The changing style of the White House through the ages

The secrets of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

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The official residence and workplace of the president of the United States has gone through many dramatic changes over the years. We take a fascinating look at how the interiors have evolved since the mansion's completion at the turn of the 18th century.

Modest beginnings

Courtesy Library of Congress

Designed by Irish-born architect James Hoban, the original whitewashed 'President's House' was completed in 1800 at a cost of $232,372 (£175k). Based on the elegant Leinster House in Dublin, the relatively modest Georgian mansion had around 20 principal rooms, compared to 132 today.

First occupants

Courtesy The White House Historical Association

President John Adams and First Lady Abigail Adams were the first occupants, moving in on November 1, 1800. Damp and draughty, the house had little interior decoration and the unadorned East Room was famously used by Mrs Adams to dry laundry.

Rich decoration

Courtesy Peter Waddell/The White House Historical Association

In 1801, President Thomas Jefferson took up residence, importing wallpaper and furnishings from France. By the time President James Madison entered office in 1809, America's finest house was richly decorated. This painting shows a party First Lady Dolley Madison hosted in the Blue Room in 1810.

Devastating fire

Courtesy The Montpelier Foundation

British troops invaded Washington in 1814 and razed the White House to the ground. The soldiers ransacked the mansion before they set it ablaze, stealing anything of value. Luckily, Dolley Madison managed to rescue the iconic painting of George Washington just before the building was attacked.

Rebuilding project

George Munger White House [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

After the fire had been extinguished, only a charred shell remained. The original architect James Hoban was hired to design and oversee the reconstruction project, and the White House had been rebuilt by 1817.

Elegant additions

1824 Rufus Porter [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The revamped executive mansion is depicted in this folk painting from 1824 during the Monroe administration. That same year, the South Portico was completed, while the North Portico was finished in 1830.

Luxe makeover

Courtesy Peter Waddell/The White House Historical Association

The White House got its first luxe makeover during the presidency of Andrew Jackson. By the time the seventh POTUS left office in 1837, his administration had spent $45,000 (£34k), a huge sum of money, beautifying the interiors. Shown here is the East Room in 1837.

Lavish spending

Notice to Quit 1841 PD

America's eighth president Martin Van Buren went one better, splurging on pricey marble tables, chandeliers, and more. This lavish spending during an economic depression contributed to his defeat in 1840.

The creation of the Red Room

David Ramsey/The White House Historical Association

The White House was updated again in the late 1840s under President James K. Polk, who, together with First Lady Sarah Polk decorated what was then known as the Washington Parlour with rich crimson curtains, wallpaper and furnishings, creating the illustrious Red Room.

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Mod cons

Courtesy The White House Historical Association

A number of new-fangled inventions found their way into the White House during the 1840s, including gas lighting and central heating. This print from 1853 depicts a presidential reception in the East Room.

Sorry state

Son of the South PD

Despite the works undertaken in the 1850s, the White House was in a sorry state of disrepair when this print, which shows a presidential reception in the Yellow Oval Room, was published in 1862 at the height of the Civil War.

Wartime neglect

By Unknown author (Collection of Jim Hood.) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

President Abraham Lincoln was far too caught up with winning the war to devote much attention to maintaining the executive mansion, and understandably so. This early photograph of the East Room was taken sometime between 1862 and 1867.

High Victorian makeover

Courtesy The White House Historical Association

Lincoln's successor Andrew Johnson was granted $132,000 (£100k) to overhaul the tired interiors, and President Ulysses S. Grant picked up where he left off, giving the White House an extravagant High Victorian Makeover. The refreshed East Room is shown here in 1873.

Tiffany transformation

Courtesy Peter Waddell/The White House Historical Association

In 1882, President Chester Arthur added to the flashy Victoriana when he commissioned Louis Tiffany to redecorate the Red Room. Interestingly, this painting of how the room looked at the time depicts the view of the Potomac River, which is no longer visible from the White House.

OTT décor

Courtesy Library of Congress

As you can see from this contemporary photo, the rejigged room almost looks cluttered. Restrained Neoclassicism was deeply unfashionable at this time, and rooms tended to be big on OTT decoration.

Glass screen

Courtesy The White House Historical Association

Tiffany was also tasked with redecorating the East Room, Blue Room and State Dining Room, but saved his pièce de résistance for the White House Entrance Hall: a bejewelled coloured glass screen spanning fifty feet.

Electricity installed

Courtesy The White House Historical Association

Electricity was installed in the White House in 1891. During the early 1890s, First Lady Caroline Harrison oversaw the redecoration of several rooms, including the presidential bedroom, which is shown here.

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Neoclassical restoration

Courtesy Library of Congress

In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt hired architectural firm McKim, Mead & White to renovate the White House in keeping with its Neoclassical aesthetic. Much of the ostentatious Victoriana was ripped out, including the Tiffany glass screen, as you can see from this image of the restored Entrance Hall from 1904.

