A Newport state of mind

A manse that dates back to the dawn of the city's gilded era is for sale at $10.7m

Oakwood, the 19th-century summer residence of Mary Alida Astor Carey, features a former ballroom renovated into drawing room. (Globe Staff / Tom Herde)

NEWPORT, R.I. - While fine examples of this city's architectural gilded age were frozen in time as house museums, other notable properties continued to welcome owners, their families, and guests. Some such as Oakwood, the 19th-century summer residence of Mary Alida Astor Carey, have evolved into homes that pay homage to their heritage while adding all the amenities a 21st-century occupant could want in a luxury mansion.

The recent history of the sprawling 10,545-square-foot Italianate-style manse is as fascinating and high-profile as its gilded-era provenance. Mary Astor was the daughter of William Backhouse Astor, a son of John Jacob Astor who turned a comfortable inheritance from a childless uncle and the family fur company and real estate holdings into one of America's largest personal fortunes.

The house, built in the late 1860s, was among the first of the summer retreats built by New York's moneyed class on the outskirts of town. It is unclear who the original architect was, said Ross Cann of A4 Architecture and Planning in Newport, but the music room and ballroom were added in 1872 and both were designed by Rhode Island architects George Champlin Mason & Son. In 1875, a three-story tower and a kitchen wing designed by Sturgis & Brigham of Boston were added.

The current owner is J. Brian O'Neill, a Pennsylvania-based real estate developer who bought the property in 2004 from Peter de Savary, a British businessman, resort developer, and one-time challenger for the America's Cup sailing trophy. In 2000, de Savary founded the Carnegie Abbey Club, where membership is by invitation-only, that includes an enclave of private homes, a Scottish links-style golf course, riding facilities, tennis courts, clubhouse, restaurant, planned marinas, and other amenities along Narragansett Bay in nearby Portsmouth. O'Neill, a club member, wanted to convert an abandoned 21-story tower, also owned by de Savary, adjacent to the club property, into luxury condos.

After a long complex set of business deals, O'Neill got not only the tower (which he is rebuilding), but all of Carnegie Abbey - and the 24-room Astor mansion on more than 5 land-locked acres on Narragansett Avenue just off tony Bellevue Avenue in Newport.

And now O'Neill is selling the Astor estate, for $10.75 million.

O'Neill hired Cann and Newport interior designer John Peixinho and embarked on a renovation of the estate, which over the years had been altered by a succession of owners (both Mary and John Carey died in 1881), with the goal of "bringing a greater elegance and traditional flavor to the house," Cann said. He expanded the master suite, adding a luxury bathroom above the enclosed rear terrace that overlooks the heated, mosaic-tile swimming pool. Beyond that, on meticulously landscaped grounds, is a PGA-standard, six-hole putting green, a Wimbledon-standard lawn tennis court, a reflecting pool stocked with koi, a rose garden, and ancient oak and split-leaf beech trees.

The most stunning room in the house is the dining room, where the walls are lined with 56 hand-painted Chinese panels that were installed in the early 20th century. Peixinho repainted the room, which had been a dark maroon color, a deep celadon that complements the beautifully preserved panels.

Yet, as breathtaking as the art is, this is not a gallery, but rather an inviting room to share a meal with family, friends, or a visiting dignitary or two. (In 2006, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbechev was guest of honor at a private reception at the mansion.)

The 26-by-40-foot ballroom has been transformed by Peixinho into a comfortable drawing room. The space is still used for entertaining by O'Neill, who has held many charity events at Oakwood. No doubt the Careys threw a party or two in their day, though they had to compete with Mary's sister-in-law, Caroline Schermerhorn, a New York socialite who married William Backhouse Astor Jr.

Having devised the famous "400" list of 213 families and individuals whose lineage could be traced back at least three generations, Caroline Astor set the society standard at her Bellevue Avenue mansion, Beechwood, and famously insisted on being called "The Mrs. Astor" by family and friends.

Today, with access to the outdoors from nearly every room, lots of warm colors, plump upholstered furniture, and a collection of familiar American art, the refurbished house isn't a time capsule but an elegant bridge to a new century.

"It is a great house for entertaining," said listing broker Melanie Delman of Lila Delman Real Estate in Newport.

"I've been to parties here and the space just has a wonderful flow. People really feel comfortable here."

Gail Ravgiala is editor of Design New England magazine. E-mail her at ravgiala@globe.com.