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The Newport Diary


11 Captivating Spaces: Newport’s Private Homes

1 / 12 / 177 / 17 / 20

This past Christmas had more than its share of parties in splendid settings. At a New Year’s day luncheon, I was sitting in a beautifully paneled room, a fifth anniversary… Read More

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A Newport Winter Perspective: Bellevue Avenue

1 / 10 / 177 / 17 / 20

Bellevue Avenue’s charms are many, but its magical winter side is somewhat a well-kept secret. The soft, powdery snow of January 7th started at nine in the morning and continued… Read More

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A Gilded Christmas, Newport Style

12 / 8 / 165 / 28 / 24

Newport’s 375 year history comes gloriously alive at Christmas. From the early Colonial days to the extravagant Gilded Age, our “City by the Sea” is in a most celebratory mood.… Read More

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An Enduring Affair: Newport and New Orleans

11 / 10 / 167 / 17 / 20

Luxuriantly set amongst emerald green lawns, embowered by magnificent trees and surrounded by lush rose gardens, Rosecliff (1902) is a tempting place. So much so, that in 1949 J. Edgar… Read More

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A Newport Story: The Twin Pleasures of Elm Court

10 / 18 / 167 / 17 / 20

This gorgeous fall weather has reminded me of a very similar day three years ago. In the final stages of photography for my new book, Living Newport: Houses, People, Style…… Read More

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Newport’s Magical 18th Century French Garden

9 / 27 / 167 / 17 / 20

It’s almost in my backyard and the Newport “cottage” for which I have the most affection – The Elms, built in 1901 and a copy of the French Chateau d’Asnieres… Read More

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Newport Living: A Pampered Pets Perspective

9 / 20 / 167 / 17 / 20

From Xie Xie and Indigo in repose underneath the portrait of their owner to a “tuxedo cat” walking across a garden bench to Henri Matisse surrounded by flowers, here is… Read More

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A Revealing Interview with Iris Apfel

9 / 13 / 167 / 17 / 20

After the sheer pleasure of spending the weekend with this self-described “oldest living teenager,” and capturing her spirit and wisdom in a video interview, what are my personal impressions of… Read More

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Iris Apfel: Out and About in Newport

9 / 8 / 168 / 14 / 20

Visitors always give us an opportunity to see Newport through someone else’s eyes. Imagine the fun when those eyes belong to Iris Apfel (and special access is afforded). Saturday presented… Read More

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Bill Cunningham in Newport: Remembering a Legend

8 / 9 / 167 / 17 / 20

It’s an ages-old tradition in Newport…when a member of the “community” passes away off-season, a memorial service is held after all summer residents have returned for “the season.” In his own… 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

Soon, soon, soon our gorgeous pairs of matched ‘Hally Jolivette’ cherries will be coming into bloom. Always a reason for celebration here at Parterre, when other trees don’t even have leaves. Their delicate pink flowers herald what spring is all about! 🌸💕
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#privatenewport #springhassprung #privatehomes #springgardens #springinnewport

View Instagram post by privatenewport

Apr 9

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Open post by privatenewport with ID 17943130740178794
Soon, soon, soon our gorgeous pairs of matched ‘Hally Jolivette’ cherries will be coming into bloom. Always a reason for celebration here at Parterre, when other trees don’t even have leaves. Their delicate pink flowers herald what spring is all about! 🌸💕
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#privatenewport #springhassprung #privatehomes #springgardens #springinnewport

privatenewport

Early whispers of spring are starting to show themselves in Newport… though the real season is still just out of reach along our coastal shores.

This in-between moment always brings back memories of the many beautiful spring landscapes I’ve encountered across the country during my book travels, each destination marking the season in its own unforgettable way. The Gardens of the North Shore of Chicago will always be memorable🌷🌸🌿
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📸credit: Scott Shigley Photo
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#springtimeinnewport #privatenewport #springhassprung #privateliving #gardensofthenorthshoreofchicago

View Instagram post by privatenewport

Apr 7

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Open post by privatenewport with ID 17926927095087301
Early whispers of spring are starting to show themselves in Newport… though the real season is still just out of reach along our coastal shores.

This in-between moment always brings back memories of the many beautiful spring landscapes I’ve encountered across the country during my book travels, each destination marking the season in its own unforgettable way. The Gardens of the North Shore of Chicago will always be memorable🌷🌸🌿
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📸credit: Scott Shigley Photo 
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#springtimeinnewport #privatenewport #springhassprung #privateliving #gardensofthenorthshoreofchicago

privatenewport

Easter arrives early this year, just as the first signs of spring begin to appear. Snowdrops, crocus, and muscari quietly announce the season of renewal - each delicate bloom a reminder of nature’s simple blessings🐰🤍

For me, Easter has always been a signal to bring on the flowers… celebrating the beauty, joy, and promise that spring brings🐣🥂
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#happyeaster #privatenewport #springishere #privateliving #newportspring

View Instagram post by privatenewport

Apr 5

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Open post by privatenewport with ID 18069457085302148
Easter arrives early this year, just as the first signs of spring begin to appear. Snowdrops, crocus, and muscari quietly announce the season of renewal - each delicate bloom a reminder of nature’s simple blessings🐰🤍

For me, Easter has always been a signal to bring on the flowers… celebrating the beauty, joy, and promise that spring brings🐣🥂
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#happyeaster #privatenewport #springishere #privateliving #newportspring

privatenewport

At Parterre, even Easter arrives with a sense of occasion. 🌸🐣💜

Pastels, polished silver, and a table set as if spring itself were the guest of honor… soft lavender linens, garden-fresh florals, sugar-dusted confections, and chairs dressed for the occasion in their holiday best. A reminder that some of the most memorable celebrations aren’t the grandest, but the ones thoughtfully set.

