Three centuries worth of New England's magnificent houses and mansions are collected in an equally grand new book from Rizzoli: Great Houses of New England, by Roderic H. Blackburn (text) and Geoffrey Gross (photography). Spanning a wide range of styles, these stately houses are the originals from which many of today's McMansions have been copied. They're more than just artifacts, however; as Blackburn writes, "Through the architecture and decorative arts we see the development of a people and their region."

Among the more splendid examples in the book is the Jeremiah Lee Mansion in Marblehead, Mass., dating from 1767 (pictured here), the impressiveness of which is "conveyed by its subdued monumentality," Blackburn notes. Lee, a shipping merchant, built it to emulate aristocratic estates in England, so you might say not all that much has changed. Also of note are the beautiful brick Georgian Macpheadris-Warner House in Portsmouth, N.H., dating from 1716; Rosecliff, a palatial McKim, Mead & White mansion which was the setting for the movie version of The Great Gasby; and Brookside, a gracious Greek Revival in Orwell, VT. See the gallery for more.

Plans have been announced for New England's largest marina, The Newport Club in Rhode Island. The Newport Club covers 44.5 acres of waterfront property on Aquidneck Island, plus 100 acres out into the cove itself. There will be 1,500 marina slips with retail shops, restaurants, waterfront residences, and marine-related support facilities. The slips will range up to 500 feet in hopes of drawing more megayacht traffic to the area. The Newport Club will feature resort style residences ranging from $395,000 to $2,000,000 and there are plans to build brand-name luxury hotels to create a popular yachting destination.

I confess, I am a little confused about today's home. The listing says it was built in 2000 but it looks much, much older. The home is located in Otis, Massachusetts tucked into the Berkshires region of the western part of the state. The nearly nine acre property features a six-bedroom home with a southern exposure and a mahogany decked wrap-around porch for lake and mountain views. The home's other details include beamed ceilings, custom cabinetry and hardwood floors.The kitchen which is designed to look quaint does feature a Viking stove. The dining room is home to a cast-iron bookstore and brick fireplace and adjoins a parlor with a fieldstone fireplace built from stone harvested from the property. The master suite has a walk-in closet and a bath with a claw-foot tub.The second floor is home to five bedrooms, bathrooms and two sitting rooms. Also on the property is a two-bedroom "getaway cottage and the one-bedroom bunkhouse. The land also includes a barn, boathouse, docks and other outbuildings including one with a sauna. It is listed at $3.3 million. After the jump, the classic Berkshires summer home.

Weathering a winter on the New England island of Martha's Vineyard is not for everyone, it can be extremely isolating. However if you want the experience of tranquility that comes from watching the seasons change in this magical place you could find few places as lovely to do that in as this gorgeous Edgartown home. Located on Edgartown Great Pond, this estate has 12.3 acres of land. The 10,000-square-foot main house has five bedrooms and a two-story living room with a large stone fireplace that would be the perfect place to snuggle down during gray days. The land also includes guest quarters above a three-car garage and guest house. This home is listed at $11.5 million. After the jump, bring your cashmere throw and settle in before the cold weather kicks in.