Newport likes to be historical and atmospheric. When Steven Spielberg shot AMISTAD there a couple of years ago, he had to do very little except dump gravel on the asphalt roadways to create the historic effect- Besides, all those cobblestoned, corner lampost streets were soooo romantic if one can keep from breaking an ankle in the dark.
Re. the Vanderbilt bathrooms- those big marble tubs look like sarcophogi- with all the wealth it would seem like WHITE was the only color for the bath. White tiles, tub, walls, towels- must have been the perception of all things hygenic. Our dreamship will of course have chartreuse, puce, aubergine, magenta, and other luscious shades for the ensuite baths! Ah... now bring on the bathsalts, chilled champagne in Lalique flutes, and rose petals-I feel a bubblebath coming on...