in a single chair.

The coffee table.... who out there feels like this coffee table was really a good selection for the most stately room in the country? I personally think it is far too casual. I feel the same way about the sofas- and I don't especially love the two leather chairs. I see a number of different shades of beige and brown- and no unifier to really tie it together.

I am also not a big fan of the lamps- too casual again. I don't think the oval office is the place to decide to be "eclectic." When I decorate the room one day- I will keep it very traditional and formal. It will be dignified and stately. I would have used navy blue sofas with that rug- tufted navy blue sofas. President Obama- if you read this- it is not too late. Ford decorated the Oval Office twice you know- you can too...

Here is a comparison of the Bush rug (left) and the new Obama rug on the right. I really like both rugs. I read an article (from the Daily Intel) on the comparison and found it a little funny. The author said that George W. asked Laura to design the rug- and told her to make it say "optimistic person." The author said that the new rug was very fitting for our recession driven time with no more sunbeams- and a thinner eagle. (Look at the necks.)

I do like the design of both rugs. Obama's new rug has famous quotes all around it:

The quotes:
— "The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself” —President Franklin D. Roosevelt
— “The Arc of the Moral Universe Is Long, But It Bends Towards Justice” —Martin Luther King Jr.
— “Government of the People, By the People, For the People” —President Abraham Lincoln
— “No Problem of Human Destiny Is Beyond Human Beings” —President John F. Kennedy
— “The Welfare of Each of Us Is Dependent Fundamentally Upon the Welfare of All of Us” —President Theodore Roosevelt

Here is a close up on George W's office. I think the coffee table is too small- but find it an otherwise lovely room.

On overhead view of Bush's Oval Office at Christmas time. Notice an even smaller coffee table. What is up with that?

Here is a glimpse of the Clinton Oval Office. The vibrant colors match his personality. This blue rug reminds me very much of Reagan's Oval Office. Look at the small side chairs- those look the same as the Obama side chairs- they must jut be re-covered. I found pictures of Clinton's office with a pretty horrible shade of yellow on the wall- check here- I really prefer the white. Another angle of the Clinton office is below.

One last picture for you- below is the Carter/Ford Oval Office- a very different feel- but very nice. Here the classic color pallet of red, yellow and blue is set aside for some soft neutrals. Eisenhower and Bush Sr. used greens in their pallets. What do you think? Are patriotic colors important- or not?

So tell me- which Oval Office is your favorite? Do you prefer the casual Obama office, the sunshine Bush office, the bold Clinton look, or the sophisticated Carter/Ford?

Don't let your politics get involved- we're not selecting favorite presidents here- just favorite Oval Offices.