The challenge wasn't just recreating the 1990s; it was recreating the specific, high-stakes intimacy of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. For production designer Alex DiGerlando, the FX series Love Story required a visual language that felt both authentic to the era and restrained enough to keep the focus on the central couple. He didn't want a museum exhibit. He wanted a mood.

DiGerlando, a New Jersey native who spent his formative years in the city, understood that the New York of the 90s wasn't just about the architecture—it was about the tension between public spectacle and private minimalism. By stripping away the clutter, he forced the audience to look at the actors, not the wallpaper. It was a gamble that turned the show’s sets into a character of their own.

The Art of the 'Twist' at the Onassis Apartment

Designing the home of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis presented a unique problem: the historical record was too precise. DiGerlando relied on the Sotheby’s auction catalog and the book Cooking for Madam to map out the Fifth Avenue residence, but he quickly realized that a literal recreation would clash with the show’s visual palette.

"It’s an amazing apartment, and she has impeccable taste, but some of her design choices were a little at odds with what we wanted for the show," DiGerlando says. Instead of a direct copy, he chose to "twist the dials." He kept the furniture layouts exact but altered the textures. The dining room’s iconic blue striped sofa became pink and white; the busy red-patterned wallpaper was swapped for a soft, muted blush. The result was a space that felt like the real Onassis home, but filtered through the show's romantic, minimalist lens.

Minimalism as a Narrative Tool

For JFK Jr.’s loft, DiGerlando made a choice that terrified his team: he left the walls bare. There was no art, no clutter, and no period-specific knick-knacks to hide behind. "It was a scary choice," he admits. "But it allowed the focus to remain on the actors. I think it paid off because when you watch the show as an overall piece, the actors really move to the foreground, and the artwork is them."

This philosophy drew inspiration from the golden age of Hollywood, where sets were built on tighter budgets to ensure the stars remained the center of gravity. By restricting the color palette to whites and neutrals, DiGerlando ensured that the audience’s eye never wandered.

From Industrial Offices to Hidden Gems

Capturing the aesthetic of Calvin Klein’s 90s empire required a different approach. DiGerlando leaned into the "high-tech minimalism" of interior designer Joe D’Urso and the architectural precision of John Pawson. He filled the office sets with gray sheet-metal shelving and industrial floodlight fixtures, mirroring the cold, sterile, yet fashionable world of 90s corporate luxury.

Finding the city’s lost nightlife was even more difficult. When the production needed to recreate the legendary Roxy nightclub, they couldn't find a standing structure that matched the scale. They ended up in a cavernous venue in Bushwick, Brooklyn, called Elsewhere. By adding chandeliers, disco balls, and banquettes, they transformed a modern space into a 90s relic.

Perhaps the most authentic touch was the use of Panna II Garden Restaurant. While the script only called for a generic Indian restaurant, DiGerlando struggled to find a location that felt right. He stumbled upon Panna II, which remains largely unchanged from the 90s. It was the perfect "off the beaten track" location where a couple like Kennedy and Bessette could feasibly hide from the paparazzi.

Key Takeaways

  • Intentional Minimalism: By stripping back artwork and color, the production design forced the audience to focus entirely on the performances of the lead actors.
  • Creative Liberties: Rather than strictly adhering to historical archives, the team adjusted color palettes and patterns to maintain a cohesive, romantic aesthetic across the series.
  • Authenticity in the Obscure: The production prioritized finding existing, unchanged spaces like Panna II over building expensive replicas, grounding the show in real-world history.

Looking Ahead

As the series continues to draw viewers, the impact of these design choices is becoming clear. The sets don't just provide a backdrop; they reinforce the isolation and the intense, claustrophobic nature of the couple's relationship. For DiGerlando, the work is done, but the standard for period-accurate, character-driven design has been set.

With the show now streaming on Hulu, the question for future productions won't be whether they can afford to build a perfect replica of 90s New York, but whether they have the restraint to build something that actually serves the story.