What glamour lies within

THIS year’s Pasadena Showcase House of Design is a bit like Paris Hilton dressed for a court date: staid and respectable on the outside but still a party girl at heart. Using the 1938 Boddy House’s original Hollywood Regency look as inspiration, designers have given the Descanso Gardens landmark a glamorous makeover. At times it’s as fun-loving as a headline-hogging heiress -- but with more class. From the four-poster Lucite bed in Cynthia Bennett & Associates’ guest suite to the hand-painted plumage feathering the walls of Carolyn Oliver’s dressing room, the house glows with the same kind of vintage style many Angelenos want to merge with their contemporary decor. The showcase will be open for touring daily through May 20; tickets are $30 to $40 and include admission to Descanso Gardens. Information: (626) 578-8500 (recording), (714) 442-3872 (ticket orders), www.pasadenashowcase.org.

-- Times staff