tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28651976363618994.post7972291632395393670..comments2024-03-27T03:54:04.570-04:00Comments on architect design™: White House: East RoomArchitectDesign™http://www.blogger.com/profile/01481754380363676771noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28651976363618994.post-3592305353505542782014-12-09T23:49:13.197-05:002014-12-09T23:49:13.197-05:00One other thing. McKim's somewhat voluptuous ...One other thing. McKim's somewhat voluptuous mantels were a gorgeous red and cream breccia marble which was very lively and chosen to go with the crimson draperies that McKim envisioned. But, Edith Roosevelt insisted on gold draperies, and the renovation time line was so abbreviated that the red marble stayed, even as the gold drapes were hung.<br /> <br />The simplified and butched-up mantels that Boudin/Kennedy had painted were forced on the 1952 House and Winslow by a Congressman on the right committee and with a red marble quarry in his district. It is distinctly second best and totally boring in character.Jeff Freelandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11011744130952146500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28651976363618994.post-31758273543678947092014-12-09T23:31:48.696-05:002014-12-09T23:31:48.696-05:00Stefan,
McKim's incarnation of the East Room...Stefan, <br /><br />McKim's incarnation of the East Room was much more elaborate and plastic, certainly more French than the room which replaced it in the 1952 Truman rebuilt by architect Lorenzo Winslow, with firm oversight by NYC architect William Delano. Winslow flatten or removed details, such as McKim's bell flower stop fluting of the pilasters and the boldly modeled ceiling plaster. Winslow designed more Federal Style embellishments to the profiles and added a healthy dose of 1930s and 40s "Moderne" Federal Style to the mix. But in general, the subdivisions of the wall are the parti established by McKim in 1902<br /><br />As far as the central eastern window being narrowed goes, the side windows were covered to create a panel wide enough to receive the Gilbert Stuart portrait of Geo Washington (the one saved from the fire by Dolley Madison) and the later matching painting of Martha. As long as that wall is, the portraits did not have room without intruding upon the stiles or pilasters. <br /><br />This kind of discussion is routine on the FaceBook group "White House by Design". You or your readers may enjoy checking it out. Some pretty excellent scholarship with a Francophile friendly bent is waiting there.Jeff Freelandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11011744130952146500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28651976363618994.post-24958834078029424662011-12-02T15:30:01.175-05:002011-12-02T15:30:01.175-05:00Did you ever see the huge Italian creches? My husb...Did you ever see the huge Italian creches? My husband was over there for work last Christmas and I almost wish he could have brought one home!Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17991085128131515835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28651976363618994.post-27738063868509918272010-12-25T06:36:02.571-05:002010-12-25T06:36:02.571-05:00One of my fondest Christmas memories is going to t...One of my fondest Christmas memories is going to the White House party the last Christmas of George Bush's presidency. The theme was red, white, and blue, and the rooms were simply magnificent. I wish I had been able to read this wonderful tour of the White House before my visit, but it is great reading it now!<br /><br />The curtains were open revealing the creche, just as you show in your pictures.<br /><br />My favorite room was perhaps the red room, which was cozy and intimate despite its grandeur and scale.<br /><br />Hope you have a great Christmas!Things That Inspirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04405995431610377305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28651976363618994.post-77043462872114627122010-12-24T15:15:49.017-05:002010-12-24T15:15:49.017-05:00Merry Christmas Stefan. David.Merry Christmas Stefan. David.Lord Cowellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08022567039394790375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28651976363618994.post-79768141576692893812010-12-23T22:31:01.290-05:002010-12-23T22:31:01.290-05:00Love the breakdown of the different rooms in the W...Love the breakdown of the different rooms in the WH and seeing the current decorations. I've missed any pics of them, love the color combination! Merry Christmas Stefan!Linda Merrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07484402027814646865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28651976363618994.post-16581983553257757052010-12-23T19:04:24.720-05:002010-12-23T19:04:24.720-05:00Love the different evolutions of the designs and t...Love the different evolutions of the designs and the color schemes!<br />Thank Yoou for the personal tour.<br />Happy Holidays!<br />L.La Maison Fouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03823093111074286855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28651976363618994.post-36690251801689260032010-12-23T17:04:38.199-05:002010-12-23T17:04:38.199-05:00I am learning quite a bit from your tour, and than...I am learning quite a bit from your tour, and thanks for that! As I look at the original McKim, Meade and White version, it seems to me that the White House has kept pretty true to their original vision, which just goes to show that a classic design is timeless.Mark D. Ruffnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09241533547309049140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28651976363618994.post-72205580795529515292010-12-23T16:51:13.027-05:002010-12-23T16:51:13.027-05:00S -
I haven't commented for awhile but rest as...S -<br />I haven't commented for awhile but rest assured I am checking in everyday! Have really enjoyed your White House series this week. And, I have to say that I have always liked the Green Room and I'm still not convinced otherwise. <br />Also, it would be nice if the Grand Staircase was more opened up to the hall.<br />Merry Christmas!ChipSFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06533749227364674468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28651976363618994.post-35754073532163439762010-12-23T16:07:48.539-05:002010-12-23T16:07:48.539-05:00Thank you for your continued tour through the Whit...Thank you for your continued tour through the White House this Christmas. I am loving every picture and description, every then and now photo, and look forward to seeing the State Dining Room.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28651976363618994.post-81845082511609794682010-12-23T13:17:08.433-05:002010-12-23T13:17:08.433-05:00Swan - loved the creche, glad to know more about i...Swan - loved the creche, glad to know more about it! I figured it was italian but had no idea of its' illustrious history!ArchitectDesign™https://www.blogger.com/profile/01481754380363676771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28651976363618994.post-27967554767995614632010-12-23T13:15:41.152-05:002010-12-23T13:15:41.152-05:00Again an enjoyable lesson thru your eyes...the Rou...Again an enjoyable lesson thru your eyes...the Rouge Marble is better in my opinion with the Mahogany doors. I have seen many similar marble/mahogany combinations in documented 18thC Parisian interiors for sure. The painting of marble to me is a definite NO-NO, no matter who thinks it should be done. <br /><br />The Creche is the famed set donated by Jane Engelhard, Annette de la Renta's mother...it is Superb Neapolitan 18thC at its best from what I recall. She donated it when Jacqueline was in residence and it has been a tradition for years to exhibit during the Season Holidays.The Swanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01159724663060240920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28651976363618994.post-64403998197229811812010-12-23T12:40:37.317-05:002010-12-23T12:40:37.317-05:00karena- thanks!
VT - I'm not a fan of the peac...karena- thanks!<br />VT - I'm not a fan of the peacocks themselves, but I do like the colors. I don't think the red marble is bad ( I never knew it had existed any other way ) but when I saw that photo from Boudin's version I was floored!ArchitectDesign™https://www.blogger.com/profile/01481754380363676771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28651976363618994.post-13138182580707521652010-12-23T12:33:24.338-05:002010-12-23T12:33:24.338-05:00The peacock's don't do a thing for me, but...The peacock's don't do a thing for me, but I kinda like the red marble with the rich colored doors. I can see, however, how painting them would keep the eye from stopping, and make one look up- a good thing in a grand room.Daniel Shigohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12736080550398734909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28651976363618994.post-10270097489237768302010-12-23T12:21:27.345-05:002010-12-23T12:21:27.345-05:00Stefan fascinating post...seeing all the changes m...Stefan fascinating post...seeing all the changes made down through the adninistrations!<br /><br />Joyeaux Noel!<br /><br />xoxo<br />Karena<br />Art by KarenaKarenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05206642885608991170noreply@blogger.com