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While Knight's timing was somewhat late—Newport's "cottages" peaked in the 1890s—he spared no effort in ensuring his mansion would stand out. Drawing inspiration from Colin Campbell's undelivered 18th-century English manor plans for Hidcote House, Trumbauer crafted a limestone villa with a balanced classical façade featuring Doric columns, elegant angles, and decorative railings along the roofline. The design was a monument to Old World aristocratic charm transported to the American shoreline.
The mansion's façade, with its imposing gates opening onto a cobblestone courtyard, exuded old-world aristocracy. The structure spanned nearly 12,000 square feet, with impeccable symmetry and sweeping bay views, proclaiming luxury and social stature.