nˈɪkəlˌaɪ lˈɪvd ɪn wʌt ɪz nˈaʊ nˈoʊn æz ðə vˈɑːlkənskˌɪi hˈaʊs bᵻfˌoːɹ kəmˈɛnsɪŋ tə bˈɪld ðə mˈeɪn, sˈɪŋɡəlstˈoːɹi mˈænɚ hˈaʊs ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd tˈɛn, æt ðə hˈaɪɪst pˈɔɪnt ʌvðɪ ᵻstˈeɪt.
Nikolai lived in what is now known as the 'Volkonskiy house' before commencing to build the main, single-storey manor house in 1810, at the highest point of the estate.