Take a gander at a celebrity-inspired home Designer Show House to raise money for the Pike County Humane Society

By Alexis Tarrazi

MILFORD — Step inside Angelina Jolie's bedroom, Jane Mansfield's bathroom or John Wayne's kitchen.
Guests can catch a glimpse of the celebrity life inside Stan and Linda Tashlik's home in Milford, where award-winning designers from across the county and beyond have designed the house to reflect celebrity's styles.
The first Designer Show House will feature 10 celebrity inspired rooms to benefit the Pike County Humane Society.
Michael Buchanan, owner of Michael Buchanan Style in Manhattan and professor at several design colleges in New York City, organized the fundraiser.
"I have three adopted shelter rescues — two from Pike County and one from Port Jervis," said Buchanan, who has had a weekend home in Milford for 16 years, "and I love them to death."
Passionate about his three dogs, Buchanan said he always donated to the shelters but wanted to find other ways to give back to the community.
"I can't go up and drop off checks anymore because I come home with another dog," Buchanan laughed. "I thought, 'How can I spotlight and do something charitable for something I am passionate about in this tough economic time?' It was something that has been gnawing me over the past couple of years so finally I did it," Buchanan said.
Featured in various notable magazines such as Vanity Fair and Decor, Buchanan came up with the idea to hold the show house and ask local designers to decorate each room based on a celebrity.
"I've done various decorator show houses and been published in the New York Times and various books," Buchanan said. "I wanted to bring that concept to the Milford area, to get a group of top notch hidden talent out here and kind of bring a designer group together and hopefully spawn the creativity of the world of interior design and architecture out here, along with helping the Humane Society as a charitable event."
Rooms will be decorated in famous celebrity styles such as Gretta Garbo, Marilyn Monroe, Cary Grant's secret affair with Gustav Stickely, the classic 1933 George Cukor film "Dinner at Eight," John Wayne meets Currier and Ives, Victoria Beckham, Jane Austin, Angelina Jolie, Jane Mansfield, Judy Garland, Marie Antoinette and Elizabeth Taylor.
Because they are so identifiable, choosing a celebrity allows designers to go on an "amazing magic carpet ride" and "hit the ground running immediately" on a client profile, Buchanan said.
Serving more as a mentor, Buchanan called upon his former students and aided them in their efforts—Brittany Alexander designed the Judy Garland-inspired master bedroom; Kelly Weldon designed the Elizabeth Taylor-inspired room; Alison Fidler chose Audrey Hepburn for her room; and Tatiana DeMoraes designed the Rock Hudson-inspired foyer.
The show house will run Oct. 13 to 21 weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and by appointment on weekdays at the Tashlik house located at 101 Drake Lane, Rt. 6 in Milford.
Tickets are $15 each or two for $25. All proceeds will go to benefit the Pike County Humane Society.

Editor’s Note — The original article misstated the time and days of the event. The article should have stated the show house will run Oct. 13 to 21 weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekdays by appointment.