By Nancy McKeon
UPDATE: Margaret Goldsborough, a friend of MyLittleBird and co-owner with her sister of Goldsborough Glynn furnishings and antiques store in Kensington, Maryland, reports that their shop may not be in Newport, where we documented the wondrous excess of the fireplace mantel decorations, but things are looking pretty glam! GG’s friend Bethany Karn of ButterKup Flowers did the honors. Looks good to us!!
The holiday mantel treatment at Goldsborough Glynn, on Antique Row in Kensington, Maryland.
LITTLEBIRD Stephanie took issue yesterday with the minimal decoration of the fireplace mantel in the Red Room of the White House. Well, as I sit here tonight in Newport, Rhode Island, I can report that there are a few holiday enthusiasts working for the Preservation Society of Newport County who could meet Stephanie’s standards and even exceed them.
Three of famous Gilded Age “cottages” (mansions) of Newport—The Elms, Marble House and The Breakers—are dressed in their finest, probably to an extent unknown in their time. I focused on mantels and photographed a few to share.
I challenge you to try this at home!
A display at The Elms, Newport, Rhode Island. / MyLittleBird photo.
Detail from The Elms, Newport, Rhode Island. / MyLittleBird photo.
Mantel decor at Marble House, Newport, Rhode Island. / MyLittleBird photo.
Another mantel at Marble House, Newport, Rhode Island. / MyLittleBird photo.
A mantel at The Breakers, Newport, Rhode Island. / MyLittleBird photo.
A musical-theme mantel at The Breakers, Newport, Rhode Island. / MyLittleBird photo.
Detail from the musical-theme mantel at The Breakers, Newport, Rhode Island. / MyLittleBird photo.
A train-theme mantel at The Breakers, Newport, Rhode Island. / MyLittleBird photo.
Detail from the train-theme mantel at The Breakers, Newport, Rhode Island. / MyLittleBird photo.
Glossy red birds flock to branches over a mantel at The Breakers, Newport, Rhode Island. / MyLittleBird photo.
Kinda spooky angels glow green on a mantel at The Breakers, Newport, Rhode Island. / MyLittleBird photo.
The Breakers are open daily through January 9, 2022. Marble House and The Elms open daily through January 2, 2022.
Sparkling Lights at The Breakers Thursdays-Sundays, 5-7pm. Includes interior.
The Breakers open Mondays-Wednesdays, 10am-5pm, last admission 4pm. Thursdays-Sundays, 10am-4pm, last admission 3pm. See Operating Schedule for early closings.
December 18: Marble House and The Elms stay open for evening hours. Last admission at 6pm, houses and grounds close at 7pm. No Sparkling Lights at The Breakers that night.
Closed Christmas. Houses close at 3pm on Christmas Eve.
