Tony Tye, Post-Gazette Master sitting room by Mackins-Morton and Associates Click photo for larger image. Designers' Show House Photo Journal Junior League of Pittsburgh 17th Designers' Show House Where: 820 N. Highland Ave., Highland Park. When: Today through May 15; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tues., Fri.; 6-9 p.m. Wed., Thurs.; noon-5 p.m. Sat., Sun.; closed Mon. Tickets: $20 at the door. Information: 412-571-3020 or www.jlpgh.org.

No spiky-haired carpenter screamed "Bus driver, move that bus!" when the Junior League of Pittsburgh's design team finished work on the 17th Designers' Show House. Instead, there was a chorus of oohhs and ahhs as nearly 500 filtered through the Italian Renaissance-style mansion in Highland Park during the preview party last night.

The league, which has been in the business of extreme home makeovers long before the ABC television series, uses the proceeds from ticket sales to benefit community projects.

Notably missing from this year's show house were a few of the area's bigger names in design, but it was "Walk in the Park" for the new faces creating fresh spaces.

Among them is Marguerite White of Interiors by Marguerite White. Originally from Chicago, White made over a guest bathroom in this, her first Pittsburgh show house. She took her color cues from the room's focal point, a simple stained-glass window trimmed with leaves and roses.

"I used the window to create the palette of pinks and greens," she said.

Since this is the only original bathroom left in the nearly 100-year-old house, she worked with the subway tile and fixtures, including a grand claw-foot tub. She shrouded the tub with fabric featuring birds and flowers.

"It was perfect for the conservatory ambience I wanted to create in here."

The fern design on the walls was painted by Martha Zatezalo of Z Studio in Weirton, W.Va., who also designed the very difficult Wine Cellar and Tasting Room.

There is an unusual abundance of hand-painted murals and faux finishes throughout the house, but they are made to blend rather than distract. Mario Melodia undertook the biggest project, the back stairway.

"I wanted it to be more than a travel lane between floors," said the former choreographer, dancer and owner of On the Surface by Mario.

He envisioned a journey through the Italian Alps at the top of the stairs, through Tuscany and ending in a little courtyard scene on the first floor.

	SHOW HOUSE ROOMS, DESIGNERS Entrance hall, main staircase and upstairs hall Today's Home: Neill Stouffer and Carol Boscarino Smoking room Richard Lawrence Interiors: Richard Barranti and Lawrence Walker Powder room Drew Designs Ltd.: Nancy Drew, Lisa Harshbarger and Abby Tritt (intern) Living room Meadeworth Interiors: Sue Anderson and Melissa Nonnenberg Sun porch Le Tapisseur Interior Design Showroom: Melissa Ferrari, Courtney Jursik and Velma Ferrari Dining room Raymond J. Dortenzo & Associates: Ray Dortenzo Wine cellar and tasting room Z Studio of Decorative Finishes: Martha Zatezalo with assistance from Patrick Maloney Lady's study Ethan Allen: Beverly Rush and Susan Stabnau Hall study Cynthia Rosky Designs Ltd.: Cynthia Rosky and assistant Toni Luvara Master sitting room Mackins-Morton and Associates: Mindy Morton Master bathroom Showcase Kitchen and Bath Studio: Susan George and Mark Yale Master bedroom Angela Nolfi & Co.: Angela Nolfi and JoAnn Allen Guest bathroom Interiors by Marguerite White: Marguerite White Guest bedroom Evelyn James Interiors: Evelyn Wedner and James Checkeye Back stairway On the Surface by Mario: Mario Melodia Kitchen, butler's pantry and garden room Manderley Ltd.: Suzanne Bernard and Kathy Cvetkovich Outside room Heritage Landscape Supply & Ironworks: Germaine Gladu Landscaping Friday's Horticultural Landscaping: Gregg Friday

An art major at Carnegie Tech, he switched to theater on the advice of a teacher: "Mario, you can come back to this when you are 90 -- you can't dance when you are 90."

"It was the best advice I ever got," said the 75-year-old, who still works out every day.