As Newport prepares for another beautiful spring season, gatherings like this at Parterre feel like a quiet welcome back to spring… where entertaining is truly an art form and every detail feels intentional.

Wishing you a beautiful Easter filled with elegance, renewal, and just the right amount of something sweet✨
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#privatenewport #happyeaster #parterre #easterinnewport #springdécor

View Instagram post by privatenewport

Apr 2

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Open post by privatenewport with ID 17913630363161652
At Parterre, even Easter arrives with a sense of occasion. 🌸🐣💜

Pastels, polished silver, and a table set as if spring itself were the guest of honor… soft lavender linens, garden-fresh florals, sugar-dusted confections, and chairs dressed for the occasion in their holiday best. A reminder that some of the most memorable celebrations aren’t the grandest, but the ones thoughtfully set.

As Newport prepares for another beautiful spring season, gatherings like this at Parterre feel like a quiet welcome back to spring… where entertaining is truly an art form and every detail feels intentional.

Wishing you a beautiful Easter filled with elegance, renewal, and just the right amount of something sweet✨
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#privatenewport #happyeaster #parterre #easterinnewport #springdécor

privatenewport

New Zealand is celebrated for its extraordinary gardens, and Auckland’s Eden Garden is among its quiet standouts. A vision in layered greens, the landscape unfolds with sculptural plantings, stacked stonework, and a delicate waterfall that casts a soft mist into the air above🍃

After wandering the paths, a proper high tea awaits nearby… a civilized pause that feels entirely in keeping with the garden’s sense of calm beauty🌳

Proof that in New Zealand, even a simple afternoon can feel like an occasion🌊☁️
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#privatenewport #newzealand #edengarden #auklandnewzealand #gardensofnewzealand

View Instagram post by privatenewport

Mar 31

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Open post by privatenewport with ID 17964458514052014
New Zealand is celebrated for its extraordinary gardens, and Auckland’s Eden Garden is among its quiet standouts. A vision in layered greens, the landscape unfolds with sculptural plantings, stacked stonework, and a delicate waterfall that casts a soft mist into the air above🍃

After wandering the paths, a proper high tea awaits nearby… a civilized pause that feels entirely in keeping with the garden’s sense of calm beauty🌳

Proof that in New Zealand, even a simple afternoon can feel like an occasion🌊☁️
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#privatenewport #newzealand #edengarden #auklandnewzealand #gardensofnewzealand

privatenewport

Nothing makes you feel quite "back home" after a few weeks in New Zealand like revisiting a piece of Newport history🪞

A recent stop at the @newportartmuseum brought me to the works of storied painter Howard Gardiner Cushing, whose legacy continues to quietly shape the city`s cultural fabric ✨

The evening continued just a short distance away at @flora.newport the charming restaurant tucked inside the boutique Gardiner House hotel - opened by Cushing`s great-great-grandson, Howard G. Cushing III.

Flora itself carries a meaningful name, chosen in honor of Flora Payne Whitney, daughter of Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney and part of the extended circle of families who helped shape Newport`s social and artistic history.
A particularly thoughtful touch: a version of Cushing`s portrait from the museum now serves as a striking focal point above the restaurant`s bar... a subtle bridge between Newport`s past and its present.
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#privatenewport #newportartmuseum #floraresturant #newportliving #newportrhodeisland

View Instagram post by privatenewport

Mar 29

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Open post by privatenewport with ID 18369697900206760
Nothing makes you feel quite "back home" after a few weeks in New Zealand like revisiting a piece of Newport history🪞

A recent stop at the @newportartmuseum brought me to the works of storied painter Howard Gardiner Cushing, whose legacy continues to quietly shape the city's cultural fabric ✨

The evening continued just a short distance away at @flora.newport the charming restaurant tucked inside the boutique Gardiner House hotel - opened by Cushing's great-great-grandson, Howard G. Cushing III. 

Flora itself carries a meaningful name, chosen in honor of Flora Payne Whitney, daughter of Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney and part of the extended circle of families who helped shape Newport's social and artistic history.
A particularly thoughtful touch: a version of Cushing's portrait from the museum now serves as a striking focal point above the restaurant's bar... a subtle bridge between Newport's past and its present.
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#privatenewport #newportartmuseum #floraresturant #newportliving #newportrhodeisland
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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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