Newport would not be the place it is today without people like Ruth Buchanan Wheeler of Beaulieu. Heiress to the Dow Chemical Company fortune, she has lived in the home for fifty years. Her late husband Wiley T. Buchanan, who served as President Eisenhower's (a fellow Newporter) Chief of Protocol, bought the dump of a house in the 1960's and he and Ruth restored the estate to the masterpiece it is now. Built in 1859 by a Peruvian merchant, it was later bought by William Waldorf Astor, whose aunt lived in nearby Beechwood. He sold the home to Cornelius and Grace Vanderbilt. When Grace died in 1953, the home slowly faded, until the Buchanans purchased it. After Wiley's death, Ruth married her high school sweetheart, Edward Wheeler, who died in 2009. When asked if she wished her husband had picked a different home to restore, back in 1961, Ruth quickly retorted "No" she further says "The house is perfect. It was a headache. But now it is perfect" 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

C Z GUEST

Image
Flip through the "inspiration" file that every designer keeps, and at some point you will find a picture of C.Z. Guest. Debutante, showgirl (briefly), model (painted nude by Diego Rivera), socialite, gardener, intimate of artists and writers; Guest had the kind of life that seems fiction, and the perfect patrician looks to illustrate it. She wore her designer clothes with thoroughbred elegance, keeping to simple lines, rich fabrics, and soft colors to suit her cool complexion. But perhaps what drew creative types to her most was Guest's down-to-earth personality, exemplified by her recent advice to would-be gardeners visiting her web site, "The most important thing is to enjoy yourself and have a good time."
Read more

Le Palais du Couchant $68,500,000 • 9577 Sunset Blvd • Beverly Hills The epitome of European elegance with over 36,000 square feet of exquisite designs with hand painted detailing & state of the art electronics. Commercial level systems, exceptional new construction on nearly two acres of unparalleled quality. Delicate hand carved imported limestone exterior, onyx marbles, marble columns, antique mirrors, exceptional French moldings with 24karat gilt, bronze beveled double paned windows & doors. Fabulous master suite with huge dressing areas, luxurious baths & separate sitting rooms. Tournament play tennis court, expansive pool pavilion entertaining area with beautiful gardens. Opulent two story circular entry with a magnificent skylight. An entertainer's paradise, extraordinary scale. No expense has been spared in this famed 3 level French Palladian residential estate

Image
Read more

This is what a townhouse looks like...!

Image
  23 Gramercy Park South  last year for $18.5 million. The buyers of the 27-foot-wide landmark were Colombian heir Andrés Santo Domingo and his wife, socialite and  Vogue  contributor Lauren Santo Domingo. Apparently they weren't completely satisfied with their purchase, because the house is about to undergo a serious renovation.
Read more