The vision to respect the forceful style of the principal officer's residence (once the former winter home of Franklin D. Roosevelt) contributed to the success of the renovation. Discrete improvements enhanced the grandeur of the simplified classicism without diminishing the scale and character of the buildings and its spaces. Special care was taken in many areas, especially the cleaning delicate soft coral based jaiminita limestone, the terrazzo and hardwood floors, and the many ornamental plastered walls. Kitchens and bathrooms needed refurbishment to meet today's standard for diplomatic residences. Ultimately, the insertion of new electrical and HVAC systems without degrading the integrity of the rooms achieved the project's fully successful realization.