The couple were love-struck by the picture-book house that sits on 6.2 acres and barely disturbs the rolling hillside in tony Sewickley Heights, where real estate is hotter-than-thou. As new owners (who wish not to be named) with two golden retrievers and three children still living at home, they were faced with the task of making the 1922 country French opus work without disturbing the artistry of acclaimed architect William Boyd Sr.

Enter interior designer Suzanne Friday, together with architect Sandra Hundley, for a seamless 15-month renovation of the seven-bedroom, 10,000-square-foot manse right down to the panache and splash of a new swimming pool and pool house that look as if they've always been there.

The great beauty of the home, along with its fabulous bones, are the spellbinding views of the gardens from every window, which Friday enhanced with glorious drapery treatments upstairs and down.

"Most of the architectural elements of the house were original, and we were very sensitive to the original design," she explains. As vice president of interior design at L.D. Astorino & Associates for 13 years before starting her own business, "my goal with any job, whether it be contemporary or in my comfort zone of French or English country design, is to have the interior reflect my clients' personality ... not my own." So happens that her mother, Ann Genter, also of Sewickley, is a respected interior designer. "She has a vast knowledge of the decorative arts, so I've lived with and learned about antiques since I was a child."

This assignment was a designer's dream. "I was given a blank slate, an incredible opportunity," she told us. But with a blank slate, one needs a starting point, and hers was the purchase of a Chinese rug from Linder's for the living room ... a stunning spring board of color and elements that carries through the entire first floor.

If most of the rugs came from Linder's, then most of the furniture came from Jay Miller's Antiquarian Shop in Sewickley. A few very special pieces were found at Mark Evers Antiques in Shadyside and at Michael Malley's East End Galleries. Friday credits Joint Builders for all the millwork and glazing and Let's Make Music for the smart technology in the home. But, feet to the fire, she won't drop the name of her amazing drapery workshop.

The first-floor rooms open onto the front hall that's papered in the tailored richness of a French blue-and-ivory striping that visually raises the ceiling as it climbs up the staircase to the second floor and marches down the hallway. Against one wall lined with antique French architectural prints stands a 19th-century French burled walnut chest with a marble top that's paired with Empire-style chairs of the same period.

For dramatic impact, there's the magnificent sweep of a 20-foot cathedral ceiling with exposed trusses in the living room with its faux-painted-and-glazed pale background and ebony baby grand. Although a late 19th-century French gilt mirror from Mark Evers gleams above the marble fireplace, every chest, every piece of furniture that embraces both comfort and formality is new and was acquired expressly for the room. A deft sense of placement is key to this design.

The sofa, love seats and ottoman are upholstered in Brunschwig & Fils rose damask and accented by Lee Jova's whimsical "Pugs and Roses" patterned pillows. Other seating arrangements are paired with bergeres and fauteuils in a smart layering of striped and floral patterned fabrics. She chose a Colefax and Fowler blue toile print for the window treatments, crowned by valances and jabots. And, of course, we're back to that wonderful rug that pulls it all together.

Noble in its scale and distinguished by impeccable architectural detailing and French doors that open onto yet another exquisite garden, the dining room is covered in Brunschwig & Fils shell-tinted damask. Friday designed the triple-swag draperies in Schumacher's salmon silk with a tasseled passementerie trim. French reverse-painted eglomise mirrors are mounted above matching demilune tables. The burled walnut dining table is circled by Queen Anne-style chairs atop a Wilton area rug.

Upstairs is the master bedroom. "It was my least favorite room in the house; it didn't have much character," Friday muses. So she heaped it on with beautiful cove molding in a swagged roses and ribbon motif. After wrapping the room in a pale green striped wallcovering, she placed a painted bench under the window to extend its illusion. And that's not all. For drop-dead glamour, there's the four-poster canopy bed, dressed in ivory matelasse, whose painted cornice is lavishly lined in a sage taffeta sunburst-and-rosette design. The fabric is repeated in the canopy and deep dust ruffle. Upholstered in an ivory jacquard wool with a scattering of roses, milady's chaise fills one corner next to a cozy fireplace, while the telly is tucked behind a built-in cabinet in another.

The bedroom opens onto the spacious master bath that glows in an abundance of light and sparkling surfaces from the white marble countertops and ming green marble flooring. Bathing in the open in a white marble Jacuzzi tub, there is also a see-through shower whose delicate mosaic wall design echoes the spring-green trellised wallcovering. Fittings and lighting are done in a combination of crystal and silver. And the entire effect is softened by Zoffany balloon striped shades and a window seat.

If the hallmarks of a great home are charm, originality, comfort and taste, the same can be said of this one. Friday's proud of the house, as well she might be. On the outside it looks like yesterday, but she brought it freshly, imaginatively forward to the present.

None finer

Save the recalls for Arnold. We declare that the dazzling guys and dolls who graced the Omni William Penn Grand Ballroom stage Thursday during the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 50 Finest deserve the title. No contest.

Now before anyone calls for campaign reform, let's set the record straight. Of course, glam and glitz boost the allure of this fab 50. But each of the hot numbers earned his or her spot in the lineup by raising significant dollars to help battle a disease that afflicts so many young people. Topping this year's tote board was ophthalmologist Dr. Lisa Cibik, who raised an eye-opening, record $14,600. Inspired by the loss of a loved to one to CF, the good doctor kept focused on her goal to be No. 1.

