When visiting the White House, unless you are on official state business, you will enter from the ground floor (yes, I've shown these posts in reverse order of my visit!). Located on this floor are a number of functioning spaces so much of it is closed to the public. However, one can catch glimpses of the Library, seen above. 
Before the 1902 renovation of the white house, this was the official laundry room of the building until becoming the servant's locker room. In 1935 it was turned into a library. The space is used for small meetings as well as press conferences and houses over 2700 books on American life which are added to by each president. The current furnishings are from New York, circa 1810. 
The walls are painted paneling from timbers which, before the Truman renovation of the White House, were the structure of the building (replaced by steel). This paneling is seen in a number of rooms on the ground floor.
The paneling remained unpainted until the Boudin redecoration of the White House, seen above in 1963. I love that blue painted ceiling!
The walls of the Vermeil Room above (so called after the collection of Vermeil displayed here, donated by Margaret Thompson Biddle in 1956) are currently the same green painted paneling as in the library but here house portraits of First Ladies. The room functions as a ladies sitting room and is where the First Lady often receives her official guests. 
After the 1902 renovation, architect McKim created this room as a ladies lounge as it was adjacent to the ladies restroom and it has retained that purpose. Above you can see the unpainted paneling in 1960.
The walls were painted blue by Boudin's redecoration with a grained finish. Originally, these ground floor rooms were staff quarters and the vermeil room was, fittingly, the silver polishing room!
The carpet in the room is beautiful, an 1860 Turkish Hereke. Only a few rooms left to go -join me tomorrow to see the ground floor dining room!
The walls are painted paneling from timbers which, before the Truman renovation of the White House, were the structure of the building (replaced by steel). This paneling is seen in a number of rooms on the ground floor.The paneling remained unpainted until the Boudin redecoration of the White House, seen above in 1963. I love that blue painted ceiling!
The walls of the Vermeil Room above (so called after the collection of Vermeil displayed here, donated by Margaret Thompson Biddle in 1956) are currently the same green painted paneling as in the library but here house portraits of First Ladies. The room functions as a ladies sitting room and is where the First Lady often receives her official guests. After the 1902 renovation, architect McKim created this room as a ladies lounge as it was adjacent to the ladies restroom and it has retained that purpose. Above you can see the unpainted paneling in 1960.The walls were painted blue by Boudin's redecoration with a grained finish. Originally, these ground floor rooms were staff quarters and the vermeil room was, fittingly, the silver polishing room!
The carpet in the room is beautiful, an 1860 Turkish Hereke. Only a few rooms left to go -join me tomorrow to see the ground floor dining room!
Amazing how fresh Boudin's designs look almost fifty years later. And how sad that many of them were "tossed over" for schemes that appear, in some cases, rather banal.
ReplyDeleteI have to reiterate what so many of your readers have said- this is a fabulous, informative series of posts. Many thanks
Thanks, Magnus! I have to agree with you -I prefer the Boudin versions of most rooms!
ReplyDeleteBy the way- any sense of whether or not the fireplaces in the White House are used? I certainly hope that they are. In "White House Diary, FDR's dragon of a housekeeper indicates that they were during the Roosevelt administration when she relates a story about a government official who teased her (she had, very obviously, no sense of humor) by claiming that one of the four fireplaces in the East Room had been badly laid, with newspaper clearly visable to the passing eye. I assumed therefore that they continued to be regulalry used, until I saw in your photograph that the East room hearths contained- horror of horrors- white birch logs, that sure mark of an unused fireplace. My guess is that if the curators have taken over, open fires are banished. It's a real tragedy, as nothing brings even the stiffest room to life more than a pleasant fire in the hearth.
ReplyDeleteMagnus, I didn't see any signs of fires past, present or future -so I'm not sure. Maybe for special occasions? I woudln't be surprised though if they were never lit.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, here I go on curtains again. Those current ones in the library are just a horror, heavy and dark, and whose bad idea was it to use vertical strips on the swags? Uggh. Later on in the Kennedy Administration, than the photo you show, some really attractive curtains, with jagged valances patterned after some at Winterthur were used---it was just right.
ReplyDeleteIt's a typical story. Something dull gets fixed up and shines, then everyone gets on the boat and gilds it some more, until its just too damned shiny....sigh. These are great posts, thought provoking.
Thanks, DED! I have to agree with you there. I'm not a fan of 'fancy curtains' in general, but those are particularly awful with the vertical stripes!
ReplyDeleteI feel like I am on a little vacation to D.C. Love knowing what the rooms were in the past.
ReplyDeleteMarie Arden Pink Living
Oiks! I agree with DED -- those "drapes" are godawful! And I carefully choose the word drapes here over curtains, if you know what I mean... Reggie
ReplyDeletePS, Am loving this series, AD, one of your most entertaining!
Agree with you Magnus and you - the Boudin renovation was fabulous - so chic for such public spaces. And agree with DED about the curtains - dreadful. I especially love that third shot of the library - the chandelier looks fabulous against the tailored furniture and the beautiful blue ceiling - lends the upper part of the room an airy almost Gustavian feel. Rally lovely contrast
ReplyDeleteWhere did you find the great image of the room painted blue?
ReplyDeleteThe Jackie and Lady Bird portraits are my favorites for WH pics of first ladies - P.S. I have seen a fire going in the Red Room - not sure of the ground floor rooms. KDM