Turn a second-floor corner in a new $1.79 million Roswell home, and it's like Alice falling down the rabbit's hole into Wonderland.

A hallway leads you into another world, an unexpected and imaginative playroom full of whimsical decor.

Christopher Oquendo/Special (ENLARGE)

This home on Calladium Way is one of three on the 12th Annual Roswell Woman's Club Showcase Home Tour at Ivey Mill. Three builders are represented, as well as several designers who help sell the homes by showing their decorating potential.

Christopher Oquendo/Special (ENLARGE)

A refined sitting area is part of a Roswell Women's Club showcase home on Calladium Way. The tour of homes runs through March 30.

Christopher Oquendo/Special (ENLARGE)

The Big Canoe home goes for a 'wow' factor inside and out with a four-car garage, timber framing inside and the latest technology.

Christopher Oquendo/Special (ENLARGE)

This opulently decorated home on Skyline Drive in Big Canoe is on display in the Southern Living Plan of the Month show.

Photo Gallery See more photos of these homes

Colorful bottle caps are embedded in the tile backsplash in the kitchenette. The couches are made of warehouse platform dollies on wheels with two twin mattresses. Family photos and mementos are displayed behind mesh screens. Valances made of neutral strips of burlap, cotton, linen and other fabrics are tied to such vintage household items as hinges, utensils and doorknobs to create a fringe effect. A glass table top is supported by an old child's pedal car.

Travel past the black sculpturelike entertainment center made out of assorted objects (including chairs, a typewriter and radio), and instead of a closet, the L-shaped space turns into a playhouse that looks like it's from a Victorian children's novel.

The room, created by interior designer LaWayne Johnsen, fills Carol Harrison and other visitors to the 12th Annual Roswell Woman's Club Showcase Home Tour at Ivey Mill with ideas to consider using in their own homes.

Often, it's possible to buy the one you're touring. Agents are on hand at the Roswell tour and others throughout the year in metro Atlanta to raise money for a cause and showcase design and building talent.

As Harrison walked through the three homes on the tour, which runs through March 30 and features three builders (Moncler Homes, Rosen Custom Homes and Tyson Homes), she noticed such details as beadboard doors in addition to the work of local designers.

"Even if you're not going to have a $2 million home, you could say, 'This is a really cool door. I could do this,'" Harrison said. "There are details of either the decor or the actual detail in the house that you might be able to incorporate in your own humble dwelling."

Show homes help sell homes because they offer house hunters an opportunity to see what it could be like to live there, agents say.

"The one [response] we love to hear obviously is, 'When can I move in?' " said Betsy Franks, senior vice president and managing broker of Jenny Pruitt and Associates' north Fulton office, which is marketing the homes on the Roswell Woman's Club tour.

To get the most out of a visit to one of this spring's events (others include the Atlanta Symphony Associates' 38th Annual 2008 Decorators' Show House and Gardens, from April 19-May 11), Franks and show home attendees have five recommendations.

1. Select a style.

Metro home showcases spotlight all types of architecture. Touring them will help you determine what type of architecture and details you will appreciate in your home, from farmhouse to Tudor. "There are a lot of pretty houses out there; it may not fit what you like," said show home visitor Robert Hunter, who lives in east Cobb County.

2. Find a floor plan.

Think about how the home will work for you. Another visitor, Cindy Latimer, who lives in Roswell, said she likes how the kitchen and other areas in the home built by Rosen Custom Homes were open, allowing ample space for entertaining.

3. Look at the details.

The quality of the granite, ceiling details and other aspects will help you determine if the builder is someone who fits your design ideas, Franks said.

4. Note the specifics.

Paint information, price lists for furniture and accessories and other details are often provided in the rooms. If you have questions, the designers are typically on site, ready to talk about their inspiration.

5. Ask your questions.

Builders often are available – or can be contacted – if you want to ask about their design philosophy, materials used and ways to finish out the home after the tour season ends, Franks said.