Pared-down staircase

Courtesy The White House Historical Association

Subtle and tasteful to a T, this rediscovered elegance and pared-down simplicity is reflected in the redesigned main staircase, which McKim, Mead & White kept as minimal and unfussy as possible.

Green Room refurb

Courtesy Library of Congress

The Green Room was overhauled to imitate a typical 1820s-style drawing room and decorated in the French Empire style that was all the rage at the time. The white fireplace mantel was taken from the State Dining Room, adding a classy touch.

Red Room redo

Courtesy Library of Congress

The froufrou Red Room was decluttered and kitted out with plush Turkish-style upholstery. The most exquisite burgundy velvet wallpaper was selected for the room, and the shaded Victorian chandelier was replaced with a candelabra-style light fitting.

State Dining Room remodel

Courtesy Library of Congress

The most radical transformation was reserved for the State Dining Room, which was expanded to accommodate 100 guests. The room was decorated with moose and elk heads, a move that was mocked in the media at the time.

West Wing

Courtesy White House Museum

The West Wing also came into being as a result of President Roosevelt's 1902 project. Office staff were moved from the second floor of the White House into the extension, which was originally intended as a temporary structure.

Oval Office

By GearedBull at English Wikipedia.(Original text: Uncredited) (My collection) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

In 1909, President William Howard Taft added what is arguably the White House's most famous room, the Oval Office, opting for a green colour scheme. Since then, every president has put his particular mark on the space.

China Room

Courtesy The White House Historical Association

During President Woodrow Wilson's administration, various maintenance works were undertaken but nothing major was done. First Lady Edith Wilson did however create the China Room to show off the White House's extensive porcelain collection.

Monroe Room

Courtesy Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum

Maintenance continued during the 1920s. In 1929, a fire destroyed the West Wing, which was rebuilt and expanded in the early 1930s by President Herbert Hoover. His wife Lou Hoover created the historical Monroe Room around this time, filling it with reproduction furniture.

Falling apart

Abbie Rowe [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Neglected during the Great Depression and World War II, the White House was in a bad way by the mid 1940s. The chandelier in the Blue Room for instance was swaying noticeably by 1946, so much so that First Lady Bess Truman worried it would come crashing down, along with the ceiling.

Truman reconstruction

Abbie Rowe [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

In fact, the White House was in serious danger of collapsing. In 1948, the building was deemed unsafe for occupancy, and a massive reconstruction project was given the green light. Work began in 1949, and the White House was completely gutted.

Rebuild completed

U.S. National Archives/Flick CC

The hugely complex reconstruction project was completed in 1952, but it wasn't without its critics, who included former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. She described the remodelled interiors as “stark”. This image shows the reconstructed State Dining Room.

Modern upgrades

U.S. National Archives/Flick CC

President Truman made a number of up to the minute upgrades to the executive mansion. These included installing air conditioning, which made living and working in the White House a whole lot more comfortable, as well as creating a dedicated Broadcast Room.

Kennedy renovation

Courtesy Robert L. Knudsen/John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

When Jacqueline Kennedy became First Lady in 1961, she made it her mission to recapture the historical character of the White House interiors. Working with top American and French interior designers, the cultured First Lady restored several spaces with impeccable taste, including the Blue Room.

Red Room restoration

Courtesy Robert L. Knudsen/John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

While the Blue Room was decorated in a French Empire style, the opulent Red Room references a classic American Empire aesthetic. Exquisite antiques were placed in the room, including a sofa that once belonged to Dolley Madison and a French chandelier crafted in 1820.

Green Room revival

Courtesy Robert L. Knudsen/John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

The Green Room was adorned with gorgeous moss-green silk wallpaper and several pieces of antique furniture upholstered in white and cream, as well as a late 18th century Axminster carpet featuring a Neoclassical design. Other spaces decorated by Mrs Kennedy include the Yellow Oval Room.

Televised tour

Courtesy Robert L. Knudsen/John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

In 1962, the First Lady delighted the American public with a televised tour of the restored White House. The TV special, which was broadcast on Valentine's Day, was a ratings smash, garnering 80 million viewers, and went on to win an Emmy and Peabody Award.

Nixon regeneration

By White House Photo Office (US government, Executive Office of the President) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

First Lady Pat Nixon was just as passionate as Jacqueline Kennedy about preserving the historical character of the White House. She worked with curator Clement Conger to restore several rooms, improving on the work of her predecessor. This photo of the finished Green Room was taken in 1971.

Lincoln Sitting Room

White House/Getty

Maintenance work was carried out during the Reagan and Bush Senior years, but no major renovations were undertaken. President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton decorated several rooms and restored the Lincoln Sitting Room, which is shown here in the 1990s.

Lincoln Bedroom

Courtesy The White House Historical Association

The Green Room, Cabinet Room and White House Theatre were spruced up by First Lady Laura Bush in the early 2000s. A history buff, the First Lady redecorated the Lincoln Bedroom in suitably authentic style, plumping for fixtures and furniture typical of the 1860s.

