White House Upgrade: First Lady Melania Trump Has Done a Lot With the Place

First Lady Melania Trump arrives before President Donald Trump presents the Medal of Freedom to former New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera in the East Room of the White House in Washington on Sept. 16, 2019. Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP

New pictures taken by an Associated Press photographer showed how first lady Melania Trump has upgraded the White House ahead of a visit from the prime minister of Australia and his family for the second official state dinner.

AP noted that there is the new fabric in the Red Room, new draperies in the Green Room, and newly restored furniture in the Blue Room.

In the Red Room, the wall fabric was “so faded it was almost pink,” said Stewart McLaurin, president of the White House Historical Association, AP reported.

This Sept. 17, 2019, photo shows refreshed wall fabric in the Red Room of the White House in Washington. Sunlight streaming into the Red Room had left wall fabric "so faded it was almost pink," said Stewart McLaurin, president of the White House Historical Association. AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

“Those rooms should always look their very best and it was just very faded and really, really needed to be done,” McLaurin said. His organization was founded by former first lady Jackie Kennedy in 1961.

This Sept. 17, 2019, photo shows refreshed wall fabric in the Red Room of the White House in Washington. Sunlight streaming into the Red Room had left wall fabric "so faded it was almost pink," said Stewart McLaurin, president of the White House Historical Association. AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

This Sept. 17, 2019, photo shows a restored chair in the Blue Room of the White House in Washington. The restoration was part of the improvement projects that first lady Melania Trump has overseen to keep the well-trod public rooms at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue looking their museum-quality best. AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

“The White House does get a lot of wear and tear,” he added, the news agency reported. The White House gets hundreds of thousands of tourists and visitors, including state dignitaries, per year.

All first ladies have to partake in caretaking, meaning that she has to meet with the chief usher, the head curator, and other staff at the White House how to improve the premises.

This Sept. 17, 2019, photo shows repurposed draperies in the Green Room of the White House in Washington, which are among the improvement projects that first lady Melania Trump has overseen to keep the well-trod public rooms at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue looking their museum-quality best. AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

This Sept. 17, 2019, photo shows a portrait of former first lady Edith Roosevelt (R), wife of President Theodore Roosevelt, in the Green Room of the White House in Washington. The portrait was placed in the Green Room as part of the improvement projects first lady Melania Trump has overseen to keep the well-trod public rooms at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue looking their museum-quality best. AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

“Our family is grateful to live in this true symbol of our nation’s history, but we are even more honored to play a part in restoring and enhancing our country’s sacred landmark,” Melania Trump said in May.

This Sept. 17, 2019, photo shows restored furniture in the Blue Room of the White House in Washington. The restoration was part of the improvement projects that first lady Melania Trump has overseen to keep the well-trod public rooms at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue looking their museum-quality best. AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

Last year, the White House underwent renovations while President Trump visited New Jersey, CNN reported.

Officials said that marble would be repaired, ceilings would be repainted, and paving stones leveled.

This Sept. 17, 2019, photo shows a piece of restored furniture in the Blue Room of the White House in Washington. The restoration was part of the improvement projects that first lady Melania Trump has overseen to keep the well-trod public rooms at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue looking their museum-quality best. AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

The report noted that in 2017, the White House also saw upgrades to the West Wing lobby and work done in the executive mansion.

White House aides at the time said the historic building was in dire need of repairs.

“There was an emphasis on bringing back the history to this building and the elegance,” deputy press secretary Lindsay Walters said in 2017, according to the news outlet.

This Sept. 17, 2019, photo shows refreshed wall fabric in the Red Room of the White House in Washington. Sunlight streaming into the Red Room had left wall fabric "so faded it was almost pink," said Stewart McLaurin, president of the White House Historical Association. AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison stated he looks forward to meeting President Trump and members of the administration “to discuss how we can further strengthen our alliance and already close partnership.”

“There is no deeper friendship than that which exists between Australia and the United States,” Morrison said in a statement. “We see the world through the same eyes, with shared values and a deep commitment to promoting peace, liberty and prosperity,” he added.

The upcoming state dinner on Friday, Sept. 20 is only the second of Trump’s time in the White House.

French President Emmanuel Macron was the guest of honor in the first state dinner in 2018.