Some houses announce themselves before you ever cross the front door. Cliveden is one of them. From its formal terraces to the sweep of the front drive, every line hints at power and taste. Perched above the Thames in Buckinghamshire, the estate was rebuilt in 1851 by Sir Charles Barry, whose command of proportion also defines London’s Houses of Parliament. Four decades later, William Waldorf Astor would make it his own—layering Italianate architecture with English romanticism, sculpted gardens, and storied interiors.

The Elms Newport Mansion, a French chateau inspired Gilded Age estate in Rhode Island, features historic home design, formal gardens, and HBO filming ties. This type of historic home design is what happens when you have too much money in 1901 and a taste for France. Architect Horace Trumbauer modeled the house after Château d’Asnières, then wrapped it in Indiana limestone so it would basically last forever.