Back in 2014 and 16 saw me in Newport, Rhode Island. For me and most East Coasters, it's a fast and easy get away, one which I highly recommend. A great option right now considering the pandemic restriction of traveling aboard. Newport is so beautiful and a very chic town. The views are great off the coast, there is sailing, and if you love architecture, past times and mansions...then you'll love this town. My favorite was the Marble House, a Gilded Age mansion. Designed as a summer cottage for William Vanderbilt, grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt, who gave it to his wife, Alva Vanderbilt for her 39th birthday. (I reeeeeallly need a rich man). The society architect Richard Morris Hunt, was it's creator. It was unparalleled in opulence for an American house when it was completed in 1892. It's construction began in 1888. It is a Gilded mansion that has 50 rooms. If for sale today, it would cost someone around $660 million for the house and land. What blew my mind in many of the houses, was the level of detail and craftmanship. The house features more that just the white marble accents, which haven given it it's name. There are marble sculptures that add a lot of interest to the house. The architecture and paintings on the ceiling were all hand painted. The designer included plenty of marble in the home in a variety of spaces. Yellow Siena was used inside the mansion in many places. It also features pink Numidian marble in the dinning room, which was very opulent. Alva had Parisian decorator, Jules Allard do the walls in the Numidian marble, and the rest of the room French style. The dinning chairs the family sat upon were of solid bronze, and then covered in gold leaf, and each weighed 75lbs. It took a footman to move them. The house featured a really cool kitchen, which we don't get to see often....that I suspect Ms Patmore would have loved. The home also featured other styles like Gothic Revival and Rococo design, which I'm fond of. Alva also had a Chinese Tea House built by the seaside, to par take of afternoon tea.
"Craftsmanship" is almost an obsolete word. What a fab place to come with your servants.
ReplyDeleteI have never been to newport.
ReplyDeleteBeen there when I was a kid and living in nearby Fall River Massachusetts....remember the mansion drive you captured so well! Really enjoying these post, photos and commentary!
ReplyDeleteI really is a intresting place if your enjoy homes and architecture. I had forgot your from that area Luke.
DeleteEverything is prefab these days. Temporary. We live in a temporary world. I think we are all aware of the clock ticking, and the fact that we can't take it with us. I see the beauty and the historical significance of this place, but as I become more and more aware of exactly how toxic capitalism, as practiced in America, is? I now see all this through a different lens. It's a very recent development... since Covid. So, who knows... maybe I will get over it. But all I can see now is how the wealthy lived large on the labor of the people they enslaved via low wages or actual slavery. Still beautiful. But tainted. Tainted beauty. Kizzes.
ReplyDeleteYes, I can certainly see your point on the capitalism part, and it does come to mind. To think Im very happy in my merger five room flat. I only enjoy it from my love of architecture, design and the mind blowing craft. But there is also much else to see and do there. It's a very relaxing town. Cliff Walk is worth the trip alone.
DeleteEverything looks wonderful, if overly ornate for my taste. My favourite photo is those gorgeous copper pots on the black kitchen ... industrial stove?
ReplyDeleteIt's a modest stove isn't it?
DeleteI need to put this on our list of places to see!
ReplyDeleteI would love to see a historical home like these. But one side of me thinks. There a housing shortage and who needs that much room.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on and stay safe
It's been years since I have seen these mansions. I will have to go back and view your other posts. The Chinese Tea House in the backyard that overlooks the cliff, I recall, had such a feeling of serenity when visiting. It's a beautiful backdrop to an already beautiful mansion.
ReplyDeleteI have always loved Newport...and I recall your past trips. Marble House is amazing. William and I got there three times (beginning in the 1980's) and the experience kept getting better and better.
ReplyDeleteThe mansion itself is phenomenal and its amazing to think that people actually could live in such extravagance. The grandness of the structure, the attention to detail in decor, and the opulence of the fixtures and furnishings are all breathtaking. Add to that the backstories of the resident Vanderbilt family and their staff and you have a great visit.
I too agree that good, well made craftsmanship is a thing of the past. Everything is too disposable these days.
We ladies of taste have to stick to our antiques
DeleteI would love to hear the stories that probably aren't on the tour! It is rather hard to believe the people lived like this here.
DeletePhenomenal post! These homes will be here long after our hovels are gone.
ReplyDeleteWait a minute? This isn't where you and you houseboys live? I thought it was the Casa du Borghese?
ReplyDeleteDid you see any naked people there????
DeleteThen you know it isn't The Casa du Borghese.
The Marble House was one of 5 open mansions in town. So off we went to see how the Vanderbilts lived. It was certainly enlightening. The most opulent home I have ever seen in the United States. The way this mansion captures the ocean waves through it's huge glass windows, I recall, was so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWorth checking out if you're interested in period interior design, architecture and mansions. It was beautifully done home. I love Newport and it's one place since moving I miss in the States.
