Summer is upon us and it’s a great time of year to be living the luxury lifestyle. If you are looking for a waterfront compound full of history and posh living quarters, look no further than Newport, Rhode Island. Known for being the location for some of the “Summer White Houses” during the administrations of Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy, Newport, Rhode Island is a well-known New England summer resort town and is famous for its Newport Mansions. One of these mansions, called Fairholme, is “a dazzling historic oceanfront estate, superbly sited on 4.3 acres of Newport’s legendary Gilded Age coastline with 425′ of ocean frontage.”
Fairholme is a large waterfront compound that includes a six bedroom carriage house, three interconnected greenhouses, a swimming pool with luxurious cabana pavilion and a manicured outdoor living area overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The main house, which is a Tudor revival masterpiece, was designed by Frank Furness and originally built in 1875.
This well-constructed gem has over 20,000 square feet of living space, with richly textured surfaces, silk covered walls, molded plasterwork and 8 fireplaces, as well as a library, salon and grand ballroom that can seat up to 120 people for dinner.
Upstairs the same attention to detail and comfort is everywhere to be seen in the 2 master bedroom suites and the 9 guest bedrooms. Additionally there are 7 staff bedrooms and 5 large storage rooms located within the staff wing. The second floor is divided into two generous oceanfront master suites, both with private, substantially sized ocean-facing stone terraces, bedrooms, bathrooms, fireplaces, dressing rooms, and custom designed walk-in closets.
Outside on the grounds, prepare to fully unwind and enjoy the summer weather. One highlight is a stunning, fully tiled, infinity edge swimming pool. Adjacent to the pool are two heated marble cabanas, both with full bathrooms and heated floors, a covered veranda, a bar, and an extensive sound system, creating an unmatched setting for entertaining.
To the north of the greenhouses is a 4000+ square foot carriage house with three staff apartments. The garage can accommodate 5 cars; additional features of the building include a gym, an estate office, a staff restroom, a maintenance shop, 2 additional storage rooms and laundry facilities.
Fairholme is simply a special place, and one can almost feel the history amid all the luxury. With a bit of imagination, it’s easy to sense that former guests of the home, such as the Vanderbilts, the Astors or even Jack Kennedy are still there.
