"Can you match my room with this painting?"

It's the kind of question that interior designers often hear from clients and it's the premise of the ASID Designer Showcase at this year's Pittsburgh Home & Garden Show.

Each year, members of the Pennsylvania West chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers create room vignettes on the second floor of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Last year, the rooms depicted those of famous Pittsburghers past and present in honor of the city's 250th anniversary. This time around, the inspiration for each room was a famous work of art.

"Clients sometimes come to you with a family heirloom or painting they picked up on vacation. It's a challenge," said Jeanette Waksmunski, an associate with Drew Designs Ltd. and co-chair of the ASID project with fellow designer and allied member Karolyn Spagnolo of Spagnolo Design.

Janet Yester Klosky, president of the Pennsylvania West chapter and principal of JYK Interior Design Services, said the process sometimes works in reverse.

"I have commissioned artists to do special works of art for certain areas," said Ms. Klosky, who focuses on commercial work.

The ASID designers chose well-known artists and works that the public would recognize. Nancy Drew selected a piece that is part of the Carnegie Museum of Arts' permanent collection: "The Thousand and One Nights" by Henri Matisse.

As a Carnegie docent for nearly 20 years, Ms. Drew is very familiar with the 1950 gouache that Matisse created with cut and pasted paper after he could no longer paint. At 147 by 55 inches, it's a large piece portraying the bedtime stories that a Persian bride, Scheherazade, tells her murderous husband. To avoid her predecessors' fate, she never finishes the stories until the next morning, staving off execution for another day.

Matisse's artwork contains rows of hearts and symbols from the tales such as the sun, stars and Aladdin's magic lamp. Ms. Drew opted to create a master bedroom because she believes Matisse's work represents Scheherazade's ability to turn her husband's heart from evil (green and black hearts) to loving (red hearts).

"I'm trying to do retro modern -- dark wood furniture with a dark java finish," she said.

Her first choice is Baker furniture by Barbara Barry, who is known for design with a subtle mid-century modern look. Ms. Drew is also planning a fireplace with seating and bold Mideastern colors like those found in ceramics inspired by Matisse. Nothing subtle about these colors -- cobalt blue and brilliant orange for the walls, she says.

"The Matisse is such a fabulous piece," Ms. Drew says. "It's one of my favorites."

Another designer, Nancy Sakino Spears of Interiors by Decorating Den, chose another work from the Carnegie collection: "Water Lilies" by Claude Monet.

The 1920s oil on canvas is even larger than the Matisse, at 235 by 78 inches, and is one of the French impressionist's most famous works. Its serene blues and greens is perfect for a master bathroom, she says.

For Ms. Spagnolo's master bedroom, she chose one of the most famous images from Renaissance art -- "The Creation of Adam" from Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling.

In it, God reaches down from the heavens to touch the fingertip of Adam, shown as a reclining nude figure.

What kind of bed befits the creation of mankind? Home show visitors will have to head over to Ms. Spagnolo's room to find out.

The other designers, artists and rooms planned for the display include:

• Chris Jones, CJ Interior Design Studio -- Salvador Dali-inspired loft study space.

• Sara Flesher, Sara Flesher Designs -- Wassily Kandinsky, living room.