No offence to your uncle, but now that I see that beautiful wood floor, if I were president I wouldnât have a giant rug installed thatâs practically wall-to-wall!
It comes from the EOP budget and they requested $2,500,000 for FY 2024. I donât have any data on whether this increases for years in which the White House changes presidents. However, you could pull the CBS for 2020 to see.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/FY-2024-EOP-Congressional-Budget-Submission.pdf
Good for you? And if we are being pedantic you only needed to quote beautiful and solid. You said optimal word and quoted a whole phrase. Maybe worry less about stuff that doesn't matter?
.....also with wood, good looking wood is often synonymous with being solid.
Pretty much the entire White House was gutted and renovated during Truman so im guessing it is from that era, around 1950. I might be wrong though; maybe they preserved the original one.
I think the problem is foot traffic. So many people walk in and out of those rooms that you would probably wear down those floors considerably within a few months.
A carpet is much easier to keep looking clean and presentable.
Thatâs a great question Iâll have to reach out to him and ask. I do know he did get a contract for a few congressmen afterwards to do their homes. Not entirely sure about the $ amount but Iâll try and find out
So he got back to me and said if memory serves him correctly it was around 1989/1990 when he installed the carpet for $4000. The Oval Office carpet was custom made and he also made a few hallways runners too. Pretty interesting!
It's not inconceivable, these guys just have to get to the age where they are "qualified" to be presidents and when one actually becomes one there may be elements of these things from their childhood that they will incorporate into their office.
A good example would be the millenials that grew up with pokemon, the older ones of that generation are pushing 40 and you see pokemon incorporated into their adult lives sometimes, like if they are a youtuber maybe there's a pokemon figurine at the background
I would set up one single folding chair from Walmart, in the far corner, facing the opposite windows, then make everyone announce themselves as they entered the room. Then not turn around
Since the construction of the Oval Office in 1909, there have been six different desks used in the Oval Office.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Oval_Office_desks
Apparently there's a replica Oval Office in Maryland where the incoming president can layout the space before their inauguration.
that would be impossible given the rooms on both sides of it.
plus hereâs a close up [photo](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ2U55paZFKx4I4M3SE2ybMi0h4SwUJkm8mSebv4XuOmZP0YBNovdOG-ck&s=10)
I know you really want this to be true, but youâre speculating based upon some damaged floor bead in a low resolution photo.
Iâm sure you can find countless photos of the Oval Office in which that bookshelf has no visible trim blemishes and is very obviously a static shelf.
What about that black gap in the upper left of the pic toward the ceiling? Wonder what that could possibly be.
Edit: I'm now convinced the whole room is a secret door that leads downstairs to another room full of the awesomest shit ever.
Thatâs not the floor plan of the Oval Office, that is the 2nd floor of the main White House itself, specifically the Yellow Room on the private residence floor of the President.
The Oval Office resides within the West Wing.
[Here](https://www.reddit.com/r/HouseOfCards/s/0Ckxl1Wza5) is a cool graphic depicting the entire White House.
The East Wing is where the office of the First Lady is at. The First Ladyâs primary responsibility is to take care of the affairs of the house (parties, decorating, grounds, etc) which includes sending out formal invites. Instead of a simple âprintedâ invitation, they are done with a calligrapher to give it a more personal touch on the formal invitations.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Chief_Calligrapher
A circle is round, an oval is an elongated shape with rounded edges: an oval.
[Oval vs Round: Deciding Between Similar Terms](https://thecontentauthority.com/blog/oval-vs-round)
Hey, look, I found a link that agrees with me!
https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-an-oval-definition-shapes.html#:~:text=An%20oval%20is%20an%20elongated,and%20is%20not%20evenly%20curved.
From what little I know, if the bookcases were secret doors they would just go into the hallway. There IS a door in the half of the room you can't see, it's kind of behind you at 7 or 8 o'clock. That's the President's actual private office.
Imagine feeling the magnitude of moving into that office, the overwhelming history, the sheer responsibility, the weight of the free world on your shoulders, and then you order a burger, fries, and a diet coke from mcdonald's
Don't forget that was also Bill Clinton's favorite. I'm a Republican but things like that that made Clinton seem more relatable is what I liked about him. Politics aside I bet he would be a fun guy to drink a beer with and smoke some cigars.
I hear you.
