A veranda, a ballroom, an orangerie, a loggia…these are the settings I dream of as summer is approaching. Each one marks the experience of living in Newport in this idyllic season. The owners of these spaces may have changed over the years, but these are recorded as I first knew them…and therefore, are all the more precious. At the height of summer, I wanted to share them with you.

What was once the ballroom at Fairholme, overlooking the ocean and sweep of the eastern side of the island,  has now evolved into a music room.

The sun-filled tented solarium at Beaulieu continues the casual family dining side of this grand house.

An exceptional example of grisaille distinguishes the over-door to Seafair’s loggia on the Atlantic side.

Although the handprinted nineteenth-century paper has finally succumbed to weather and the elements, I cherish this memory of the original teahouse at Bellevue House.

Flowers take many forms in the sun-washed bedroom at Swan’s Way, where a warm fire can take the chill off a cool summer evening.

Summer luncheons at Hopedene are often taken in the glass-enclosed garden room under the festive “tented” ceiling.

At Seafair, flowers from the garden decorate the table, set for a ladies’ luncheon against very appropriate shell-pink walls.

Summer’s must-haves in the powder room at The Whim.

Nina Taselaar in Oakwood’s graciously appointed living room (originally the ballroom,  added in 1875) with banks of windows and French doors to let in Newport’s storied light and breezes.

Many summer dinners take place in  Parterre’s Orangerie,  nestled among the gardens.

Hope your summer is going along swimmingly…

Featured Image Credit, Cynthia Ferguson of Ferguson Designs Inc.