Sneak Peek at the Junior League Decorator Show House

It's impossible to visit a Junior League Decorator Show House without feeling like your own home is in serious need of redecorating, and this year's house at 68 Scarborough Street, in Hartford's historic West End, is no exception.

Although the 27 separate spaces were the work of , this year's Show House flows almost seamlessly from one room to the next. In the past six weeks, all have been hard at work transforming the canvas of this home with "good bones" into a masterpiece.

From the faux-painted deep red living room, designed by Hartford's Richard Ott (Richard Ott Interior Spaces) to be "comfortable and casual, yet sophisticated," the tour continues to the bright and airy sun porch.

Cindy Kranz of Galway Stallard in Avon used the aqua color in the slate tiles – a hue revealed only after extensive scrubbing – and the dragon element on a screen to create an ethereal and relaxing space.

It's the year of the dragon, so visitors should look for the dragon motif to repeat in other first floor spaces.

It's evident in Peter Robbin's (LCR, West Hartford) eclectic dining room. "I was inspired by the blue and white," said Robbin, whose space combines a "classical motif mixed with 20th Century modern elements." The home's ceilings are not especially high, and a white circle was painted around the chandelier to draw the eye up and create an illusion of height.

You'll want to touch the tiles in the first floor powder room. They appear to be quilted, and designer Ann Wolinsky of AKB Design in Avon said she used six different ornate dots as accents among the tiles.

The butler's pantry is a pop of brilliant terracotta, and no space (other than the kitchen, which is not included on the tour) is left untouched as impressive artwork draws the visitor up the stairs to the second floor.

Stop by Marianne Donahue's master bedroom, which includes an impressive closet, and take a "Journey to Marrakesh" into the sleeping porch.

With sweeping views of the backyard, the brilliant colors of this special room, created by Hoye and Huber Design of West Hartford, were inspired by a pair of pillars and the the original stucco walls.

The home's original ceilings were in bad shape, so Jean Poulin of Farmington covered the flaws with a textured white wallpaper in her pink, white, and yellow sanctuary designed for an 8 to 14 year old girl.

The adjacent guest bath is an enchanted paradise. The flowers you will see are all real, including those used to create the mythical figure who resides in the shower.

Edith Whitman of Avon has designed rooms for every single Junior League Decorator Show House since the fundraiser debuted in 1979. She said this is the most impressive house yet, and her favorite element in the sitting room she designed is the "copper still" table.

Mackenzie Childs and the proximity to Elizabeth Park inspired Elaine Curley Urban's bathroom, a space she says is influenced by the delights of nature and the lighter side of life."

Laurie Nilsen's whimsical tea room was designed "for the child in all of us." It's full of antique playthings interspersed with modern day toys. Putting the room together in such a short period of time "was like a reality show," Nilsen said.

Also for the child in all of us is the play room – complete with a puppet theater. Karen Candee and Helen Hahn designed the cheerful space.

Looking for ideas on how to decorate your home office? Bruce Valicenti designed a study with beautifully textured walls and keyhole window treatments.

On the house's third floor is a wilderness-inspired boy's room – walls and ceilings enveloped in a tent. Cynthia Mason of Farmington designed the space, and accented the dresser with branches salvaged from her yard after the October snowstorm.

Labrazel Home designed several third floor spaces, including a cottage retreat aqua bedroom, a "beach cabana" bathroom, and a gift closet sure to make you drool with envy.

Down the hall is Remy Schwartz's "Swedish-inspired getaway," which sports an authentic zebra rug on the floor.

The house tour ends with a stop in the potting room – doesn't everyone have one of those – and out into the backyard where exterior designers have done their magic.

Liz Harrington, who designed the outdoor patio area, said that in her space, "everything is edible except the boxwoods." She also utilized salvaged furniture, and intended to show that a "practical garden could also be pretty."

The stately West End home, built in 1921, was once the home of former Connecticut State Sen. Alfred Wechsler and his wife Marjorie. The home, which sits on over 2 acres of land adjacent to the Park River, includes nine bedrooms, five full and two half baths, and three fireplaces.

Junior League President Wendy Avery said the organization hopes to raise between $100,000 and $125,000, which will for the next three years. This project has been in the planning stages for the past 18 months.

The 2012 Junior League of Hartford Decorator Show House opens on Saturday, May 5, and will remain open through Sunday, May 27. Tickets are available for $25 in advance on the Junior League of Hartford website and at special ticket outlets, or for $35 at the door. Several special events are also scheduled at the Show House throughout the month. Details are available on the Junior League's website.