Design Porn to visit: Petworth House

The stunning Petworth House and one of its deer (picture: Fenners1984)

If Domestic Sluttery were a place, Petworth in West Sussex would certainly make the shortlist. It's about half an hour's drive from my parents house and I always end up passing through it with my nose pressed up against the window ticking off all the shops I'd like to go and roll around in. It's exploding with antiques shops and places like Artful Teasing, which sells wonderful bath goodies, and if you ever get the chance to go for a day, do. It's wonderful.

But all trips to Petworth should start off with a tour of Petworth House. Or, because you're an adult and can therefore make these decisions, a visit to the amazing tea shop for a fully laid-on afternoon tea and trawl through the similarly amazing gift shop. My mother bought me a tea cosy shaped like a large chicken from there <3.

Petworth House is an absolutely glorious hive of decorating genius: whether you like dark walls and stunning (STUNNING) carvings, or light rooms packed with goodies, it's one of my favourite places to visit.

I genuinely want to paint my whole house red. (picture: jonmould)

You really feel people lived here. People with excellent taste and a bucketload of money, and brilliant dinner parties.

The wallpaper, the placement of everything is lovely. I love exploring the bathrooms (jonmould)

As well as perving over the gorgeous bedrooms, dressing rooms and so on, there's a wonderful chapel which always makes me catch my breath. A stunning combination of theatricality and peace.

Picture: anguskirk

And, my favourite since I was a little girl and first came here, the kitchens which are simply glorious (and, um, next to the tea rooms.)

The kitchens! (picture: steeljam)

Part of the kitchens' incredible copper collection (picture: steeljam)

It's also home to an incredible collection of art - plenty of Turner and Blake (Turner has a special exhibition coming up in January), and a hand-written edition of The Canterbury Tales, if you please - and the stairways and halls are groaning with incredible stuff. I never think I'm that into art, then I remember how much my jaw aches after hanging off my face every time I visit here!

The grounds are filled with beautiful treasures to explore (NTPL/John Miller)

Petworth Park (basically, its completely massive grounds) is a wonderful place for a good walk. Ravishing at any time of year, you can spot (or in my case, wildly-excitedly stalk) deer, and there is plenty of room for dogs to stretch their legs. The grounds were landscaped by Capability Brown and you can easily lose yourself for hours, and the views of the park are sensational.

Picture: imago

No pictures are going to do this incredible place justice - so if you're in the area and have a day to spare, go. It's just wonderful!