Newport, Rhode Island
The original owners of this home spent some money on this
entrance of perfect proportion and outstanding quality. The
stone steps drop directly to the sidewalk and the street.
A nice Georgian, pedimented entrance pops against dark blue-green painted clapboards.
This entrance is less showy than some others in the area, but just as beautiful in it's simplicity.
This 1748 house has an understated Georgian entrance.
This Adam style entrance shows the semi-circular window above the door which is associated with the style.
12 over 12 windows and window heads round out the look.
The recessed panel pilasters and absence of a window over the door on this entrance are about as simple as it gets in this area of Newport.
Notice the symmetrical window placement in the 12 over 12 windows of this house.
This house aims for the same symmetrical window layout, along with a simple pedimented entrance. However, a closer inspection reveals that the window spacing is not the same from the left side to the right side.
The details on this entrance are closer to what might be found in high-end colonial revival houses in more modern times.
Note the semi-circular window and fan arrangement on this Adam style entrance. A granite step leads right to the sidewalk.
This 1750 house has an inset step and recessed entrance which is less common for the era.
This pedimented entry is on the side of the house instead of the center. Notice the pointed window head typical of this area.
The brackets on this window head would suggest construction in the latter half of the 1800s.
The bubble glass in this door, though probably modern, is a nice touch in this entrance. Notice how closely the window above the pediment is located.
This early 1700s home shows very typical Georgian features.
This 1854 house has a side entrance and very simple trim details.
Here the Victorian influence is evident in the brackets, scrollwork and ornamentation. Again we see a side entrance and it is recessed into the building.
This house has a very restrained entrance located on the street. The soffits are fairly wide compared to others in the area.
Another Adam style semi circular window and simple pedimented entrance.
The elliptical fan light above this door is typical of Adam style.
This recessed entrance with double doors would be at home in many small cities.
This Greek revival entrance with Ionic columns and balustrades on the rooftops is less common in the historical district of Newport.
Here is a recessed entrance with a bracketed door head that suggests later influences. Notice the that the door opens directly to a step instead of a landing, which does not meet modern codes.
This house is spare except for the entrance itself, suggesting that the original owners struggled to keep up with some neighbors.
A single granite step drops to street level.
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This 1732 home demonstrates something about the clapboards used at the time. Contrary to the long lengths used in more modern times, these clapboards are short with many seams. Rosehead nails were used to fasten the boards to the house and a bead detail was planed into the bottom edge of each board.
The pointed window heads on this house and semicircular fan light over the door are very typical of this area.
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This church-owned structure is much larger than many of the surrounding houses, but the same Adam style influences work here too.
The history of this commercial building is unclear, but it has an unusual entrance.
The sheer size of these arched doors, along with 24 lights per side, lend to their beauty and obviously strong design.
About
These pictures were taken from the historical area in the center of Newport, Rhode Island and provide some inspiration for modern work.
Many of the houses here are from a period between the mid 1700s to mid 1800s and reflect styles from Georgian, to Adam, to Greek and Classical revival.