Design Rocket: A view inside my own Oval Office on Presidents' Day

I am nothing if not very patriotic. Not sure why, except I do love this country and everything it has to offer. As a descendent of immigrants (aren't we all?) I can see within my own family and also that of my husband's family that due to the absence of any of the truly defined classes that do exist within other countries, our free wheeling society does allow anyone to be anything. In the US, you can really come from nothing and be something. All it takes is tenacity.

I also have a thing for patriotic kitsch and presidential collectibles. Around 2001 the powder room by the front door turned into the "State Room." Now I actually call it the "Oval Office." It is hard to pin down how it all began, but I think it started with some wonderful vintage US map embroideries that I picked up at antiques stores, and it was nailed down with the presidents tray I found a couple of years later. And, well, you know how it is: you find one thing, then for some reason you find another just like it, and before you know it you are "on the hunt" for as many of whatever it is that you can get your hands on. I hate to tell you how many of my collections started just that way. In this case we have a whole bathroom filled with the pictures of the presidents. This half bath is so tiny, that I can't really get good shots of the room itself, and so I offer up vignettes. Check out the Teddy plate up in the corner. That's my latest find. So, without further ado, welcome to my little Oval Office.....

Here is the famous tray that really got the ball rolling. The latest president on this appears to be McKinley.

Found this wonderful scarf at a local antiques show. Believe it to be from the 20s since the last president pictured is Woodrow Wilson.

How about a little close-up of Ike and Mamie peeking out of the covered wagon behind George and Martha? Yes, I like the wives, too (well, most of them anyway).