Maybe I'm a Dreamer...

So in lieu of figuring out the architecture to inspire the school in Finland (Bedivere's International School of Learning Advanced Studies) I found some architecture to inspire the gothic style mansion that Damien would be moving into once he moves to England from Minnesota. This will be labeled the 'Dwyre Mansion' for now.

So I want most of this mansion (which will have many floors more than say a regular mansion) to be black, grey, tan, or brown. This mansion is a good example of the steps I want preceding the mansion as well as the window shape. The towers on this castle resemble the turrets I expect to be on the Dwyre mansion. However, that castle doesn't represent the grandness that I see being in this fictional mansion. The columns seen on this mansion is close to what I consider to be framing the front door, the sheer height of what I wish to see is not there, yet in this one the columns are exactly what I have in mind (excepting the fact that there would only be two and not four). The inside of the Dwyre Mansion, as I see it should not only be from expensive materials such as marble, granite, and other such rocks: but expensive woods will give it a life all its own such as this railing.
Thinking about outside of the mansion now I believe that the mansion would be older and so not only have a wrought iron gate (which wouldn't hold back armies) but a wall of stone. This would also produce a courtyard effect and so room for Damien to move about without being 'outside'. It's suggested that a garden walk would be perfect for the ladies, even if when Damien and his mother moves in it hasn't been well managed. This would give Kaleigh something to do while Damien's away at school. Cleaning up a garden walk would be a huge undertaking. On the upside, I think it would give the feeling that she's kind of isolated from society for a bit (since she can't speak with Freya, Lyki's mother due to political differences).

Now for outside the mansion walls the structure would thusly carry lookout towers. Having the towers slightly concealed by plant life would be beneficial in days when wars would be at their height. How these can be used now is for Damien's 'hangout' spot: somewhere to get away and think while he's home for holidays. Or potentially hide out to avoid guests.

In the long run I should look more carefully at this blog since they have tons of pictures of castles/mansions.