Marble House Versus Beach House?

Here we are in Newport, Rhode Island where we will be spending the next couple of days at the  beautiful Castle Hill Inn, luxuriating in one of their gorgeous Beach Houses.  We have the most wonderful room complete with fireplace and ultra glamourous bath.  A cozy deck leads us right out onto a private beach!  Heaven.

This afternoon we toured one of Newport's famous "cottages" -- Mr. and Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt's Marble House.  Frankly, I couldn't wait to get out of there!  It was dripping with gaudy gilt and acres of marble, and I found it downright oppressive.  Give me our little beach house any day! 

Collage pictures top row:  Gaudy golden and marble decorations on the Vanderbilts' dining room ceiling; Marble House exterior.

Middle row left:  Our deck with a view of the beach; the Chinese Tea House at Marble House.

Bottom row left to right:  Our beachy bedroom,  beach house exterior, and our chic bath.