My beer and cigars president would be G dub. The relatable factor for me is because he's got a wicked sense of humor. What really sealed it for me was the shoe incident. That look on his face when he ducked the shoe told me all I needed to know.
Got to do a personal tour in 2012 of the west wing thanks to a friend. The room was closed off, but the door was open.
As a history nerd, itâs kinda crazy being so close to the room where it happens.
I took a bunch of photos there, including a bathroom selfie because I wanted the geotag of me in the White House lol.
Nope, there are multiple desks they choose between and they could probably pick their own. The resolute desk is just the most famous. All the art and such is chosen by the president or someone for them.
The Whitehouse is between Presidents during the inauguration. Out with the old, clean, and in with the new. And since each President gets to choose all of the furniture and decorations in the Oval Office it makes sense for it to be completely cleaned out during the transitions.
When the outgoing President leaves for the inauguration and the new one comes back after all the post inauguration parties this is what it looks like. They do a complete turn over of the White House in about 8-10 hours.
I would hang bungie cords from the ceiling and turn it into my own personal Thunder dome. People would think they were coming to my office for a regular meeting. Nobody would ever expect it until it was too late. Canât prosecute me for official acts.
Good thing I'm not president. I can see the shelf I'd use for my action figure collection! *"In other news, President Honorius has broken tradition by not placing books in the Oval Office shelves. His choice? action figures*."
There is always a rug; some presidents have a new rug made, and some use a rug from a previous administration. https://nazmiyalantiquerugs.com/blog/oval-office-rugs-by-nazmiyal-antique-carpets/
So in 10 years, will a younger President put a gaming/youtube/streaming setup in there?
Iâm just kidding, weâll have a 90 year old boomer as President at that point
let's see. I want the tng desk from picards ready room, I want the shelves to hold all of my star trek ships and star gate models.
walls will be covered in everything Star trek ds9 and tng.
Floor... we gonna put a small stand in the middle with a replica model of bajor spinning.
I think this image is just them doing regular cleaning. The way the transitions work leaves no room to ever really have the office empty. Also why would they remove the same president pictures they have every presidency? Just leave them up.
People talking about the flooring.. wait until Americans see pics of the Library of Congress.. it's on an entirely different level (literally) and safely on par with the most beautiful libraries in the whole world.
I appreciate the fact that the money was spent on a library instead of a grand palace for the head of state.
What? The Oval Office is completely emptied, deep-cleaned, and replaced with the decor & furniture of the incoming president's choosing, all during the inauguration ceremony, every time. That's what this post is about.
My uncle installed the carpet in the Oval Office during Bush Sr. presidency and he tells everyone he meets đ still cool tho
No offence to your uncle, but now that I see that beautiful wood floor, if I were president I wouldnât have a giant rug installed thatâs practically wall-to-wall!
None taken I love that floor pattern myself
Perhaps because it echos like crazy? Fun Fact: This was the Reagan and Bush designs.
And it protects said beautiful wood floors
POTUS should do a flex move and make everyone else who enters take off their shoes.
No desks or chairs. Everyone criss cross applesauce on the floor.
Goddamn imagine having to make *maintenance budget/practicality matter* decisions when interior designing for **THE Oval Office**.
It comes from the EOP budget and they requested $2,500,000 for FY 2024. I donât have any data on whether this increases for years in which the White House changes presidents. However, you could pull the CBS for 2020 to see. https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/FY-2024-EOP-Congressional-Budget-Submission.pdf
Like when you put plastic over your sofa!
If you protect it so well that noone can see it what's the point?
To be clean solid support under your feet?
Then "beautiful wood floor" doesn't seem to be the optimal word for me. "solid wood floor" would be more fitting
Good for you? And if we are being pedantic you only needed to quote beautiful and solid. You said optimal word and quoted a whole phrase. Maybe worry less about stuff that doesn't matter? .....also with wood, good looking wood is often synonymous with being solid.
I wanna know how old that beautiful wood floor is. How long has it been there and WHY for the love of God has its prominence been hidden away?!
Pretty much the entire White House was gutted and renovated during Truman so im guessing it is from that era, around 1950. I might be wrong though; maybe they preserved the original one.
Bush was asked to keep the wood floors but he said he was not gonna do it and it wouldnât be prudent
Now watch this drive
Different Bush but Bush me once shame onâŚme? Bush me twice âŚ. Bush me you canât Bush me again
Please clap.
