
Exhibit of Kennedy's Hyannisport interior design
A new exhibit at the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum, titled "Cape Cod: The Heart and Home of the Kennedy Family," provides an intimate look into the interiors of the historic Kennedy compound in Hyannisport. The exhibit, running through the end of 2014, showcases photographs and artifacts from the personal collection of Robert Luddington, the interior designer who collaborated with Rose Kennedy to decorate the main house over 50 years ago. This collection offers a unique perspective on the family's private life and the home environment that served as both a personal retreat and a political hub.
The sunroom, a central feature of the Hyannisport summer home of Joe and Rose Kennedy, is highlighted in the exhibit. Luddington, now 89, describes it as a warm and comfortable space designed for family gatherings. However, its versatility extended beyond leisure, as evidenced by President John F. Kennedy holding a defense-budget meeting there, making crucial national decisions amidst the chintz draperies and early-American antiques chosen by his mother and Luddington. The exhibit also features the living room, kitchen, and other areas of the house, allowing visitors to visualize the family's daily life.
Rebecca Pierce-Merrick, co-founder and curator of the museum, discovered Luddington's extensive photo collection, recognizing its potential to offer visitors a rare glimpse inside the compound. The photographs are the exhibit's main attraction, depicting family moments like Joseph Kennedy's 75th birthday celebration in the dining room. Images of the living room reveal a preference for floral English chintz, a fabric Rose Kennedy particularly favored, with framed samples from Luddington's collection displayed alongside the photos. The kitchen photos illustrate a more informal setting, with a small table for conversations over coffee and a pile of spoons kept near the stove for quick tastes of simmering dishes.
The images go beyond merely showcasing design elements; they capture the rooms in use, featuring young JFK and Edward Kennedy laughing among their family. Pierce-Merrick notes that the exhibit allows visitors to feel as though they are looking into the windows of the house during the presidential era. Despite a predominantly traditional décor, the home incorporated modern conveniences for its time. Joseph Kennedy had a custom-built scale in his bathroom that displayed his weight on a wall-mounted dial, and the basement housed what is believed to be one of the East's first home theaters.
Luddington's association with the Kennedy family began in 1957 when Rose Kennedy enlisted him to refurbish a Boston apartment for her son John. His successful work led to subsequent interior design projects at the Hyannisport house. Luddington emphasizes that decorating for the Kennedys was more than just another job, reflecting its unique significance. He recounts how the compound evolved from the main house purchased by Joe and Rose in 1928, with John F. Kennedy buying a nearby home in 1956 and Robert following suit a few years later. The Hyannisport compound gained renown as both a family escape and a center for political operations. Rose Kennedy, however, always prioritized comfort and relaxation for her family over lavishness or grandeur in her design choices. The exhibit provides information on its location at the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum, 397 Main St., and its duration through the end of 2014, with additional details available on the museum's website.
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