In 1961, when Jackie Kennedy moved into the White House, she began the massive undertaking of restoring the home to presidential status. Currently decorated in Truman-era style with post-war funds, replicas of antiques and cheap reproductions of period pieces had been purchased quickly. Many did not feel that the decor was fitting for the first family, so Jackie set out to restore the home to its original grandeur, all on a tight budget. Her upbringing provided a foundation to recognize authentic period pieces and antiques, while maintaining a youthful aesthetic.
These archived photos of the 1962 Kennedy White House represent the private bedrooms of the first family: Jackie Kennedy's redesigned master bedroom, Caroline Kennedy's bedroom (look at that rocking horse!), and little John John's bedroom. What do you think?
See more of the Kennedy Renovation at the White House Museum.
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Beautiful!
I would love to see what those rooms look like now and if they kept any rooms the same from Jackie's time there.
Lovely color palette and sense of scale. The rooms are not gigantic, but they are so airy and elegant. McMansion dwellers should take notes.
I know I'm dating myself, but my parents had the same bed rails for me and my brother in Caroline's room.
The rooms are nice, though the lack of wall color seems a little sterile. Then again, $50,000.00 dollars in 1961 dollars to furnish the 3 bedroom private residence within the White House was quite a bit of money. More impressive was the restoration of the public rooms.
I might also suggest viewing the John F. Kennedy library's page on the subject.
www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/JFK-in-History/The-White-House-Restoration.aspx
Cold and uninviting to me.
Not sure how 'elegant pastels' figures in this post. That said, Jackie O was/is certainly the epitome of elegant design. I find the twin beds in her bedroom....intriguing(?)
I find the rooms charming and sophisticated. I wish that wonderful family had been spared so much tragedy.
Budget makeover?
For the person who wondered if anything remains of the private space, Presidential families are always allowed to redecorate their private quarters. I'm sure the space looked quite different under Nancy Reagan's commaand. The Clintons were heavily criticized in the design press for their private quarters taste.
It would be nice if something so restrained and elegant could last forever. Sadly enough, the lives of that distinguished family were famously short, save for Caroline Kennedy.