This story was first published in 2024
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We all know presidents don’t sleep where our tours are held …you know, amidst those different colored rooms. A tour guide once told me there’s a secret elevator that takes the president to the second floor where their private headquarters are located and essentially, where they live with their family.
Through every presidency, the rooms of that second floor were redecorated and styled by high-profile interior designers who adapted the style of every First Family. This part of the White House, of course, isn’t on display for public tours. However, there are some photos to give us a glimpse of these historic living areas. Let’s take a peak at some of the rooms.
The Master Bedroom
Since the early 19th century, presidents have been in this particular room to slumber with a sitting room, dressing room and large bathroom attached in typical luxury fashion. Before, it was common for the President and First Lady to have separate rooms, usually giving the FLOTUS’s more room to spread out but more importantly, more space to decorate! Here’s a glimpse of First Lady Betty Ford giving a tour of the main bedroom in 1974.
Jackie Kennedy’s Master Bedroom
Jackie Kennedy had the master bedroom all to herself as her husband slept in another room. Business Insider reports she decorated the room to resemble her Georgetown home.
Sitting Room of Bedroom
Jackie Kennedy kept the color scheme of blue and white all about the room.
The Reagan’s Sitting Room
Their decorating style was more classical and traditional.
The Obamas’ Modern Approach
Sleek solid colors, not too many patterns, evidently fluffy pillows – my kind of style.
The Lincoln Bedroom
What used to be Abraham Lincoln’s office was transformed into a guest room connected to a guest suite. The room features a rosewood-painted and grained walnut bedframe which has rarely left this room throughout the presidencies, per The White House Historical Association. This image is a colorized look at its earliest version in 1952 during the Eisenhower administration.
Redecorated by First Lady Laura Bush
The wallpaper you’re looking at became a staple for the next few presidencies – all the up to the Obamas.
Lincoln Sitting Room
Sitting adjacent to the Lincoln Bedroom, is a small study. The image above is the sitting room in 1966 as designed under the Lyndon B. Johnson administration.
As Designed by Hillary Clinton
This image is from its design by Hillary Clinton in 1993. Keeping those tones of red and beige, I see.
The Queen’s Bedroom
Arguably the most gaudy and antique room in the private quarters of the second floor is the Queen’s Bedroom. The room features a Sheraton four canopy bed, a trumeau mirror, mahogany secretary, and shield-back chairs, per the White House Historical Association. Its use is typically for presidential private secretaries or sometimes, the First Ladies. The image above is from the Johnson administration.
The Clinton’s Design
By 2000, the entire color scheme and theme of this room changed. However, maintained its layering of patterns.
The Obama’s Redecorating
While keeping the Clinton’s color scheme, the bedding was swapped for a plain white color to take a break from all the shapes and patterns.
The Treaty Room
The office, which operated as an office away from thee (Oval) office as well as a family gathering space, went through several different phases of decorating to accommodate what felt most like home for the First Families. The image above is from Reagan administration where he had the living space decorated with his family’s own furniture and artwork.
More of Reagan’s Renovation
Similar floral patterns from the Reagans’ master bedroom complimented this space.
The Obama’s Homey Redecorating
In a more comfy approach, the room featured modern art, family pictures, former President Obama’s Grammy awards and a personalized football, per NBC.
Another View of The Obamas
You can tell this was the real family living room.
East Sitting Hall
Most recognized for its beautiful large fan window seen from the hallway and its 22-foot ceiling, the space was mainly used as a reception area for people who desired to meet the President, per the White House Museum. In the image above, former President Lyndon B. Johnson is seen sitting with a few executives.
Old Floral Patterns of the Ford Administration
Former President Gerald Ford playing with his dog in the family room in 1975. One thing about it, the drapes will NEVER cover that gorgeous window pane.
The Obamas’ Cozy Take
These sofas look like you could fall asleep in them.
The Old Family Dining Room
This space for family dinners featured boutique furniture imported from several states and by the 20th century, a dazzling chandelier. The image above is the design from the Theodore Roosevelt presidency in 1902.
Kennedy’s Restoration
By 1961, the former President John F. Kennedy made some adjustments such as removing moulding, lowering the window panels and of course, a new paint job, per the White House Historical Association.
The Obamas’ Bright Take
Including works by the first Black woman artist to be featured in the White House, Alma Thomas, the new look to the dining room gave much more vibrance and color to the space, via NBC.
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