Polly Jessup was born in Hartford, Connecticut. Jessup moved to Hobe Sound from New York with her husband John Jessup in the 1920s. Although she never received a formal training in interior design, her eye for color, form, and style made her a nationally renowned interior designer whose designs were integral to the gracious lifestyle for which Palm Beach is known. In 1928 Jessup established a restoration workshop in West Palm Beach which focused on woodworking, upholstery, and painting. She was known for her collaborations with Marion Sims Wyeth, and designed interiors for Mrs. Edward Swenson, John B. Ford Jr., and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Clay Ford. Jessup remained active in interior design for over sixty years and was named the “Grand Dame of Palm Beach Decorators” in a profile by the New York Times published in 1987.
