The only exception was an upgraded carpet. This savings allowed the design team to spend more on the executive offices and still come in under budget. Executive office areas were upgraded to include custom designed carpet, painted wood mouldings, millwork and furnishings. However, even here, budget constraints encouraged the use of painted walls rather than wall coverings. Walls are painted in traditional New England colors such as buttery yellow and federal blue.
Woodwork is painted, as well, in off-whites instead of having a natural wood finish.
The paint and colors also help validate the tradition and history of Houghton Mifflin. The dignified atmosphere of the executive office area was created within the budget by using woodwork painted in traditional New England colors, artful lighting and a deep blue carpet. The new executive office area, therefore, is much the same with smaller, private spaces that are similar in their traditional design, but somewhat varying to promote individuality. In the executive office area, there is a gracious board room that overlooks the building's interior courtyard, or Winter Garden as it is called. The board room is graced with books, original artwork, concealed electronics and a pleasant view of the building's interior courtyard, or Winter Garden.