OPENING THEIR DOORS

Even when designer showhomes aren't on display, open houses are another way to see what homes on the market offer.

Metro Brokers holds an open house on the second Sunday of each month from 2-5 p.m., with hundreds of homes participating. Its Web site at super

sunday.metrobrokers.com also allows people to search open houses by price, city, county, ZIP code, number of bedrooms and baths, and see photos and maps of the listings.

Tisha Gay, director of marketing for Metro Brokers, passed on these tips to remember when checking out open houses.

• The extra costs: It's inexpensive to paint or replace carpet or swap out a light fixture, but if you notice the entire kitchen needs to be updated, that could mean a big expense. Also look for items that need repairing. Indicators include stains on the ceiling, which mean there could be a leak.

• The size: Is there enough room for you now as well as in the future? Are there enough bedrooms and bathrooms? Are there plenty of closets, cabinets and drawers for storage?

• The floor plan: Consider the layout of the home. Do you want an open floor plan, features such as a master bedroom upstairs, a study/office on the first floor or a basement.

• The outdoor space: Is there a patio/deck for entertaining? Is the yard large enough for the kids or the dog? Does it need new sod?

• The furniture and more: Will your present furniture and décor work in the home? Will you need to buy more curtains, blinds or furniture?

Questions to ask

• When was the home built?

Once a home is 10 years or older, more repairs and maintenance are needed. Also ask for the age of the HVAC, furnace, appliances and roof.

•What was the original listing date?

If the home has been on the market for a long time, sellers may be more flexible.

• What incentives or extras is the seller offering?

Sometimes sellers offer money for closing costs, painting, decorating, or even TVs or trips.

• What about the utilities?

Try to get an idea of how much the monthly utilities cost.

• What problems exist?

Ask about any defects or problem areas, such as leaky roofs or water in the basement. A Realtor is required to disclose any known defects.

What to bring

Don't go out empty-handed. Here are three things to bring when visiting open houses.

• Notepad and pen, to take notes.

• Digital camera, to help remember the homes.

• Tape measure, to determine if your furniture will fit.

SHOW TIME

The Big Canoe community will host Southern Living's April Plan of the Month show home through May 31. It's open daily from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., except Monday.

The home, which was built by Chris Vann of Vann Custom Homes and is priced at $2.295 million, has approximately 10,257 square feet and is situated on 1.94 acres in the North Georgia community. Designers include Cynthia Aiken of Cynthia Aiken Interiors, Linda Magness of Lakota Signature Designs, Pam Graham and Anne Cicconi of Park Place Interiors, and Alecia Alvis and Carol Delaney of Town & Country Interior Design.

Big Canoe sales director Mike Rhodes chatted about what's unique about the home and how people can use a trip there to aid in their home buying process. In past home tours like the Street of Dreams, the homes have sold during the event.

Q: What features will impress visitors?

A: The timber framing really seems to wow people when they go in. It's something they're not accustomed to seeing. Heart pine floors throughout the main level. A great big kitchen with knotty alder custom cabinets. A steam shower with the latest controls, LCD screens. An infinity tub. A state-of-the-art movie theater. A four-car garage. The view off the deck is magnificent — on a clear day, you can see Atlanta. The Epay decking is phenomenal — it looks like regular hardwood flooring. It really is an extended living space. There are two huge decks with fireplaces. The railings are made out of locust wood; the pickets are made out of mountain laurel.

Q: Do some people bring their sales agents to show homes?

A: Most times they do it on their own, but some do come with an agent.

Q: How can you tell someone is interested in buying?

A: We see a lot of people that will start to linger more. They will ask more pointed questions about construction, the setting. Then asking about price, square footage, if they could maybe make some small changes.

Q: What tips would you give them?

A: They really need to figure out not only square footage, but layout.

Do they like an open floor plan? What do they like and not like about their existing home?