 The principal façade is the great south front , a two @-@ storey colonnade of Corinthian columns superimposed on Tuscan , the whole surmounted by a central pediment . The columns are not stone , but wood coated in stucco . This is particularly interesting , as cost was no object in the house 's construction . The architect for this elevation was John Donowell , who executed the work between 1761 and 1763 ( although he had to wait until 1775 for payment ) . The façade , which has similarities to the main façade of Palladio 's Palazzo Chiericati of 1550 , was originally the entrance front . The front door is still in the centre of the ground floor leading into the main entry hall . This in itself is a substantial deviation from the classical form : West Wycombe does not have a first floor piano nobile : had the architect truly followed Palladio 's ideals , the main entrance and principal rooms would have been on the first floor reached by an outer staircase , giving the main reception rooms elevated views , and allowing the ground floor to be given over to service rooms . 
