TINSELTOWN DRAW INSPIRATION FROM DESIGNER CHRISTMAS TREES.

Byline: Story by Diana McKeon Charkalis

Tired of the same old tinsel and ornaments on your tree For fresh inspiration, tree trimmers need look no further than the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood. On view in the lobby through Dec. 23 is a veritable forest of designer-decorated trees. Step inside and you'll find ideas for creating a totally new look, as well as trade secrets for continuing traditions with style. Plus, the pine scent is heavenly.

On these pages, the designers offer tips on bringing the holiday spirit home to your own tree.

Diana McKeon Charkalis, [phone]

diana.charkalis(at)dailynews.com

CHARITY CHEER

For the fourth year in a row, designer Michael Berman has organized this event to benefit The Children's Circle, formerly Caring for Children and Families with AIDS. To raise money, visitors may bid by silent auction on ornaments hand-made by the children who will benefit from the funds.

For more information about the charity, visit www.childrenscircle.org or call [phone].

For more information about the tree exhibit, call the Pacific Design at [phone] or visit www.pacificdesigncenter.com. The design center is located at 8687 Melrose Ave.

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(1 -- cover -- color) Clear, glass balls filled with frayed strips of textiles are a focal point of designer Sheeri Donghia's tree.

(2 -- 4 -- color) Venice designer Lisa Pak is mad about Marilyn. Her tree, inspired by Monroe and Hollywood in the 1950s, is a fantasy of faux fur, elegant sheers and silk dupioni. For ornaments, she superimposed black and white Marilyn shots from photographer Andre de Dienes onto fabric.

To create them, she took Styrofoam balls and pinned fabric around them. She used a hot glue gun to adhere photos and a faux fur border.

``You could do the same thing with kids photos or family photos to personalize it,'' she says ``That's a fun tradition to start.''

Her tree is distinctly feminine, with plenty of pink accents. ``If you want a more professional-looking tree,'' she advises. ``Pick a palette and stay with it.''

(5 -- color) For designer Kevin Corn, this year's tree is all about tradition. He combined classic glass ornaments with natural elements such as pine cones, birds and feathers. The color scheme of red, gold and green is designed to evoke thoughts of Christmas past. Corn chose a red upholstered leather tree stand to hold the living tree, which can be replanted. ``You could also take a terra cotta pot and paint it,' says the designer, based in Hollywood and Santa Monica. Corn says the most spectacular trees are well-lit. And in fact, he used 1,000 lights (10 100-light strings) to get the perfect glow. ``Take your time and do one branch at a time.'' he says. To do it right can take a few hours, so he suggests having a tree- trimming party to share the fun with friends.

(6 -- 8 -- color) The ``Tree of Good Fortune,'' created by West Hollywood designer Michael Berman, is meant to evoke the spirit of 1920s Shanghai with good luck firecrackers, coins, jade ornaments, silver fortune cookies and illuminated lanterns as lights. To get the goods, Berman shopped in L.A.'s Chinatown and found some amazing bargains. Chinese takeout boxes served as accent pieces. ``I say always do something that's personal and then add a few store-bought items,'' Berman says. ``Don't restrict yourself. I love the idea of getting children to help and making ornaments out of things like Play-Doh and sparkles.''

(9 -- 10 -- color) ``You can never over-decorate,'' says designer Craig Olsen, who chose to go monochromatic with his ``White Christmas'' tree. Inspired by the mid-century modern design of an Eames chair, Olsen wanted a classic look with a modern twist. He used larger, old-fashioned white lights found at Target and ball ornaments from Martha Stewart's Kmart collection. His garland gets a modern take - strips of mylar hung vertically. ``It's easier to take off that way,'' he declares, adding, ``You don't have to spend a lot to have a great-looking tree.''

His only splurge? The light-up white acrylic gift boxes sitting under the tree. They retail for $90 at his shop, Bamboo Colony in West Hollywood, and come in a variety of colors.

(11 -- 12 -- color) Artist Gustave Klimt inspired West Hollywood designer Thomas Lavin's ``Solid Gold'' tree. In keeping with the art nouveau painter's work, the tree features the geometric shapes of compact discs and mirrored tiles that reflect light, evoking ``disco and color,'' Lavin says. When it comes to trees, anything can be used as a decoration he says, adding that his tree last year featured a pink flocked tree donned with black lingerie. ``Whatever your inspiration, whether it's underwear or CDs, you can make it as simple or extravagant as you want to.''

(13 -- 14 -- color) It's all about glamour this year for West Hollywood designer Richard Herb. His tree, an tribute to Hollywood, is illuminated with frosted lights and dressed in white, silver and crystal. A purchased crackled glass garland - which he spotted as a hot trend this year - adds sparkle. Herb is also an advocate of using ribbon on trees, and this year he opted for silver. Here's his trick for getting ribbon right: ``People overintellectualize it,'' he notes. ``You just need to put it on the tree and play with it - massage it until it looks natural, not too fussy.'' Herb gave a nod to nostalgia with a big white star on top. ``You can use anything you want for the topper, but stars are starting to come back in style.''

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer

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Charity Cheer (see text)