Tucked under that one-of-a-kind stairwell is a small powder room, which Nancy Drew of Nancy Drew Designs Ltd. took from studs to stunning. The Tuscan theme began with floral decoration in an unexpected place.

"It all sprung from the doors on the vanity," said Drew.

For the kitchen, the house's owners contracted with Manderley Ltd. because it had to be completely gutted. That was also the case for the master bathroom done by Showcase Kitchen and Bath Studio.

Manderley's Suzanne Bernard and Kathy Cvetkovich did terrific things with a tight budget using Mouser kitchen cabinets.

"We went with an unframed design, which means placing the cabinets at different heights and depths for more of a furniture look," Bernard noted.

Commercial-quality appliances accounted for much of the kitchen budget. Manderley custom-built the hood for the Wolf stove and oven and the armoire for the SubZero refrigerator. The firm was also responsible for the charming garden room behind the kitchen and the butler's pantry off the dining room.

Ray Dortenzo of Raymond J. Dortenzo & Associates faced one of the biggest challenges in the house.

"This dining room was all dark wood and white walls with a big glass block window in the middle of the bay. It was so stark," he said.

Playing off the original hand-painted ceiling, he chose a palette of golds, reds, yellows and oranges to warm the space. The block plaid on the E.J. Victor dining chairs provided the blueprint for the room. Faux leather wallpaper by York plays off the coloration without competing. The perfect finishing touch is the table set with Versace. It takes the room from sophisticated to sexy, as does the Kravet silk leopard-print window seat covering.

Adjacent to the dining room is the living room by Meadeworth Interiors. Here the tone is taken down a notch to reflect and relax, said the designer, Sue Anderson, owner of Meadeworth Interiors.

"We took our cue from the Latin inscription on the ceiling over the fireplace: 'In light there is life.' "

To achieve that goal, she used an E.J. Victor mirrored coffee table against a chocolate brown velvet sofa by Henredon. Standing guard in the rear is a military campaign chest by Kindel.

"We worked with the huge windows because we wanted to bring the inside out and were conscious of trying to incorporate the elements of nature in the scheme," Anderson said.

The sun porch space off the living room was the perfect place to showcase fabric, making it a fine fit for Le Tapisseur's Melissa Ferrari.

"We used this wide horizontal striped fabric to separate the room from the house. On the windows, a very raw silk with a lot of texture was our choice," she said.

Mirrored deco light fixtures and McGuire porch furniture finish the space's natural look. Taking that theme to the wilder side -- leopard and leather -- is the smoking room by Richard Lawrence Interiors.

While each of the show house's rooms is distinct, there is a remarkable continuity throughout the house. Unlike other designer show houses, this one has amazing flow. One reason may be that all the paints came from Pittsburgh Paints' Manor Hall and Voice of Color collections.

"I also think the house dictated the direction of design," said Cynthia Rosky of Venetia, a first-time show house designer. "There is a lot of beautiful stained glass and dark wood. The original hand-painted ceilings in the living room and dining rooms with greens, golds and roses were a good indicator of how the home's color scheme would go."

Rosky's second-floor hall study is a lesson in creative coordination. Her olive green ceiling and bronzy gold walls play up the trees outside the room's dominant window.

Next door, Mindy Morton of Mackins-Morton and Associates takes a more abstract look at nature using pale blue slipper chairs from Baker against a large contemporary painting. It's the most modern room in the house, anchored by a unique Barbara Barry light fixture hanging in the center of the space.

Finally, show house veterans Evelyn Wedner and James Checkeye of Evelyn James Interiors took a playful, fresh approach to the guest bedroom. A brilliant display of bold colors that don't bully, it boasts a red Leather Craft club chair resting comfortably next to a deep java dresser by Century. Across the room is a headboard and night stands by Michael Weiss for Vanguard.

Everything is surrounded by apple green-on-green horizontal striped walls. Adding to the happy ambience are vibrant orange lamps the pair made from found glass vases.

"I was inspired by spring," said Wedner.

To meet the show house designers and discuss their work, attend "An Evening With the Designers" on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door. Information: 412-571-3020 or www.jlpgh.org.