As a witty friend recently opined, “The Breakers is a Master Class in opulence…whispering of candlelit soirees, sweeping gowns, and a Gilded Age that knew no limits!” But as you tour you may not realize that the Cornelius Vanderbilt family were only in Newport in the summer; the glamour that we see today is re-imagined by the Preservation Society of Newport County, stewards of this treasured American house museum.

For an entire year I await the month of December in anticipation of seeing these glorious mansions “dressed to the nines.” Sharing my favorite scenes on Private Newport has been an annual tradition that I have greatly anticipated since 2012! At The Breakers, this gardener must start with the live poinsettia tree in the Great Hall which greets you as you enter. I marvel at the mechanics of this 15 foot presentation, which includes taking down each plant and watering it every morning. And I’ll share the secret that makes this look so fab and bountiful. The individual pots are arranged on sloped shelves, with the top of the poinsettia facing directly forward as opposed to standing straight up (you’re welcome).

While many of Newport’s mansions included ballrooms, interestingly, The Breakers did not. This Great Hall serves both as an entry hall, an entertaining space, and access for the family from the second floor.

But at the end of the second season in the “The Gilded Age” series, the Music Room at The Breakers served as a grand ballroom at Mrs. Russell’s New York mansion, and the evening that signaled her first triumph over Mrs. Astor.

Gilded warmth, crystal chandeliers, and the glow of the season settle over one of Newport’s most memorable rooms.

The Music Room’s tree ornaments are covered in musical instruments, representing a theme inspired by the room, another signature of many of the trees at The Breakers.

In keeping with its grandeur, every room at The Breakers has a fireplace (including the majority of the bedrooms) and the Music Room is no exception…giving us one more opportunity for holiday decorating inspiration.

As also to be seen in an alcove at the southern end of the Great Hall, with its own set of Christmas trees.

But it is The Breaker’s dining room that makes you catch your breath. Have you ever seen a ceiling this high, or decorated, in a room where you’ve dined?

A few years ago, The Preservation Society’s designers added a bit of whimsy to this scene with a riff on Santa (almost life size) coming down the chimney. I especially love this year’s with the added gigantic gold bow; nice to have a bit of human scale injected into an otherwise overwhelming space.

I’ll close with another room at The Breakers that was also to be seen on the “The Gilded Age,” Mr. Russell’s billiard room. What more appropriate selection than the actual Mr. Cornelius Vanderbilt’s own room in his home, The Breakers.

Don’t forget…this great mansion and its landscape become an outdoor magical wonderland around the holidays, with its grounds and paths awash in thousands of festive lights. Do consider a visit during the holidays. But if you miss, I’m thinking about creating a post just on this twinkling creation of jolliness!