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Since we still had one “cottage” left to tour on our ticket… we visited The Elms on our fifth morning in Newport, Rhode Island.
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The Elms was built by a self made man. A son of German immigrants turned coal magnate, Edwin Julius Berwind.
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Completed in 1901 for approximately $1.4 million, the equivalent of $50 million today.
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A mini sphinx by the front door?
Why not.
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While this house is grand by any standard, it’s not over the top ornate like The Breakers or The Marble House we visited the day before.
Upon entry?
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My husband, talking.
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I peeked into the ballroom as he was chatting.
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As the docent was called away, he resumed our tour.
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Mr. Berwind’s library.
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And if I remember correctly, Mr. Berwind.
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The conservatory was a nice room and would have been filled with palms and exotic orchids in its day.
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Bridge parties and mahjong were played here by the lady of the house.
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The view out back from one of the large windows.
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Can’t say I’d mind spending time in here with a cocktail.
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And as my husband continued to talk, I admired the table.
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The drawing room.
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I’m trying to imagine Lord Dudley Mountcatten chasing a catnip mouse down this hallway.
Nope. Can’t see it.
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The ballroom.
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The neighbor lady from across the street in period dress.
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Restoration in these homes is a constant and never ending process and is funded by donation as well as ticket sales.
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The dining room.
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To be continued…
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River's world..... 
Oh, now this home is much more my style. Muted elegance is what I call it, no overly gilded anything, just marble, wood and sophistication. I love that conservatory, I’d spend all my time there although it does look a bit drafty and cold. Maybe not in the summer though, with a frozen margarita lol.
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They were only there in the summer, so no worries.
🍸
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What caught my attention and which I find fascinating is that perfectly shaped (pruned?) tree in the first photo. I would absolutely love a photo of just that tree…How big was it? I’m just in awe.
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That was something. Since it wasn’t leafed out I have no idea what it was, but I bet it’s beautiful in the summer…
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I think with leaves it would just be another tree but in that photo – with the branches and trunk outlined and so visible – It’s magical.
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Teh interwebs says the tree is an elm, which makes sense given the estate name!
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Are you sure that’s not the lady of the house? Rather odd to have your neighbors picture on the wall, I think.
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No, it’s the neighbor lady. Can’t remember her name but she helped with all the party planning…
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I agree – very grand but not obnoxiously so. I do like the portraits – the lady looks like a John Singer Sargent painting.
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Could be…
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The lady in question is Elizabeth Drexel Lehr and the artist was Giovanni Boldini (https://www.newportmansions.org/events/art-and-animals-in-the-gilded-age-newport-stories/)
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The lord of the manor looks so jovial in his painting!!
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I love the table. Looks like it would be perfect for playing cards upon!
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Some cottage. I was impressed with the table and the statue out the window that looks like a lion conquering a croc.
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I like this one… fancy, but not obscene! I would love to dance in the ballroom!
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It was definitely less ornate than the last two.
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I’m one of the last remaining humans who plays bridge, so I could picture myself doing that here, especially in that conservatory (as long as someone else tended the plants – I have a black thumb for the indoor kind… plus, they might as well go ahead and clean the whole house). Pets though? You’d never see them the house is so huge!
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We used to play back alley bridge when my husband was active duty. Not sure I remember how now…
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