Private Newport - with Bettie Bearden Pardee

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Design


Containers, A Valuable Garden Detail

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In honor of my dear friend, Margot Shaw, founder of Flower magazine and one of the headliners for the 2026 Newport Flower Show, I’m taking a page from her new… Read More

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A Notable Newport Estate, The Orchard Part 2

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In a town of many old mansions, most have become house museums or condominiums or have been turned into dormitories and classrooms for a local university. Only a special few,… Read More

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A Notable Newport Estate, The Orchard. Part 1

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Memorial Day reminds us that summer is just around the corner, when friends return from all parts of the country and houses are “opened for the season.” One of those… Read More

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Hansel and Gretel in Richmond

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Historic Garden Week in Richmond provided such warm memories of both horticultural and architectural inspiration. One setting lingers in my mind, which I cannot resist calling the “Hansel and Gretel… Read More

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Gardens and Houses of Richmond, VA Part 2

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My affection and appreciation for Richmond’s architecture began during college, and has lingered since then. Fortunately, I’ve had many occasions to travel down to this exceptional Virginia city. Driving through… Read More

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Gardens and Houses of Richmond,VA

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Often called America’s largest open house​, “Historic Garden Week”​ in Virginia is a much-anticipated annual event for many garden lovers!​For one elegant week​, both homes and ​their gardens throughout the… Read More

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Spring Scenes Remembered

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Little hints of spring are starting to show in Newport…the snowdrops nestled into the roots of the grand beech in the front courtyard, petit heads of daffodils poking up in… Read More

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Garden Visits in New Zealand

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Dear friends, just home from New Zealand with lots of tempting garden images, especially these from Omaio (“a place of Peace, Quiet, and Tranquility”). Enjoy these teasers of next week’s post…I’m treating myself… Read More

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Ayrlies Garden and Wetlands, New Zealand

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Ayrlies Garden is the creation of visionary Beverly McConnell, who, since 1964, has been sculpting 14 acres of bare farmland into one of New Zealand’s best known Gardens. An hour… Read More

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Defining Views: A Palm Beach Garden

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A mutual friend described Terry Rakolta’s garden as her fifth child. Versions of that well describe many of us who are passionate, dedicated lovers of our “plots of green.” Little… Read More

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About Bettie

Author of Private Newport and Living Newport, designer of the Parterre Bench, national lecturer, and entertaining expert.
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privatenewport

Some rooms don’t demand attention, they quietly earn it..

Beyond Rosecliff’s @newport.mansions grand staircase is a space wrapped in rich wood paneling, hand-carved ceilings, and stories that have unfolded over generations. It’s easy to miss if you’re only looking for the ballroom.

These are the details that make Newport unforgettable.

🤍 Save this for your next mansion visit.
Follow @privatenewport for the Newport most people never get to experience✨
#privatenewport #newportri #newportmansions #rosecliff #privateliving

View Instagram post by privatenewport

Jun 28

382 13
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Some rooms don’t demand attention, they quietly earn it..

Beyond Rosecliff’s @newport.mansions grand staircase is a space wrapped in rich wood paneling, hand-carved ceilings, and stories that have unfolded over generations. It’s easy to miss if you’re only looking for the ballroom.

These are the details that make Newport unforgettable.

🤍 Save this for your next mansion visit.
Follow @privatenewport for the Newport most people never get to experience✨
#privatenewport #newportri #newportmansions #rosecliff #privateliving

privatenewport

There are grand staircases… and then there’s Rosecliff..

For more than a century, these sweeping steps have welcomed society’s elite, dazzling gowns, celebrated guests, and evenings that became part of Newport’s legendary Gilded Age story. Every carved detail, every graceful curve, and every soaring ceiling was designed to leave a lasting impression, and it still does today💫

It’s impossible to stand here without imagining the music drifting through the halls, the anticipation before a ballroom filled with laughter, and the grandeur of an era when Newport was the center of America’s most extravagant summers✨

Some places preserve history….

Others make you feel like you’ve stepped inside it☁️

✨ Save this for your next Newport visit, and follow Private Newport for more timeless moments from the City by the Sea🌊
@newport.mansions
#privatenewport #rosecliff #newportmansions #gildedage #newportsummer

View Instagram post by privatenewport

Jun 25

406 13
Open post by privatenewport with ID 18186966058376120
There are grand staircases… and then there’s Rosecliff..

For more than a century, these sweeping steps have welcomed society’s elite, dazzling gowns, celebrated guests, and evenings that became part of Newport’s legendary Gilded Age story. Every carved detail, every graceful curve, and every soaring ceiling was designed to leave a lasting impression, and it still does today💫

It’s impossible to stand here without imagining the music drifting through the halls, the anticipation before a ballroom filled with laughter, and the grandeur of an era when Newport was the center of America’s most extravagant summers✨

Some places preserve history….

