 			opaqueBackgroundColor = backgroundColor;
 		}
 
+        // Draw the separator for the item renderer
+        drawBorder(unscaledWidth, unscaledHeight);
+        
+		opaqueBackground = opaqueBackgroundColor;
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     *  Renders the border for the item renderer.
+     * 
+     *  <p>This method is called by <code>drawBackground</code> after the 
+     *  background has been rendered.</p>
+     * 
+     *  <p>Override this method to change the appearance of the separator or 
+     *  border of the item renderer.</p>
+     * 
+     *  @param unscaledWidth Specifies the width of the component, in pixels,
+     *  in the component's coordinates, regardless of the value of the
+     *  <code>scaleX</code> property of the component.
+     *
+     *  @param unscaledHeight Specifies the height of the component, in pixels,
+     *  in the component's coordinates, regardless of the value of the
+     *  <code>scaleY</code> property of the component.
+     * 
+     *  @langversion 3.0
+     *  @playerversion AIR 3.0
+     *  @productversion Flex 4.5.2
+     */ 
+    protected function drawBorder(unscaledWidth:Number, unscaledHeight:Number):void
+    {
+        var topSeparatorColor:uint;
+        var topSeparatorAlpha:Number;
+        var bottomSeparatorColor:uint;
+        var bottomSeparatorAlpha:Number;
+        
         // separators are a highlight on the top and shadow on the bottom
         topSeparatorColor = 0xFFFFFF;
         topSeparatorAlpha = .3;

     *  <p>This method, along with <code>layoutContents()</code>, is called 
     *  by the <code>updateDisplayList()</code> method.</p>
     * 
     *  <p>This method draws the background, the outline, 
     *  and the separators for this item renderer.  It knows how to appropriately 
     *  handle the selected, down, or caretted states.  
     *  However, when <code>alternatingItemColors</code> is set to <code>undefined</code>, 
     *  the default background is transparent.
     *  Override this method to change the appearance of the background of 

        graphics.drawRect(0, 0, unscaledWidth, unscaledHeight);
        graphics.endFill();
        
        // Selected and down states have a gradient overlay as well
        // as different separators colors/alphas
        if (selected || down)
