Old School Newport Elegance

I just returned from the Newport Flower Show, and I have been obsessing over this gorgeous 1930s French 18th Century neo-classical style summer cottage that Jenny Brewster from The Foo Dog Blog posted a few weeks ago. Here are details from the real estate listing…

“Ker Arvor” is an exceptional estate in pristine, museum-quality condition that sits on 9.1 acres off Ocean Drive near Newport Country Club. “Ker Arvor,” French Breton for ‘littoral” or “seaside” was derived from the rest camp for Allied Forces in the pine forest of Pexonne near the town of Badonvillier in Lorraine, France. Built from 1931-1933, it was built for summer resident Snowden Andrews Fahnestock (1886-1962). The architects were Russell & Clinton of New York.The French 18th Century neo-classical style summer house was inspired by the hunting lodge of La Lanterne (1787) at Versailles. An estate of this caliber has not been for sale in Newport for many years. The house is a 2-1/2 story stucco U-shaped plan with mansard-roofed ells on the formally landscaped lot. Cobblestone paving runs around the base of the house in the spirit of Louis XVI architecture. The east wing houses the garages and service quarters. “Ker Arvor” was noted in Country Life Magazine in May of 1935. Since the purchase of this estate by the present owner, the property has been restored to its present day exquisite condition. No expense was spared. Wallcoverings were recreated from the originals. Hardware was imported from France, as were the 18th Century floors, when available. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places Inventory. The living area is 12,500 sf. The property includes a magnificent pool, award-winning gardens, a barn.This property is for the discriminating buyer.

To see the listing for this exquisite home, please click here, and click here for additional information from Jenny at The Foo Dog Blog… I also recommend Jenny’s e-design services, which you can read about here. And for all things Newport, you simply must follow the fabulous blog Private Newport.

Photography by Nicholas Mele.