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.

LA is full of contradictions. A city, but sprawling like a suburb. Industry-driven, yet business deals go down in flip-flops. Full of both grit and glamour; famous, yet somehow still faceless. What I learned is that LA’s architecture is hyper-varied: One block with a Spanish Colonial Revival, the next Craftsman or a Mid-Century Modern. What LA does best is to tuck it’s architectural gems into places you don’t expect.