Blessed with a wealth of architecture, history, natural beauty, and well…wealth, Newport, Rhode Island has always fascinated. While there are countless books dedicated to the palatial summer “cottages” now preserved as historic house museums, “Private Newport at Home and in the Garden” by Bettie Bearden Pardee features many private estates never before seen by the public. The photography of Mick Hales beautifully captures the interiors, gardens, and stunning natural vistas of Newport, bringing to life a world of exquisitely appointed homes among expertly maintained gardens.
While less opulent than Vanderbilt showplaces like The Breakers and Marble House, the homes featured here even include some actual cottages, like this charming shingled cape overlooking the sea, where an elegant Wedgwood inset mantel is surrounded by framed family photos, fine antiques, and stacks of books and albums. With the fresh salty breeze blowing in off the ocean what better place to pass a summer afternoon?