"The interior of the Stephen house - the work of "a small army of carvers and craftsmen in wood and marble who were brought from Europe" - is particularly impressive. On passing through the portico and front doors the visitor comes to the sumptuous entrance hall. Its magnificent staircase, arches, balustrade, wall-paneling, and beam-and-pendant ceiling were made from Cuban mahogany. A skylight and a large stained-glass Palladian window, depicting scenes from Shakespeare, flood the stairs with light, and tapestries depicting Greek goddesses line the walls above the wood panels. This high level of design and craftsmanship (and expense) is maintained throughout, with walls and ceilings of carved oak, bird's-eye maple, English walnut, Ceylonese satinwood, and southern pine; fireplaces of marble, onyx, and hand-painted tiles; and door-knobs and hinges plated with 22-carat gold." From Harold Kalman, A History of Canadian Architecture