State Dining Room

The White House [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

In order to retain their historical integrity, First Lady Michelle Obama was careful not to alter the State Rooms too drastically and opted for a less is more approach when she tackled the State Dining Room in 2015. The softly sophisticated makeover cost $590,000 (£448k).

Trump tweaks

The White House from Washington, DC (President Trump's First 100 Days: 43) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

From assuming office in January 2017, President Donald Trump spent $3.4 million (£2.6m) “to bring back the luster and glory of the White House”, which he described as “a real dump” back in August 2017.

Oval Office overhaul

Chip-Somodevilla/Getty

The 45th US president, who prefers to spend his leisure time at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida or his New Jersey golf club, didn't waste any time redecorating the Oval Office. The first thing the new president changed was the “stained” wallpaper, opting for a grey damask print.

Gold accents

Alex Wong/Getty

The former POTUS re-instated the gold curtains used by Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, swapped the midcentury modern furniture for Bush Junior's gold-hued sofas. He also brought back the golden rug designed by First Lady Nancy Reagan.

Gilded eagles

Alex Wong/Getty

The Roosevelt Room had a Trump makeover, too. Displaying his penchant for all things shiny and gold, the current leader of the free world has adorned the room with two imposing gilded eagles, snapped up from a Maryland antique shop.

West Wing Lobby refresh

Alex Wong/Getty

Parts of the West Wing were also refreshed. The Lobby was given a corporate, business hotel feel – its neutral walls and grey patterned carpet wouldn't look out of place in one of the former president's hotels.

Blingy touches

Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty

Trump's love of gold was especially apparent in April when he hosted the first state dinner of his presidency, a lavish affair in honour of President Emmanuel Macron of France. The gold and crème colour scheme was selected by First Lady Melania Trump.

Melania's legacy

@FLOTUS / Twitter

During her time as First Lady, Melania Trump carried on the tradition of improving and refreshing the White House. On her penultimate day in the role, she posted a statement covering the changes and thanking the various White House officials – and private donors – who helped make her vision a reality. She said: “The projects that I have overseen during the last four years are ones which I believe will not only preserve the house’s heritage but enhance the experience of its beauty and solemnity for generations to come."

Diplomatic spaces

The White House (Public domain)

From replacing the faded wallpaper in the Red Room to freshening up the drapes in the Green Room, Melania worked with the White House curatorial team on a number of projects. “In 2018, we completed the first full renovation of the Queen’s Bathroom since the 1950s,” she said. "Our goal of updating and restoring 'The President’s Elevator', which is used by the First Family, visiting dignitaries, and White House staff, was accomplished in the same year." She also replaced the rug in the Diplomatic Room (pictured), adding a border of 50 flowers to represent each state.

Big plans

@FLOTUS / Twitter

But Melania’s plans for the White House went beyond the cosmetic – she wanted to make structural renovations and so turned her attention to some big-scale projects. "In 2019 we embarked on a several months-long restoration of the East Room floor, which brought to life the true magnificence of this historic space. This was done in tandem with work performed on the marble floors of the State Entrance and Hallway." But perhaps her most lasting legacy can be found in the grounds...

The Bowling Alley

Official White House / Andrea Hanks (Public domain)

Melania Trump was also keen to restore the White House's very own basement bowling alley - a space which dates back to the Nixon administration - which was drastically modernised in 1994 under the Clinton administration. The work was paid for by the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America and involved reinstating the original wooden lanes, updated the electrical wiring and some machinery and touching up the interior design.

The Tennis Pavilion

@FLOTUS / Twitter

From breaking ground in October 2019 to completion in 2020, the Tennis Pavillion has been a passion project for Melania, who raised private donations to pay for the build. "History continues to unfold at the @WhiteHouse & I am pleased to announce the completion of the tennis pavilion. Preserving this historic landmark is vital & I want to thank all who helped complete this project," she tweeted.

The Rose Garden

@FLOTUS / Twitter

Following in the footsteps on many first ladies before her, she also put her own stamp on the iconic Rose Garden. In a move criticised by some traditionalists, the red and yellow blooms were replaced with icy white flowers. She tweeted in August 2020: "Excited to honor history & celebrate the future in our beautiful @WhiteHouse Rose Garden this evening. Thank you to all who helped renew this iconic & truly gorgeous space."

Floor Frame

@FLOTUS / Twitter

Perhaps one of the boldest additions to the Rose Garden is the Isamu Noguchi's Floor Frame sculpture, unveiled in November 2020. Bought by the White House Historical Association for $125,000 at an auction by Sotheby's it was gifted to become part of the residence's expansive art collection and sits at the east terrace. She tweeted: "The art piece is humble in scale, complements the authority of the Oval Office, & represents the important contributions of Asian American artists.”

Passing the baton

SAMUEL CORUM/AFP via Getty Images

As Melania and Donald Trump leave the White House, Melania urged Jill Biden to carry on with a few of her pet projects. In her last official statement, she said: “The restoration and conservation of the priceless Zuber wallpaper in the Family Dining Room, perhaps the most ambitious project of the Administration, remains to be completed, and will be, I hope, admired by all who see its beauty.”

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