Pull into the main gate, park and buy a ticket at the ticket booth, then stroll up the driveway to the main house and in through the front door. the oak paneled entrance hall includes a ceiling fresco, paintings by George Morland and several pieces of 17th and 18th century English furniture. Turn right into Mrs. Phipps' study, with pale green and white paneling, Chippendale bookcase and Heppelwhite chairs. Continue to the right out to the marble-floored west porch. Comfortable in all seasons, the porch features hydraulically-operated windows that can be lowered into the basement.
Go left and you'll step into the white drawing room, which includes still more Chippendale pieces, a Carrarra marble mantelpiece, Waterford crystal chandeliers and paintings by John Constable, Sir Joshua Reynolds and Angelica Kauffman. Move on into the red ballroom, with marquetry flooring and red damask walls. Take special note of the Reynolds portrait and the 18th century mahogany cabinet with secret compartments. Continue on into Mr. Phipps' green paneled study, which is furnished with Queen Anne and Georgian pieces and a 16th century tapestry carpet.
Enter the dining room with oak paneling imported from England, silver locks on the doors and paintings by Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough and John Singer Sargent. Turn left into the children's dining room, the furnishing of which include a Hepplewhite table and chairs, an Alsatian doll house and a collection of Chinese porcelain. Exit this room, turn right and ascend the oak staircase, hung with 18th century prints, to the second floor.
Examine the features of the second floor hall, which is practically a living room in itself. It's dominated by a Hepplewhite library table and a 17th century walnut inlaid armoire. Turn right into the beige, white and pink boudoir with its French and English prints and continue on to the Adam style guest room with its neo-classical satinwood furniture. Turn left and pass the master bathroom with a staircase leading to the third floor nurseries and take a look at the master bedroom. This room is dominated by a Chippendale mahogany bed and portraits of the four Phipps children, Ben, Peggy, Hubert and Michael.
Go back into the main hall and view Mr. Phipps' dressing room--a bedroom really--with hand-blocked wallpaper and a Chippendale bed. To the left is the blue guest room, with hand-painted Chinese wallpaper and yes, more Chippendale furniture. In the southeast corner of this floor is the Chippendale guest room, with Chinoiserie furniture and Oriental art objects.
Proceed downstairs--the third and cellars floors being closed--and exit the house. To the north near the parking lot is a beech allee and a picnic area. East of the house is a boxwood garden. Moving to the southwest you'll find a rose garden, Italian garden, a "ghost walk" with a tunnel of trees and the cottage garden, featuring the play houses built for the Phipps children: three log cabins for the boys and an English thatched cottage for Peggy. The great lawn, linden allee and pinetum is due south of the house. continue to the southeast and you'll see an orchard, while the swimming pool, lake, "Temple of Love" and wildflower walk are to the east.
