These photos are from a recent trip to Newport, Rhode Island. The Breakers was a summer home to the prestigious Vanderbilt family, now it is a National Historic Landmark, and is open to the public year-round. The fee of $25 is well worth the price, the historic artisan beauty and intricate detailed design of these
mansions of the gilded age makes the trip quite memorable. So many of these historic beauties are extremely expensive to keep from falling into disrepair and it would be a shame to watch any of these palaces of the past, slip into dust. The lighting isn't great for photos, and you can't use a flash due to how light is a destroyer of antiquities, so these are the best photos I could get. Still you can see how delicate and detailed everything is, aside from the simple and sort of stark bedroom suites. Hope you enjoy!
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The front gates |
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The walkway to the front of the house |
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After a set of steps up, this is the grand entrance,
note the red carpet on the stairs
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A pretty marble fireplace, one of many throughout |
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The marble walls and light fixtures, wow..marble walls!? |
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More marble pillars, and ornate things, everywhere you look,
the detail is fantastic!
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Another marble fireplace, this one with carved cherubs |
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Doorway, hand painted and gilded wood carvings,
the ceiling into the next room,
I wish I could have looked closer
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The dark and brooding feeling library |
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I can't remember what room this was, I was getting overwhelmed by wealth,
it may have been the ceiling of the dining room, or the library
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Door handle, just wanted to show the detail |
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Amazing Stained glass ceiling |
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A beautiful ceiling, the ceilings were the best, how did all ceilings
become white these days, let's go back
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Another ceiling, hand painted wallpaper- |
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This is the hallway upstairs, looking down to the entryway, marble pillars |
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I thought this was a strange chair. I couldn't tell if the table slid back and forth,
but I'm assuming it did, maybe for playing cards? Footsies?
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This is a wide shot of Mr. Vanderbilt's Bedroom |
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His Bathroom |
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His footbath? |
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This was the daughter's bedroom, very floral,
but like the other room, not quite as ornate
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A tapestry and more carved painted wood, so amazing, the craftsmanship |
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Stairwell to the kitchen |
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The kitchen was for servants, and you can see it is
very practical, less ornate
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But it's my dream kitchen, so cool |
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The concrete prep table is so modern,
copper pots, nice and shiny.
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Sunny little spot, maybe for making bread |
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I love the depth of this sink, copper and huge! |
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Keep those sharp instruments behind the glass!? |
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Butler's two story pantry |
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Tea cabinet or something, I couldn't wear the headset,
so I used my imagination... |
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Another lovely ceiling, I think my favorite, this was the dining room |
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In the main entryway |
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Ceiling above entryway |
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Sitting room |
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I think this was going up the stairs, so pretty! |
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Ceiling... beauty! |
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Another fireplace and sitting room |
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Everyone needs an ancestor with an eyepatch! |
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The clouds, I can see the sky! |
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Over a doorway, an angry cherub |
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Another sitting room |
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A better view of the marble walls |
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Another cool ceiling, hmmm...I need to start painting again |
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Fireplace detail |
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Lone phone, near the kitchen |
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More detail of the dining room |
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Dining |
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Another mural on the ceiling |
Hope you enjoyed the photos, next photo set like this will be from Hearst Castle!