January 12, 2009—Two rooms in the White House are now adorned with new rugs made in Hendersonville, NC.
Mountain Rug Mills and Spinning Wheel Rugs, which was recently purchased by Mountain Rugs Mills, were commissioned by the White House Preservation Society three years ago to make the rugs, said Judy Morgan, who owns the company along with her husband, Gill.
The rugs were placed in the Family Dining Room and the Diplomatic Reception Room during a formal installation ceremony at the White House recently. First lady Laura Bush consulted with her on the design of the rugs, said Morgan, who made four trips to Washington. She was unable to attend the ceremony because of a scheduling conflict.
The rug in the Family Dining Room depicts eagles similar to those on the marble fireplace in the dining room. Design highlights include a “flower swag,” which are flowers coming across the eagles’ wings. The rug is 17 feet wide by 21 feet, 10 inches long and will replace a rug that had been in the dining room for the past 25 years.
The second rug, which is in the shape of an elliptical oval, features a huge eagle in the center with sun rays extending out, Morgan said. The rug’s border features the official seals of the 50 states and leaves and bands of color. The rug is 22 feet, 5 inches wide by 32 feet, 7 inches long. The Diplomatic Reception Room, on the ground floor, serves as the entrance from the South Lawn and a reception room where foreign ambassadors present their credentials.
