The exterior of the Mount was modeled on a 17^th-century English country house, but the interior is a graceful amalgamation of French and Italian ideas. After entering the ground floor vestibule and mounting the stairs, visitors are treated to this capacious, barrel-vaulted, terrazzo-floored gallery, inspired by the European piano nobile. The Decoration of Houses explains that "gala rooms" like these were meant for entertaining: "Therefore, to fulfill their purpose, they must be large, very high-studded, and not overcrowded with furniture, while the walls and ceiling—the only parts of a crowded room that can be seen—must be decorated with greater elaboration than would be pleasing or appropriate in other rooms." In Wharton's day, the color scheme was reversed: pale blue-green walls with white trim.