Not that staying focused was an easy task in a room filled with so much eye candy. Proving that she still can outlast the competition, TV "Survivor" Amber Brkich can join our tribe any day. Although she's passed along her title, former Miss Pennsylvania USA Kimberly Jaycox still reigns supreme. Broadcasting their appeal, KDKA on-air personalities Mary Berecky and Susie Barbour earned high ratings, as did WTAE producer Katherine Roberts. And Bridgette Lorigan, D.M.D., certainly had plenty of reasons to smile. The list of leading ladies also included Dionne Page; Anita Smith; Jennifer Bee; Beth Hafer; Crystal Castleforte; Lori Martin; Nicole Lawlor; Antonette Pietropaolo; Val Skvarla; Kristi Ferrero; Selina Moyo; Janalyn Budzik; Colleen Darragh; Sandra Lanza; Deborah Sales; Jenna Heyl; Sharon Schall; and Robin Guseman.

As for the gentleman, reliable female sources reported that this year's crew boasted plenty of lookers, such as WTAE's Jon Burton, E.J. Borghetti, Dr. John Waldman and Justin Bass. With a name more befitting a lawyer, Mancini's Bakery partner R. Reed Baker delivered the daily bread for a good cause. Though strictly business during working hours, corporate types such as Jeff Warren, Ronald Severo, Michael Casey, Michael Hanlon and Kit Mueller left the job at the office for a bit of fun. Rounding out the eligible bachelors were Sal Richetti; Michael Wein; Mark Rogow; Daniel Iacurci; Bud Martin; Kevin Battle; H. Adam Cohen; Gary Dellovade; Ben Heatherington; Jay Gergely; Joshua Cohen; Michael Lee; Edward Ercegovic; and Dr. John Schindler.

Along with the heartthrobs on the stage, we spotted notable alums such as last year's finest fund-raiser Tara McComb with Anthony Fazio ('00) and Charlie Kostecki ('02), as the trio joined the CF Winner's Circle for raising an additional $5,000 each. While battling CF is the raison d'être, romance is certainly in the air, as Victoria Berdnik ('01) and Doug Spirelis ('99) will trade wedding vows next May.

Behind every great party is a great party planner or two. Here's a Fanfare for CF's Cyndi Nace, who steered the volunteer committee to a huge success. Returning for another encore, WTAE sports anchor Andrew Stockey turned in an MVP performance. And credit Jim "Doc" Mendelson for keeping the show running smoothly.

Good-looking faces in the crowd included Courtney Lynch and Michael Pijanowski; Ellen Unger and Jerry Dunlap; Jacqie Williams; John Herlock; Debbie Ereditario; Karen Christensen; Betsy Benson; Denise Barclay and Jim Lang; Keith Kalamash; Michele Madden; Darlene Kuhn and Dan Oshop; Jack Bergman; Constantine Scoumis; and Pamela Wertman.

Nothing could be finer.

-- John Altdorfer

There she is

Let's keep our fingers crossed that Miss Pennsylvania Candace Otto ends the state's 50-year drought when she walks across the stage during the 2004 Miss America competition next month in Atlantic City.

Holding court Thursday at the Hot Metal Grille, the South Side's hippest new hot spot, the 23-year-old Murrysville miss mingled with friends and fans on her way to the famed New Jersey Boardwalk. And, yes, she's more than pretty. Earlier this month, she treated Pirates fans with a stirring a cappella rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" at PNC Park.

Hosted by Whirl Magazine and the Soffer Organization, the reception included proud parents Audia and Bill Otto with grandfather Augustine Russo; Whirl publisher Jack Tumpson with Christine; SouthSide Works developer Damian Soffer; Le Mont's Anna and Ed Dunlap; Dee Bold; Marsetta and Dick Schweiger; Jettie Moody; HMG owner Gary Reinhert Jr.; former Miss PA/USA and always gorgeous Nicole Bingham; Christine Fulton; Deborah and Ed Sweeney; Judy Krause; Chris Fletcher; Tammy Miller; Martha Hapeman, Brandy Cope; Julie Farthing; and Shantelle Carpenter.

She's our ideal.

-- J.A.

Classic radio

Kids will be kids. They shoot hoops, chill at the mall and, sometimes, even pluck the harp or tickle the ivories on the hit radio show "From the Top." Billed as "public radio's answer to MTV," the weekly broadcast showcases the nation's best pre-college classical musicians during live performances, interviews and skits. And Thursday, the program rolled into Heinz Hall to tape a segment with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

After the show, Ceci Sommers and John Haughwout hosted a private reception at their Squirrel Hill apartment. Among the guests were FFT host and renowned pianist Chris O'Riley, who just happens to be Ceci's son. While friends and fans grazed on pate, smoked salmon and chilled cucumber soup, the radio star enjoyed a cold Iron and a Klondike that mom stocked especially for him.

Among the notables were PSO's Robert Moir and Lucas Richman; Millie Miller Posvar with William Martin; FTT's Gerald Slavet and Scott Schillin; Sydelle Kessler; Jane Arkus; WQED's Jim Cunningham; Kay Stolarevsky; Judith Dorian; Miriam and Saul Fineberg; Arlene and Jim Wagner; and Peggy and Joe Charny.

They're the tops.

-- J.A.

Jean Horne can be reached at 412-321-6460.