Earlier this month, 10 serious potential buyers attended an open house, Ms. Barbi said.

WSJ: Designer Show Houses: An Open House��For 10,000 People

Barbi Hankinson Parr, deputy headteacher, Stratton Upper School, Biggleswade.

BBC: News | Education | The 38 professionals

"People remember it was a show house, but I don't think they come in because it was a show house, " said Ms. Barbi, who is an agent with TTR Sotheby's International Realty.

WSJ: Designer Show Houses: An Open House��For 10,000 People

Maria Barbi, a real-estate agent whose family is trying to sell the home, said that, because each designer involved in the show house had different ideas, the end result may have felt disjointed to potential buyers.

WSJ: Designer Show Houses: An Open House��For 10,000 People