Love Story Production Team Recreates Kennedy Compound

Production designer Alex DiGerlando reveals how they brought the iconic Hyannis Port estate to the small screen.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 6:46am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The production team behind the TV series Love Story faced the challenge of accurately recreating the iconic Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts for a pivotal scene in the show's fifth episode. While the actual compound was not used for filming, the team found a property on Long Island that closely matched the look and feel of the real estate, making key adjustments to capture the "spirit and the grandeur" of the Kennedy family's famous summer home.

Why it matters

The Kennedy Compound is a symbol of the Kennedy family's legacy and influence, so accurately depicting this setting was crucial for the show's authenticity. The production team's attention to detail in recreating the compound's distinctive architecture, decor, and lived-in atmosphere helped transport viewers to the world of the Kennedys and immerse them in the story.

The details

The production team started by doing meticulous research to understand the real Kennedy Compound, then made strategic adjustments to fit the show's visual style. They found a house on Long Island that matched the compound's waterfront location and grand scale, and set about transforming it - replacing modern elements with period-appropriate details like floral wallpaper, a white gravel driveway, and a flagpole. For a key dining room scene, they even built an enlarged version of the compound's actual dining room on a soundstage to accommodate more actors. The team also carefully curated family photos to include the show's cast, and added small touches like beach towels and a chalkboard to make the space feel truly lived-in.

  • The production team began researching the Kennedy Compound early in the process of developing Love Story.
  • The key dining room scene set in the Kennedy Compound was filmed on a soundstage, not the actual Long Island location.

The players

Alex DiGerlando

The production designer for the TV series Love Story, who was tasked with recreating the iconic Kennedy Compound for the show.

Ryan Murphy

The creator of the TV series Love Story, who had a specific vision for the show's visual style that the production team had to balance with historical accuracy.

Jessica Harper

The actress who played Ethel Kennedy, the Kennedy family matriarch, in the Love Story series.

Paul Eskenazi

The location manager who led the search for a property that could stand in for the Kennedy Compound during filming.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Ryan really wanted to lean into this '90s minimalist aesthetic overall. And that meant we wanted to be historically accurate, but we also wanted to tweak the dials of stylization to our liking to fit the vibe of the show that we were trying to make.”

— Alex DiGerlando, Production Designer (townandcountrymag.com)

“The house didn't look anything like the actual Kennedy compound, but it was on the water; it was grand; it had great period details.”

— Alex DiGerlando, Production Designer (townandcountrymag.com)

“It really made it easier to get into the seams of what we were doing.”

— Jessica Harper, Actress (townandcountrymag.com)

What’s next

The production team will likely continue to share behind-the-scenes details about the making of Love Story, including more insights into how they approached recreating other iconic settings from the Kennedy family's history.

The takeaway

The Love Story production team's meticulous recreation of the Kennedy Compound demonstrates the level of care and attention to detail required to authentically bring a beloved historical setting to life on screen, while also balancing the creative vision of the show's creators.