The Oval Office has received a thoughtful redesign under President Obama’s direction, blending historic elements with contemporary updates. While the resolute desk and the painting of George Washington above the fireplace remain in place, the room’s textiles, paint, and furnishings were refreshed to reflect the President’s preferences and to honor American craftsmanship.
Key updates include:
* New and reupholstered furniture, plus fresh paint and custom wallpaper.
* A new rug produced and donated by a Michigan-based manufacturer; the project was funded by the White House Historical Association with a contribution from the Presidential Inaugural Committee. That fund is also supporting design work in other rooms, such as the Yellow Oval Room, Center Hall and West Sitting Hall.
* Existing Oval Office furnishings will remain property of the White House and have been placed in secure storage.
* Walls were covered with handmade striped wallpaper from Amagansett, New York, and trim was repainted using American-made Benjamin Moore paint custom-mixed by Donald Kaufman Color.
* The new oval rug, in wheat, cream and blue tones, is made from 25 percent recycled wool and features the Presidential seal at its center. Around the rug’s border are five historical quotes chosen by President Obama. The rug was manufactured and donated by the Scott Group, an American carpetmaker based in Grand Rapids, Michigan; the company previously produced the Oval Office rug for President Clinton and rugs for the White House State Dining Room.
President Obama selected five historical quotations to appear on the rug:
1. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt
2. “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
3. “Government of the people, by the people, for the people.” — Abraham Lincoln
4. “No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings.” — John F. Kennedy
5. “The welfare of each of us is dependent fundamentally upon the welfare of all of us.” — Theodore Roosevelt
Additional details of the redesign:
* Armchairs: Two mahogany armchairs that had been used during the previous administration were reupholstered in a warm caramel leather.
* Desk chair: The President’s leather desk chair is crafted in New York.
* Coffee table: A table of American walnut and mica was produced by a New York company.
* Couches: Custom-made couches were produced in New York with fabric woven in Pennsylvania — a light brown cotton interwoven with red, white and blue threads.
* Lamps: Two new table lamps with blue ceramic bases were sourced from New York artisans.
The renovation’s cost is comparable to expenditures for past administrations’ redecorations. Funding came from leftover contributions to President Obama’s inaugural committee that were donated to the White House Historical Association, which covered the design and production expenses.
The updates were designed to maintain the Oval Office’s historic character while incorporating contemporary materials and American-made furnishings. The result is a warm, dignified space that balances tradition with the President’s personal taste. What do you think of the redesign?