Who hasn't opened a home magazine and lusted after some gorgeous décor? The fantasy lasts until we think of the cost zapping the kids' college fund, the hassles of tracking down the coveted item or of having an artist re-create it, the shipping nuisance and the risk it will turn out uglier than Shrek. We remind ourselves that this lovely furnishing has been shot at just the right angle in just the right light, then Photoshopped.

But not my friend Susan Beane. When she falls for some decor she has to have, whether in a magazine, book or art museum, she goes for it: hand-painted dome ceiling tiles, stained glass doors to her library, custom brass cabinet knobs shaped like griffin heads. This partly explains why she lives in the kind of house many of us dream about.

Now, I've done my share of custom projects -- built-in book cases, unique tile work, faux finishing -- but Susan raises custom decorating to an art form. "It's so enticing. You see or dream up this great, unique idea, and you want it in your home," she says with this enthusiasm that makes me want whatever she's having. She estimates she's done more than 20 custom projects in her current home, all inspired by images that seduced.

To decide whether a custom project is worth the trouble, I asked Susan, queen of custom, to share her tips for commissioning custom work for your home:

• Pick your projects carefully. Try to find what you want readymade. Only take on a custom project you have passion for and can't find anywhere.
• Find an artist. Ideally, you want someone local. Susan asks at home stores she visits whether they offer custom work, and she asks for the artists' names and builds a list. Another way to find a custom craftsperson is through another artist. Ask a tile mason you like if he knows a good faux finisher. Because artists often aren't technically plugged in, you can't count on finding many of the good ones online. Avoid working with artist's reps; you'll pay a middle man and have less direct involvement.
• Draw the project from all perspectives with dimensions. Explain what you want in excruciating detail.
• Put everything into e-mail, including recaps of your conversations. "Trust me. You will be sending the e-mails back as a reminder."
• Get a written timeline. Build in stages where you want to review the project. But be flexible.
• Get all the artist's numbers -- home, cell, office, wife, girlfriend, parole officer. They get busy and flaky and go AWOL for periods of time.
• Schmooze. This may mean listening to all the details about someone's dental work, but do and act like you care. Compliment them often and bring up concerns gently. Most artists take things very personally.
• Expect to invest not just money for a one-of-a-kind work, but significant time, effort and frustration.

Is it worth it? "When people compliment me about a custom piece, I just breathe deep and think, 'You have no idea,' " Susan says. "But then, every time I look at my custom projects, I love them."

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