Ok, with regards to the FG Estate house, I was thinking something along the lines of this. Obviously the scales will need to be worked out and changed from what you see here, but hopefully it gives you the general idea.
Keep the wings internal into the house, with each wing having access to the mini-courtyard. Corridors running inbetween each 'block' of wings and running around the edge of the house. A the front of the house we'd have the grand entranceway and stairs to the second floor (or even third), with two large communal rooms.
Obviously this can all be easily stacked up, and it should allow us to achieve a stately home sort of look if so wished.