Others make you feel like you’ve stepped inside it☁️

✨ Save this for your next Newport visit, and follow Private Newport for more timeless moments from the City by the Sea🌊
@newport.mansions 
#privatenewport #rosecliff #newportmansions #gildedage #newportsummer

privatenewport

Part 2: The Newport Flower Show 🌿

For one weekend, Rosecliff @newport.mansions became Newport’s most beautiful address✨

Thousands of blooms, sweeping ocean views, and the grandeur of a Gilded Age estate set the stage for the Newport Flower Show, one of the city’s most beloved traditions🌸

It’s easy to see why people fall in love with Newport..

Save this for your next visit, and follow for more of the Newport most people never get to experience🤍

#newportflowershow #newportri #rosecliff #privatenewport #gildedage

View Instagram post by privatenewport

Jun 23

167 17
Open post by privatenewport with ID 18114627154895104
Part 2: The Newport Flower Show 🌿

For one weekend, Rosecliff @newport.mansions became Newport’s most beautiful address✨

Thousands of blooms, sweeping ocean views, and the grandeur of a Gilded Age estate set the stage for the Newport Flower Show, one of the city’s most beloved traditions🌸

It’s easy to see why people fall in love with Newport..

Save this for your next visit, and follow for more of the Newport most people never get to experience🤍

#newportflowershow #newportri #rosecliff #privatenewport #gildedage

privatenewport

Behind the doors of Newport’s most celebrated summer event… 🌸

The 2026 Newport Flower Show transformed Rosecliff’s @newport.mansions historic interiors into living works of art, where flowers, design, and Newport elegance met in the most extraordinary way✨

These are just a few of the details from inside this year’s “Pearls of Newport” exhibition🌊

Part 2 is coming tomorrow. Trust us, you’ll want to see what’s waiting outside👀🥀

✨ Save this for your Newport summer bucket list
🌿 Follow @privatenewport for more of the Newport most visitors never get to see
#privatenewport #newportmansions #gildedage #newportflowershow #rosecliffmansion

View Instagram post by privatenewport

Jun 22

210 32
Open post by privatenewport with ID 18447092419189526
Behind the doors of Newport’s most celebrated summer event… 🌸

The 2026 Newport Flower Show transformed Rosecliff’s @newport.mansions historic interiors into living works of art, where flowers, design, and Newport elegance met in the most extraordinary way✨

These are just a few of the details from inside this year’s “Pearls of Newport” exhibition🌊

Part 2 is coming tomorrow. Trust us, you’ll want to see what’s waiting outside👀🥀

✨ Save this for your Newport summer bucket list
🌿 Follow @privatenewport for more of the Newport most visitors never get to see
#privatenewport #newportmansions #gildedage #newportflowershow #rosecliffmansion

privatenewport

Just a teaser🌸

This weekend, Rosecliff with @newport.mansions was transformed for one of Newport’s most anticipated weekends of the year💫

We’ll be sharing the full Flower Show recap tomorrow..

Follow along if you love historic homes, gardens, and the side of Newport most people never get to experience💛
#newportflowershow #newportmansions #privatenewport #gildedage #architecture

View Instagram post by privatenewport

Jun 21

246 9
Open post by privatenewport with ID 18088550087456192
Just a teaser🌸

This weekend, Rosecliff with @newport.mansions was transformed for one of Newport’s most anticipated weekends of the year💫

We’ll be sharing the full Flower Show recap tomorrow..

Follow along if you love historic homes, gardens, and the side of Newport most people never get to experience💛
#newportflowershow #newportmansions #privatenewport #gildedage #architecture

privatenewport

“Flowering the outdoors” is about so much more than flowers….

Inspired by her dear friend @margotrshaw new book Flowering Outdoors, Bettie reminds us that the most beautiful gardens are built on scale, proportion, color, and thoughtful details💫

At Parterre, an urn becomes a focal point. A climbing rose softens a wall. A row of chartreuse planters transforms an entire garden room🌱

The magic is rarely in one grand gesture, it lives in the layers🌹

Save this for your next garden inspiration board🌿

Follow @privatenewport for more of the beautiful details most people overlook💐
#newportflowershow #parterregarden #privatenewport #privateliving #newportestates

View Instagram post by privatenewport

Jun 18

164 9
Open post by privatenewport with ID 18402397375156159
“Flowering the outdoors” is about so much more than flowers….

Inspired by her dear friend @margotrshaw new book Flowering Outdoors, Bettie reminds us that the most beautiful gardens are built on scale, proportion, color, and thoughtful details💫

At Parterre, an urn becomes a focal point. A climbing rose softens a wall. A row of chartreuse planters transforms an entire garden room🌱

The magic is rarely in one grand gesture, it lives in the layers🌹

Save this for your next garden inspiration board🌿

Follow @privatenewport for more of the beautiful details most people overlook💐
#newportflowershow #parterregarden #privatenewport #privateliving #newportestates
Follow Bettie on Instagram

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Bettie's Faves

  • Charlotte Moss
  • La Dolce Vita
  • My Beautiful Paris
  • The Enchanted Home
  • The Glam Pad
  • The Lush List
  • The Potted Boxwood
  • Vicki Archer
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