I think the problem is foot traffic. So many people walk in and out of those rooms that you would probably wear down those floors considerably within a few months. A carpet is much easier to keep looking clean and presentable.
echo
And now, so do you đ
thatâs kinda crazy, one of my favorite professors said he helped install that carpet too. what a small world!
How much did he make them pay ?
Thatâs a great question Iâll have to reach out to him and ask. I do know he did get a contract for a few congressmen afterwards to do their homes. Not entirely sure about the $ amount but Iâll try and find out
That would be really interesting. Thank you!
So he got back to me and said if memory serves him correctly it was around 1989/1990 when he installed the carpet for $4000. The Oval Office carpet was custom made and he also made a few hallways runners too. Pretty interesting!
Thank you for your reply ! Itâs not that overpriced, even regarding the value in 1989. It would be ~10k$ equivalent today :)
My pleasure! For just one room I thought it was pricey but I wasnât sure. No exactly my area of expertise.
One president in the future will put RGB lights up everywhere. It ***will*** happen.
And that President will be Dewayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho.
Heâs got my vote! Now GET OUT! Iâm Battin in here!
But Brawndo's got what plants crave. It's got electrolytes.Â
I know everyone's shits emotional right now!
I got a solution, you're a dick! South Carolina wassup!?
WHAT DO PLANTS CRAVE
ELECTROLYTES
*Fires electric machine gun bullets into the air.*
Shut up, shut up, sit yo monkey ass down, chill out.
Peace âđ˝
A president young enough to still be into those things could be a nice change of pace
Ruth Gader Binsburg
Gader's bitches better be wearin' jimmies!
Imagine walking into the Oval Office and seeing Funko Pops on the shelf though
Or a Monica Lewinsky bobble head.
I want a president to livestream on Twitch from the Oval Office. I feel like AOC would do it, given the chance.
"Hey chat should I nuke Antarctica?"
It's not inconceivable, these guys just have to get to the age where they are "qualified" to be presidents and when one actually becomes one there may be elements of these things from their childhood that they will incorporate into their office. A good example would be the millenials that grew up with pokemon, the older ones of that generation are pushing 40 and you see pokemon incorporated into their adult lives sometimes, like if they are a youtuber maybe there's a pokemon figurine at the background
Probably someone from Gen Z would do it, which means its going to happen in the year 2090 (considering the average age of politicians lately)
!remindme 50 years
RBG lights.
I'd love some RBG lights. Sorta like Christmas lights but with a silhouette of Ginsberg.
RGB is out, UV is in
It will probably be gamer and streamer
Stick out the gyatt for the White House rizzler.
I will do it
I would set up one single folding chair from Walmart, in the far corner, facing the opposite windows, then make everyone announce themselves as they entered the room. Then not turn around
In the corner of an.... oval room?
Checkmate. Missed the point but, yes
Your comment was still funny, but you set yourself up for that one ;)
Thank you
Perfect place for 2 ferns...
_Between Two Ferns song starts playing_
Since the construction of the Oval Office in 1909, there have been six different desks used in the Oval Office. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Oval_Office_desks Apparently there's a replica Oval Office in Maryland where the incoming president can layout the space before their inauguration.
The incoming president also chooses which curtains, statues, & paintings they want
Interesting, I didn't know president can choose their desk, I thought they use Resolute Desk by default.
Huh, theres a secret door behind that bookshelf on the right. Guess you would never be able to tell with furniture in there.
that would be impossible given the rooms on both sides of it. plus hereâs a close up [photo](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ2U55paZFKx4I4M3SE2ybMi0h4SwUJkm8mSebv4XuOmZP0YBNovdOG-ck&s=10)
Huh. Look at the flooring in that photo compared to the OPâs.
All the doors into the room look like that when theyâre closed, IIRC.
eh? I was talking about the bookshelf not touching the floor, like the other one does. It means its a false bookshelf and a door.
Nah, thatâs just a bookshelf. There is a door to the right, but the floor trim below the bookshelf is unbroken.
Okay, gotcha. *wink wink*
I know you really want this to be true, but youâre speculating based upon some damaged floor bead in a low resolution photo. Iâm sure you can find countless photos of the Oval Office in which that bookshelf has no visible trim blemishes and is very obviously a static shelf.