ReplyDeleteYour almost in my backyard Mistress! The level of elegance is breathtaking. I can appreciate the opulence of a bygone era, to which we won't see again.
ReplyDeleteI like the exterior much more than the interior, which is just plain Gilded Age overkill. But since it's apparently open to the public, I'll give it a look if I'm ever in Newport (which reminds me, I hear that city has a pretty nice jazz festival.)
ReplyDeleteI would believe that. There seems to be a nice handfull of jazz clubs of a town it's size. The one we went to was excellent.
DeleteThey remind me of the Trianon palaces in Versailles!
ReplyDeleteLe Grand Trianon here but exp. le Petit Trianon here!
I used to love touring the "cottages" of Newport. But the ostentation, competition, childishness (and abuse of power and wealth) were appalling. And, really, not much has changed. Still, fascinating tours.
ReplyDeleteYep...still abuse of power and wealth...but now they just don't have any taste for quality craftsmanship.
DeleteHow very understated. It's a wonder you even noticed that it was there...
ReplyDeleteBut, really, what an extraordinary house! And chairs that weighed 75lbs - there must have been a bevy of buff footmen working there. You'd have been in your element as Lady of the House, Maddie.
I love the "little" Chinese tea room!
I adore that little Tea House. I could live in that.
DeleteToo overdone for my taste, but a grandiose spectacle for all that. Try this https://brightonmuseums.org.uk/royalpavilion/whattosee/ for an earlier Regency version, leaning heavily into Chinoiserie, created for the Prince Regent, son of George III. The room I recall best is the dining room with its dragon chandelier (sadly not really visible in the pictures).
ReplyDeleteThanks for that link! That was a intresting browse. I really enjoy reading about Queen Victoria and her take on the place. It is definitely a different place.
DeleteAnd if you think Marble House is ostentatious ....you should see The Breakers in Newport.
I nearly fell off my chair, thinking you might have visited my home town in Wales!
ReplyDeleteThe one in Rhode Island looks much prettier. Jx
I figured you might have grown up in something much understated like these homes dear.
DeleteI know my roots...
DeleteMy dreams of being brought up in the manner of Lady Mary Crawley are unfortunately just that. Dreams. Jx
That looks just like my house! 😎
ReplyDeleteYou like things understated too huh?
DeleteHoly shit!
ReplyDeleteThat's a MANSION. Those people knew how to use their money, honey. Whoa. Would love to visit!
Maddie, you're totally making me think about a road trip at the end of the pandemic.
XOXO
An amazing place, great fun, gotta go back.
ReplyDeleteAck. Probably costs a lot to heat :-)
ReplyDeleteSx
I figured thats why one kept 6 chamber boys in their room?
DeleteFascinating. There is a home not far from us that has been done in marble inside and out. Of course, not nearly as grand as this. But, could you imagine rattling around in something that huge???
ReplyDeleteI think I read somewhere that Marble House was over 500,000 Cubic Feet of Marble. I have sailed in Newport and thats been the extent.
ReplyDeleteFor me it's always been a toss up if my favorite is the Breakers or Marble House.... but Marble House was my favorite. Not only that the mansion was beautiful, but the story of the lady who owned the house is pretty interesting. Newport is a fun little town, if your looking for more quite and nature related things to do. The Cliff walk is a must do.
ReplyDeleteSo very neat!
ReplyDeleteI have Versailles on my bucket list and this mansion is probably as close as you can get to Versailles in America.
ReplyDeleteI've seen them all and something about Marble House and Rose Cliff really speaks to me. The architecture of Marble House is grand, like the rest, but more detailed and exquisite. The Gothic Room and the 22 carat parlor are stand outs, as is the Tea House. Did you do the audio tour? If not do it sometime. Listen to all the extras on the audio player to really get a feel for the place and its history. Your photos are great.
ReplyDeleteWe did the self guided tour and enjoyed it thoroughly, when a friend and I went. But the whole town of Newport was a very enjoyable trip. Some excellent meals.
ReplyDeleteI love architecture and would love to see. I read about them all- The Breakers, The Elms, Rosecliff, Marble House, Kingscote, and the colonial house. I plan to go see then when I come to the States again.A by gone era, where money was no object.
ReplyDeleteNewport... the Gilded Age at its best and worst. I find workspaces such as the huge Victorian kitchens more interesting to see. Mrs. Patmore or Mrs. Bridges would be in their element for certain, LOL!
ReplyDeleteWe visited a couple of old mansions in Tarrytown and Hyde Park, New York. They were so cool! I'd like to at least try living that way.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Tarrytown? Like as in near Sleepy Hollow? I love that area. I have been to Sleepy many atime. You should try that some time near Halloween.
Deletewhat a fantastic place for tea!
ReplyDeleteThen again tea make all places fantastic.