Transforming Baseboards into Marble: Decorative Finishes Inside the Secretary’s Inner Office at the U.S. Department of the Treasury
In October 2025, I visited the United States Department of the Treasury to look at a decorative painting project inside what is commonly referred to as the Inner Office of the Secretary of the Treasury.
This was not my first time working with this type of historic decorative finish. I have spent many years studying and creating faux painted finishes, painted marble, wood graining, murals, and traditional decorative arts. But every historic building has its own character, and the Treasury Building is one of those places where the history of the space immediately stands out.
The work was completed inside the office of Secretary Scott Bessent, in the United States Department of the Treasury Building in Washington, D.C.
The project focused on faux painting the baseboards so they would better relate to the marble and architectural details already existing in the room. The baseboards had been painted white, but the goal was to make them look like they belonged with the surrounding marble rather than standing out as a separate painted element.
One of the most interesting parts of this project is the larger history behind the Treasury Building itself. The building originally contained extensive decorative painted finishes, including beautiful painted architectural details. Over time, the vast majority of those finishes disappeared. Many were painted over, removed, or lost as the building changed through different periods of use.
The finished baseboards now relate more naturally to the marble in the room and help create a more complete, unified appearance. It is the kind of detail many people may not immediately notice, but it makes the room feel more finished and historically appropriate.