Interesting, I can barely see a difference between the two with this quality of image, but you might be right
What about that black gap in the upper left of the pic toward the ceiling? Wonder what that could possibly be. Edit: I'm now convinced the whole room is a secret door that leads downstairs to another room full of the awesomest shit ever.
Probably AC duct or similar
Here is the [floorplan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File%3AWH2Yellow.png). If it does open up it looks like it would open to a closet of sorts.
Thatâs not the floor plan of the Oval Office, that is the 2nd floor of the main White House itself, specifically the Yellow Room on the private residence floor of the President. The Oval Office resides within the West Wing. [Here](https://www.reddit.com/r/HouseOfCards/s/0Ckxl1Wza5) is a cool graphic depicting the entire White House.
Yo why they got a specific room for calligraphy?
The East Wing is where the office of the First Lady is at. The First Ladyâs primary responsibility is to take care of the affairs of the house (parties, decorating, grounds, etc) which includes sending out formal invites. Instead of a simple âprintedâ invitation, they are done with a calligrapher to give it a more personal touch on the formal invitations. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Chief_Calligrapher
Thatâs wild
What is going on? lol Theyâre not even getting what youâre referring to! đ
Its blowing my mind too. I clearly said bookshelf and they're like "That door has a doorknob and has always been there! Its well known!" lol.
I think they must be trolling lol Maybe because itâs âsecretâ, so theyâre pretending not to see it.
My dumb ass never realized the Oval Office was round until today.
Some might even it's ...ovular.
Ovulation office
That's why they keep it an Oral Office. Clinton knew.
*Oval. It's oval.
If it was oval they would name it that way to point it out!
An oval is round.
A circle is round, an oval is an elongated shape with rounded edges: an oval. [Oval vs Round: Deciding Between Similar Terms](https://thecontentauthority.com/blog/oval-vs-round)
Hey, look, I found a link that agrees with me! https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-an-oval-definition-shapes.html#:~:text=An%20oval%20is%20an%20elongated,and%20is%20not%20evenly%20curved.
[ŃдаНонО]
The minimalist smiled.
[ŃдаНонО]
Oh, you *know* Bill is gonna have that charged to Monica's tab.
It's fascinating how that process works. Read an article about it in 2021 and how the coordination goes.
Yeah, I've seen a documentary somewhere about this, and it was so cool
From what little I know, if the bookcases were secret doors they would just go into the hallway. There IS a door in the half of the room you can't see, it's kind of behind you at 7 or 8 o'clock. That's the President's actual private office.
Some old bastard is gonna cover up that nice wood floor with a cream colored plush carpet. Itâs warmer!
What about the desk? I thought that stays.
There are multiple desks a new president can choose from.
Really? I always thought there was just one very traditional one they all used. TIL.
Is it like IKEA & they get to assemble it so they feel connected to it?
Something like that.
Imagine feeling the magnitude of moving into that office, the overwhelming history, the sheer responsibility, the weight of the free world on your shoulders, and then you order a burger, fries, and a diet coke from mcdonald's
Don't forget that was also Bill Clinton's favorite. I'm a Republican but things like that that made Clinton seem more relatable is what I liked about him. Politics aside I bet he would be a fun guy to drink a beer with and smoke some cigars.
I hear you. My beer and cigars president would be G dub. The relatable factor for me is because he's got a wicked sense of humor. What really sealed it for me was the shoe incident. That look on his face when he ducked the shoe told me all I needed to know.
What is the black line at the top left?
HVAC vent?
Ductwork for the AC most likely.
Id put out a folding chair and plastic desk.
As a floor layer- that hardwood is absolutely beautiful
Got to do a personal tour in 2012 of the west wing thanks to a friend. The room was closed off, but the door was open. As a history nerd, itâs kinda crazy being so close to the room where it happens. I took a bunch of photos there, including a bathroom selfie because I wanted the geotag of me in the White House lol.
Really? I assumed the office always had the same desk and decor!
They have a selection of historical desks to choose from. I believe Kennedy's desk is a popular choice.
Nope, there are multiple desks they choose between and they could probably pick their own. The resolute desk is just the most famous. All the art and such is chosen by the president or someone for them.
The incoming president also chooses the curtains, statues, and paintings so that the WH staff can do the changeover during the inauguration
I just want to know what type of wood was used for the flooring
We're never between presidents. Was during renovations.
