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Newport The Francis Malbone House 392 Thames St. Elegant decor, an abundance of flowering plants and a rear courtyard retreat make this a favorite with those who like to be in the thick of things along Lower Thames Street. Five local partners acquired the imposing residence in 1990 and converted it into one beautiful inn. The downstairs common rooms are uncommonly inviting, the burgundy, pale pink and blue striped upholstery on some of the sofas and chairs in two high-ceilinged parlors matching the handsome draperies. In the rear library, the colors are also coordinated with the oriental carpet. All three rooms have fireplaces, and there's a TV/VCR in the library. At a spring visit, the rooms abounded with a profusion of colorful houseplants, from African violets to hydrangeas to an hibiscus that had burst into bloom in a sunny window that morning. Upstairs off a center hall are eight corner rooms on two floors, all with updated bathrooms (two with tubs) and six with fireplaces. The front rooms are bigger and afford harbor views. Each is exquisitely furnished with antique queensize beds covered by monogrammed duvet covers in white. Baskets of Gilchrist & Soames toiletries are in each bathroom and interesting magazines are displayed in the bedrooms. Queen Anne furnishings, TVs and telephones with data ports are the norm here and throughout the B&B. On the main floor, a side hallway with a shelf of cobalt blue glass leads past the library to the sunken Counting House Suite (built as an office by the physician who once owned the house) with a private entry, a kingsize canopy bed facing the TV, a sitting area with a sofabed and two wing chairs, fireplace, dining table and a large bath with an oversize marble shower and a corner jacuzzi for two. Although still the premium accommodation, the suite has competition from the nine new courtyard rooms in the rear, all with kingsize poster beds and jacuzzi tubs, writing desks, fireplaces and TVs hidden in recessed bookshelves. Bigger, more private and quiet because they’re away from the street traffic, they encompass all the amenities that "we couldn’t have in the original house and wanted here," in the words of innkeeper Will Dewey. A couple open onto private courtyards with wrought-iron furniture. The courtyard suite adds a wet bar and a sitting area. Two luxurious accommodations were opened lately in the 1710 Mason House at the rear of the property. The downstairs holds a living room, dining room, kitchen and sunroom with a courtyard. These are common areas for two spacious upstairs lodgings, each with king or queen bed, fireplace, and jacuzzi tub and TV in the bathroom. Breakfast is served in the inn’s spectacular 40-seat dining room off a corridor walled with glass and Portuguese tiles leading to the courtyard wing. It’s a beauty in pale yellow and gray with a candle chandelier hanging from a fifteen-foot-high domed ceiling and tall shelves displaying Will’s collection of blue and white English china. Will, a culinary graduate of Johnson & Wales University in Providence, and his staff prepare a full breakfast, starting with fresh fruits, breads, muffins and perhaps raspberry croissants or cinnamon-raisin strudels. The main course possibilities range from eggs benedict or a variety of quiches to belgian waffles. Homemade cookies and beverages are offered in the afternoon.
(401) 846-0392 or (800) 846-0392. Fax (401) 848-5956. E-mail: innkeeper@malbone.com For more information: www.malbone.com or www.gonewport.com
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