This is the living room of Bella Palazzo, one of eight luxury homes that make up the 2007 Street of Dreams home tour.

Dean Knuth / Arizona Daily Star

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Let's face it: Most of us have a chance between nil and none of buying one of the eight houses on the 2007 Street of Dreams home tour in Oro Valley.

Ranging in price from $2.5 million to $4.5 million, these homes are a tad out of reach for the average family. But that doesn't mean the décor ideas and special features can't be adapted to more modest casitas.

Granted, the Street of Dreams homes are big on really expensive luxury, but they're huge on ideas that can be incorporated into the average person's decorating plans.

For example, the window treatments in the dining room of Bella Palazzo, the house built by Copeland Construction and Interior Expressions of Oro Valley, are sure to catch the eye of those looking for something different yet traditional.

Generally, arched windows sport one treatment in the arch — fan-shaped louvers, for example — and another in the rest of the window length. But Jones Design Group's decorators tailored the plaid draperies to fit inside the arches.

Hanging the draperies took the kind of ingenuity that the average homeowner could easily copy. Hooks were attached to a length of vinyl tubing, bought through an automotive supply company, and that was affixed to the underside of the mahogany-stained wood molding that frames the windows.

Other adaptable touches include the under-the-counter microwave oven — one that's in a drawer as opposed to the more common cabinet placement.

Just push the right button on the Sharp microwave and the drawer slides out, allowing the cook to place a heavy dish or casserole inside, stir, test or remove it — without having to bend over or reach overhead.

The beauty of Bella Palazzo is not so much in its to-die-for amenities — such as the wall sculpture by Tom Moberg — as it is in the near-effortless living promised by the many details that Betty Jones has incorporated into the house.

Jones, who with her husband, Jeff, started Interior Expressions in Oro Valley three years ago, believes strongly that women should be involved in planning a home.

Otherwise, the chances are good that you'll end up with cupboard doors that open the wrong way or a kitchen that's on the opposite side of the house from the garage entrance.

In Bella Palazzo, it takes just nine steps to get the groceries from the garage to the kitchen counter. As Jones led a visitor around while the final touches were added to the house, she discovered that a cabinet door in one of the laundry rooms opened the wrong way.

"That has to be changed," she declared, calling a workman over to correct the error.

"A man would never catch that," Jones said.

Another of those touches that women love is Jones' choice of "floating" bar stools. They're attached to the curved bar — as in no legs — which means cleaning the floor under them is no problem.

"This is a house for entertaining," Jones said.

And she's right. The whole house has an open yet cozy feel. It's designed for a family that enjoys entertaining and cherishes comfort and relaxation.

Adding to the ambience is a color scheme that inspires serenity. Earth tones dominate: The browns and tans of travertine tile, natural stone and a variety of woods are enhanced by rich and vibrant colors such as smoky gold, deep burnt reds, the blues and greens found in the sea, bronze and turquoise.

It's all very Tuscan-inspired, and at the same time, very Tucson.