Belton House in Lincolnshire serves as inspiration for stunning and award-winning private house in Connecticut

A bespoke family home in the US is based on the architect of a classic stately home which is now a National Trust property in the UK.

The property in New England has been inspired by Lincolnshire's Belton House - from the large facade, to the tall chimneys and even the cupola.

The award-winning Lakeside Georgian Estate, in Greenwich, Connecticut has been built for an American businessman, his wife and their three teenage children.

It was designed by Charles Hilton Architects which has a reputation for creating homes in a traditional style.

Nichola Rotondi, from Charles Hilton, said: "Our client wanted a timeless traditional brick exterior, and CHA felt that the Georgian style fit the program and was an appropriate style for the 13-acre lakeside property.

"When designing, we often reference many English and Irish Georgian houses, as well as their early derivative American homes.

"A large program, the Georgian aesthetic, and a keen interest in certain compositional elements led us to the Belton Estate.

"We took inspiration from its graduated slate roof, oversized fenestration, vertical proportions, and its soaring chimneys that all help to minimize the scale of the facade.

"To make the house appear smaller than it is, all the elements of the exterior including the roofing, cornices and trim, fenestration, and veneer materials such as the brick and stone were designed proportionally oversized to appear smaller.

"The home’s cupola, which is capped with a custom dragon weathervane, was also inspired by the Belton House."

Belton’s cupola is topped with a greyhound "which is a recurring motif at Belton," explained a National Trust spokesman.

As well as Belton House, the US property also drew on the Crane Estate in Ipswich, Massachusetts, which again faithfully draws on Belton House.

Inside the Lakeside Estate the floor of the entrance hall is inspired by the Campidoglio in Rome.

Alongside the main property, the estate includes a pool house, pool pergola, a lakeside pavillion, tennis court and pavillion and a guest house in grounds designed by Hollander Design Landscape Architects.

Lincolnshire's Belton House has 36 acres of formal gardens and 1,300 acres of deer park with about 300 fallow deer. The River Witham runs through the site which also includes two lakes.

The US version sits in 13 acres off a private lane and overlooks a lake in back-country Greenwich.

Siobhán Scullion, visitor operations and experience manager at Belton House explained how the property, its stables and gardens have long been a source of inspiration.

She said: "Belton House has inspired designers across the centuries since it was completed in 1688. The architect of Belton, William Winde, was himself inspired by Roger Pratt’s design for Clarendon House - built 1664-67 and demolished 1684."

Clarendon House stood in what would become Mayfair.

At Belton House, which was started for Sir John Brownlow in 1685 and handed over to the National Trust in 1984, a team of groundskeepers and gardeners tend to the facilities.

It is home to the first road map ever made of Great Britain, one of the most significant historic silver collections in the country and the second largest library held by the National Trust.

Meanwhile, Lakeside Georgian Estate features in a book created by the architectural firm behind its stunning design.

It explains how the property was "built for a cosmopolitan family and their teenage children" before listing features of the property. It details the "open-concept floor plan, airy, light-filled rooms, multiple kitchens, two master

bedroom suites, a wine cellar, and even a natatorium".

It continues: "There is also a spa area with a sauna, gym, and changing spaces."

Inside the similarities to Belton House fade away to cater for the taste of the new homeowners, who have asked to remain anonymous. The lady of the house favoured more contemporary interiors and modern furnishings.

Mr Rotondi said: "The resulting home is a very traditional Georgian exterior with transitional interiors.

"As a businessman who is often travelling the world for work, the husband who finds solace in the luxurious lobbies of the finest hotels, specifically requested the spacious light drenched waterfront living room which is flanked by a more intimate dining room and study."

An oval reception room with a marble floor leads to the home's centrepiece - a grand living room dubbed the Great Room, which measures 51ft x 31ft and with 28.5ft tall ceilings. It overlooks the rear terrace, yard and the lake from the property's name.

Off the living room is a dining room, kitchen, family room, two guest suites, service spaces and beyond that six garages.

On the first floor, a central hallway overlooks the living room and entry hall. There are five family bedroom suites and a study lounge for the children. In Grantham, Belton House is home to the National Trust's largest outdoor playarea and a miniature railway that is jokingly dubbed "the busiest station in Lincolnshire".

Some 3,382 miles away Lakeside Georgian Estate has gone on to win a string of awards for everything from the home office to the kitchen and the pergola.

Last year, it was named as winner of the best custom house over 20,000 square foot in the HOBI Awards.

The core design team included associate partners David Newcomb and Daniel Pardy and principal Charles Hilton.