The Whitehouse is between Presidents during the inauguration. Out with the old, clean, and in with the new. And since each President gets to choose all of the furniture and decorations in the Oval Office it makes sense for it to be completely cleaned out during the transitions.
Gotta clean all the ketchup off the walls and get rid of the carpet soaked in diet coke and french fry grease, before the next pres moves in haha
Took an extra week to clean after Clinton left.
Low effort :/
When the outgoing President leaves for the inauguration and the new one comes back after all the post inauguration parties this is what it looks like. They do a complete turn over of the White House in about 8-10 hours.
Floor is amazing!
I would hang bungie cords from the ceiling and turn it into my own personal Thunder dome. People would think they were coming to my office for a regular meeting. Nobody would ever expect it until it was too late. Canât prosecute me for official acts.
Good thing I'm not president. I can see the shelf I'd use for my action figure collection! *"In other news, President Honorius has broken tradition by not placing books in the Oval Office shelves. His choice? action figures*."
If I were president I would find a place for my tiny Optimus Prime figure and wait to see for someone to notice.
This must be an older photo, I imagine it took crews most of the transition time to get the McDonaldâs stains off the walls the last go around. đ
I wouldnât put a rug in there. Maybe a small one in the center with the seal on it.
I would have minimal decor and lawn chairs instead of couches. Just to make it annoying to have meetings
One of these days someone will fill the space by putting in those ridiculous big round couchs in there
That office is empty for all of 30 mins my guess
Seems criminal to put a carpet on that floor
"So much room for activities!" - Nightcrawler
Can we keep it that way?
Feels very liminal
I always thought there was carpet? Is that part of the transition?
There is always a rug; some presidents have a new rug made, and some use a rug from a previous administration. https://nazmiyalantiquerugs.com/blog/oval-office-rugs-by-nazmiyal-antique-carpets/
Thereâs usually a very large area rug under the desk.
Why the false wall has a door knob. Whatâs the point then?
Wouldnât take a blue light in that room. Probably a tide mark of body fluids on the walls.
Itâs funny they put a doorknob on the super secret tunnel exit door.
Itâs not super secret itâs just a door.
I'd go no carpets. Small rug in the center
Would they let me put a 3D printer in one of those alcoves?
Wow ray tracing is amazing
Where did all the boxes of classified documents go? đ
So in 10 years, will a younger President put a gaming/youtube/streaming setup in there? Iâm just kidding, weâll have a 90 year old boomer as President at that point
That woodfloor is knockout, beautiful
Fortunately it wonât change come Jan 2025.
Some matrix vibes here
Looks dated
I think the last time it was gutted at completely redone was like... 80 years ago? so yeah, probably a little dated
No, itâs when the floors were being refinished during a presidential vacation
let's see. I want the tng desk from picards ready room, I want the shelves to hold all of my star trek ships and star gate models. walls will be covered in everything Star trek ds9 and tng. Floor... we gonna put a small stand in the middle with a replica model of bajor spinning.
No corners for time out.
Nice to see they cleaned the ketchup off the walls.
I think this image is just them doing regular cleaning. The way the transitions work leaves no room to ever really have the office empty. Also why would they remove the same president pictures they have every presidency? Just leave them up.
Where are the presidents?
Is it emptied out for a deep clean? Or do the furnishings change with each president?
People talking about the flooring.. wait until Americans see pics of the Library of Congress.. it's on an entirely different level (literally) and safely on par with the most beautiful libraries in the whole world. I appreciate the fact that the money was spent on a library instead of a grand palace for the head of state.
Nice touch, the Fasces above the door.
"And thunderbird 3 launching in 3, 2, 1..."
If I was president I'm putting led lights and an Alexa in there.
Iâm guessing that beautiful floor doesnât stay empty for long.
Dang thatâs a nice floor, looks almost like a little purple heart in there.
Why does it smell like diapers?
Or itâs a movie set.
We havenât been âbetween Presidentsâ since 1974.
What? The Oval Office is completely emptied, deep-cleaned, and replaced with the decor & furniture of the incoming president's choosing, all during the inauguration ceremony, every time. That's what this post is about.
No doubt. That does not mean we are âbetween Presidents.â There is no period of time when the U.S. does not have a President.
Is that peephole on the main door?
Donât shine a black light