Millbrook Country House

I loved this black and white colonial house the minute I saw it. Set on a rise amidst a lush English-styled garden peppered with mature trees, the sweeping gravel driveway takes you past the traditional entry to the back garden. The back almost mirrors the front and as you enter magnificent polished wide planked floors and original window glass greet you. The twin parlors are comfortably decorated with fine, mostly 18th-century Italian antiques, while local artwork adorns the fireplaces. The decor features a selection of calming colors that play off one another throughout. This house built in 1808 included a store and was part of a village that once existed on the Sharon Turnpike. The interiors speak volumes of history. The wonderful furnishings afford a glimpse into the elegant past of Italian aristocracy because your hosts have brought family heirlooms to reside here. The four luxurious bedrooms (all with private bath) are an opportunity to experience Italian extravagance. Choices will range from rich Venetian Baroque furnishings to a serene citrus colored guestroom with a fabulous painted iron bed, hand-forged in Liguria. Giancarlo Grisi hails from Liguria and Lorraine Alexander who left an editorial career at Gourmet Magazine are responsible for this wonderful inn. Not surprising, careful attention is paid to your gourmet meals with fresh produce from the herb garden. Also, be sure not to miss the marvelous sculptures outdoors. Nearby Millbrook Village and the gardens of Innisfree and Wethersfield evidence the wealthy past of this district and the elegance of Dutchess County resides in this house.