Mount Ida "Show House" Opens to Public Saturday

The current entranceway to Mt. Ida in Ellicott City looks like a light wood paneling, but if you look closer, you'll notice the swirls, shadows and frames are hand painted.

It's the work of Dee Cunnigham of Deelite Design, one of 12 designers who meticulously worked to decorate Mt. Ida over the past eight weeks.

Mt. Ida, a historic home next to Circuit Court in Ellicott City, will be open to the public for the next month starting Saturday to show off the designers' work.

"You're going to be able to see interior designers showing creativity and style in a Greek-revival home," said Carroll Frey, the show house design chair for Historic Ellicott City, Inc.

The rooms inside vary from modern elements to antiques to a children's room overflowing with dolls and stuffed animals.

Every design feature from the paintings to the furniture will be on sale inside the home, which officially opens to the public for tours on Sept. 28. 

The home itself is a bastion of Ellicott City history. It was built in the early 18th century by Charles Timanus, Jr., the principal builder of the Patapsco Female Institute, for William Ellicott, the grandson of Andrew Ellicott, a found of Ellicott's Mills. Later the home belonged to Judge John Snowden Tyson, who left it to his three daughters, one of which was Ida, who the house is now named after.

Now the home belongs to Paul L. Miller who leases the yellow stucco manse to Friends of the Patapsco Female Institute and Historic Ellicott City, Inc. for the organizations' headquarters.

This is the 28th show house hosted by Historic Ellicott City, Inc. Last year, the group didn't host one.

"I was besieged with calls from people SO disappointed, telling me how it's been an annual tradition for them, and often their groups, clubs, etc, all these years," said Joyce Pope, executive director of Historic Ellicott City, Inc., in an email.

Pope estimates about 7,000 people will tour the house this year.

Entrance to the design house will cost $15 in advance or $20 at the door. The proceeds benefit Historic Ellicott City, Inc. The house will be open to the public from Sept. 28 to Oct. 27 from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Thurdsay hours are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.; on Mondays the design house will be closed.

Mt. Ida is located at 3691 Sarahs Lane in Ellicott City.

A preview party is scheduled for Thursday at Mt. Ida from 7 to 10 p.m., tickets are $75 and must be purchased in advance. Tickets can be bought online.